Getting a Colonoscopy in Westchester and Putnam Counties

Colon cancer is preventable! Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in
non-smokers, behind only prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. According to the
American Cancer Society, it is also the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the
United States. Thankfully, colorectal cancer is extremely preventable, especially when detected
through routine screenings like colonoscopies.
There are several ways to screen for colorectal cancer. Tests like stool samples, Cologuards, or a
CT colonography can detect possible signs of colorectal cancer, though they cannot remove pre-
cancerous polyps. A colonoscopy is both diagnostic and therapeutic. It allows a physician to both
detect and remove these polyps during the same procedure, stopping cancer before it starts.
Preparation for a colonoscopy involves taking a laxative—chosen in collaboration with your
doctor—to clean the lining of the colon to ensure a complete, thorough examination. A
colonoscopy is performed under anesthesia, therefore reducing or eliminating patient discomfort.
The average procedure takes less than 15 minutes and complications are extremely rare.
Most people diagnosed with colorectal cancer have no family history of the disease. The risk of
diagnosis increases with age, a personal or family history of polyps or cancer, smoking, obesity,
and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. Current guidelines
recommend that screening should begin at age 45, or even earlier for those with a family history
or additional risk factors.
In Westchester and Putnam Counties, we have several board-certified gastroenterologists who have safely
performed tens of thousands of colonoscopies. Therefore, the procedure can be successfully
performed within your local community.
If you are 45 or older, or have risk factors for colorectal cancer, you can consult your physician
and make an appointment at www.westchesterputnamgastro.com.

American Cancer Society, “Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer,” April 28, 2025,
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
CDC, “Screening for Colorectal Cancer,” October 17, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-
cancer/screening/index.html 

Anna Brown and Sunil Gupta, M.D.