Colonoscopy confidence: your common sense bowel check

It's natural to feel anxious or worried if you're told you need a colonoscopy, but it's important to have the test if you are referred.

A female patient in a mask and scrubs in a hospital

Image credit: Maxim Tolchinskiy, Unsplash

That's why Bowel Cancer UK have launched the Colonoscopy Confidence campaign to explain what a colonoscopy is, why it matters and encourage people to attend their appointment.

If you've been asked by your GP to have a colonoscopy, it's because they suspect that something isn't quite right with your bowel or colon, and they'd like a specialist to take a closer look. The procedure involves an endoscopist putting a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end up your bottom so they can see the inside of your bowel.

Colonoscopy is a very common procedure. Over 20,000 are carried out across the UK every year. They give endoscopists a close-up view of the inside of your bowel so they can clearly see if anything is wrong. A colonoscopy can feel a little uncomfortable, but it's an important part of maintaining good all round health.

Of all the colonoscopies taking place in the UK, on 1 in 10 people have bowel cancer. And, importantly, when bowel cancer is detected at its earliest stage nearly everybody is treated successfully.

If you have an appointment for a colonoscopy, it's really important that you attend.

Find out more about colonoscopy