Study Confirms Lifesaving Value of Colonoscopy

WEDNESDAY, March 14, 2018 -- A large study has confirmed what many public health experts have long believed: Colonoscopy saves lives.

The study looked at roughly 25,000 patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, where colonoscopy is widely used. The VA views it as the main screening test for patients aged 50 and older who have average odds for developing colon or rectal cancer.

Calcium Supplements Tied to Higher Odds of Colon Polyps

FRIDAY, March 2, 2018 -- Could the calcium supplement you take to help your bones be harming your colon?

That's the suggestion from a new study that finds a link between the daily supplement and an increased risk for polyps in the colon.

1 in 10 Worldwide Gets Wound Infection After Abdominal Surgery

THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2018 -- Globally, more than one in 10 patients develops a surgical-site infection after a gastrointestinal operation, a new study finds.

Rates vary widely, with overuse of antibiotics in poorer countries likely contributing to higher prevalence, the researchers said.

Could Your Colonoscopy Raise Your Risk for Appendicitis?

MONDAY, Feb. 5, 2018 -- A colonoscopy can save your life by detecting and removing colon cancer, but it might also trigger appendicitis, a new study suggests.

Experts aren't sure exactly why that happens, and, fortunately, it's rare. And it shouldn't stop you from getting a colonoscopy, according to lead researcher Dr. Marc Basson.