Your doctor suspects there is something wrong in your digestive tract, and explains that you need an endoscopic procedure done so the correct treatment plan can be devised. The next step is to schedule your appointment with the St. Philomena's Hospital Endoscopy Unit—then relax. The healthcare professionals at our Endoscopy Unit are specialists in what they do and renown for the level of comfort they provide every patient, every day.

The St. Philomena's Hospital Endoscopy Unit was designed with the patient’s comfort in mind. Six procedure rooms allow for faster in-and-out time and an expansive waiting room provides a comfortable area for the patient’s family to wait.

Endoscopy provides physicians with the capability of visually examining the entire length of the digestive tract, from the esophagus and stomach to the rectum and colon. In an endoscopic procedure, a flexible fiber optic instrument called an endoscope enables the physician to look at the gastrointestinal tract, photograph it, and even take biopsy samples with tiny forceps. In many cases, polyps that could grow into cancer are removed.

Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer

• Bleeding from rectum
• Change in bowel habits
• Diarrhea, constipation, or feelings of incomplete bowel movements
• Blood in the stool
• Chronic fatigue
• Vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• General abdominal discomfort
• Anemia

You Can Reduce Your Risk of Developing Colon Cancer by:

• If you’re 50 years of age or older begin yearly screenings
• Eating a low-fat, high fiber diet
• Increasing physical activity