** Important Update: This video was originally published in 2010. Current procedures and preparations for a colonoscopy may have changed since then. Therefore, please consult with your physician to understand the precise protocol you should be following prior to your procedure. This video is intended for reference and general information purposes only.**

Learn more about our colorectal screening program at https://www.dartmouthhitchcock.org/g...

Prepare for your colonoscopy with these simple tips from Dr. Lynn Butterly, Director of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States yet it's one of the few we can prevent. Prevention and detection are the keys to beating colorectal cancer.

The colonoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube through which your doctor can detect polyps with a tiny camera, and even remove them without discomfort in a matter of seconds. Preparing as effectively as possible for a colonoscopy gives your doctor the best chance of finding even the smallest polyps.

Your doctor will prescribe you the "prep" medication that you will drink beforehand, but you will also want to have other materials on hand for the "clear liquid diet" that you'll have to be on as well.

Clear liquids include apple juice, ginger ale, JellO, broth or bouillon. Hard candies may even be OK as well.

You also may want to have extra toilet paper, special wipes, or magazines or books.

Drink one glass every 15 minutes or so until you feel full, then take a break to let it work through your system. Don't get discouraged as you work your way through the jug; just remember, possibly having undiscovered colorectal cancer will be harder than this preparation!

The "split prep" is another option. You would do most of your prep in the afternoon and night, then finish the prep first thing in the morning, if your endoscopy center recommends it. Remember that you have to finish the prep at least an hour and a half before your appointment.

You can flavor your prep with a colorless flavor of Crystal Light (flavor each glass, not the whole jug). We encourage you to use more than one flavor for variety's sake.

Again, your own endoscopist may have different recommendations than what we have suggested here. Check with your provider for specific instructions.

Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire's only academic health system and the state's largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes its Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 51 National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, including the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the state’s only children’s hospital and clinic locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene and New London, NH, and Windsor, VT, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cuttingedge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.

Learn more at https://www.dartmouthhealth.org/