A colonoscopy is a screening test for colon cancer which uses a colonoscope connected a video camera and video display monitor to allow the physician to examine the lining of the entire colon.

Colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure that generally takes a minimum amount of time, although it may take longer if polyp removal is involved.

Learn with our 5-minute assessment when you should have a colonoscopy.

An upper endoscopy is a procedure where a long, flexible tube, called an endoscope, is used to diagnose and treat issues in your upper gastrointestinal tract, including your esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine. The endoscope is connected to a video camera and video display monitor that allows the physician to examine your upper gastrointestinal tract.

An upper endoscopy is normally an outpatient procedure that generally takes a minimum amount of time.

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid moves back up into the esophagus, causing a pain more commonly known as heartburn. If acid reflux symptoms occur frequently, it may be acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Texas Health is dedicated to the prevention and care of colon cancer. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer remains the third most common cancer in the United States. According to research supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this type of cancer starts as a small growth, called a polyp, long before symptoms appear. Screening tests can find polyps that can be removed before they turn into cancer.

Diagnosis and Treatment

It is important to find colorectal cancer early when the chance of survival is good, according to the National Cancer Institute. Physicians on the medical staff of a Texas Health hospital use advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures when diagnosing and treating colon cancer, which can include:

• Colonoscopy
• Anal nanometry/Pap smear
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• CT scan
• Barium enema
• Radiation and chemotherapy
• Open and laparoscopic surgery

Learn with our 5-minute assessment when you should be tested for colorectal cancer.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) involving chronic inflammation of digestive tract tissues that can cause a range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue.

Diverticular disease involves small pouches, called diverticula, that can form in weak spots in the wall of the colon. Sometimes these pouches can become infected or injured, resulting in symptoms such as bleeding, inflammation, or other complications.

In addition to GERD, there are a range of disorders that impact the esophagus and how it works, including achalasia, Barrett’s esophagus, strictures, and esophageal cancer.

Learn more about esophageal cancer and diagnosis and treatment options at Texas Health.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic condition that causes episodes of abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and constipation.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder and Bile Duct) programs at Texas Health aim to improve that statistic. HPB programs bring together specialists in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, including doctors and surgeons on the medical staff, dietitians, and genetic specialists who can diagnose and manage all stages of pancreatic cancer.

Learn more about pancreatic cancer and available diagnosis and treatment options.

C. diff is an infection that can cause fever, diarrhea and cramping. According to Centers for Disease Control, people are 7 to 10 times more likely to get C. diff while on antibiotics and during the month after.

For people with a C. diff infection that has occurred three times despite adequate antibiotic treatment, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a treatment option. FMT is a procedure where stool from a healthy donor is transferred into the colon of the person with C. diff to attempt to boost helpful organisms.