Novant Health physicians examine the lining of your colon with an instrument called a colonoscope. This is a flexible tube that is carefully inserted through your anus into your colon. The colonoscope transmits a video image of your colon lining to give your doctor a view of any polyps or cancers growing there. During your colonoscopy, your physician may perform a tissue biopsy or remove any suspicious growths, which can be analyzed by a pathologist. This procedure is most often used to detect or prevent
colorectal cancer.