8.8 D-Day health check

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Check your gastrointestinal tract to reduce your risk of serious disease.

Gastrointestinal cancers occur in the general population and are often asymptomatic in the early stages, only showing symptoms or detected in a more advanced stage. You could live your daily life normally for many years without being aware of the potential dangers that may occur. You should always be mindful of the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. If you have a direct family history of cancer or are at risk, you should see a doctor to determine the cause of the symptoms. Don’t leave it until it’s too late!

Both types of endoscopy are highly accurate examinations of gastrointestinal disorders.

• Gastrointestinal endoscopy is used to look for abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach, such as ulcers in the esophagus and stomach, H. pylori bacterial infection,

esophagitis, or bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

• A colonoscopy can detect the causes of abnormalities in the colon, such as abnormal excretion, constipation, chronic diarrhea, and bloody stools, and is also an accurate screening test for colon cancer.

You should not ignore these symptoms. Screening is key to reducing the risk of developing disease, and it also significantly reduces the death rate from colon cancer.

A gastrointestinal endoscopy should be performed when the following symptoms occur:

• Persistent abdominal pain or vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting blood or blood in your stools
• Suspected anemia from chronic blood loss

A colonoscopy should be performed when:

• At the age of 50 for both males and females.
• Family members have a history of colon cancer
• Abnormal excretion (constipation alternating with diarrhea)
• Incomplete bowel movements / difficulty passing stools or intestinal contraction / rectal pain
• Bloody stools
•   Chronic abdominal pain
• A lump found in the abdomen

Can a colonoscopy actually help prevent colon cancer?

Currently, the data show that a colonoscopy can reduce the chances of developing colon cancer by up to 69% and reduce the chances of dying from colon cancer by up to 88% (Harvard Health Publishing, Oct 18, 2022).

Advantages of a colonoscopy at BNH Hospital

• We have an experienced team of specialist doctors and nurses in the gastrointestinal tract to take care of your needs.
• We are equipped with the most modern tools and endoscope with AI technology from Japan.
• There is a private endoscopic preparation room so you don’t have to worry, even if you come alone.
• A team of specialised nurses takes care of and prepares laxatives for you according to the appropriate process and time.

  No more worrying about difficultly in defecating, or incomplete, painful excretion while travelling.

• If abnormalities are detected, we can treat and cure them from end to end.
• Follow up after an endoscopy to ensure that our patients are safe.
• Comfortable. Completed within 1 day, includes both intestine preparation and endoscopy.