Growing older, coloscopies are something many people look forward to, but not with excitement. And generally, it's not something people have had to deal with till their 50s, but now people in their mid-40s are being recommended for the procedure.

45 is now the new 50 in terms of time to start colorectal cancer screenings. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (UPSTF) changed its guidelines earlier this year, expanding the lower end of the age range. A reason behind this change is higher rates of colon cancer in people under the age of 50.

With more people suddenly now being eligible and recommended for colonoscopies, Saltzer Health is working to streamline the process.

While bowel prep generally happens the day before a colonoscopy, Dr. John Dever (MD), the Director of Gastroenterology at Saltzer Health’s Ten Mile Campus mentioned many people are shocked by the simplicity of the whole process.

"Most people after getting the colonoscopy, at least when they tell me when they're done with it, they're actually surprised at how smooth the process went, Dever said."

He noted that it’s not a one-size-fits-all in terms of prep. Prep can now be split into the night before and the day of, but there are also some options that require less liquid intake.

Dever noted how quick the actual colonoscopy process is and why it’s so important.

“But actually getting the procedure done, it takes about 15 minutes,” Dever said. “I mean, a 15-minute colonoscopy could save you 15 years or more of your life.”

While some may look to other types of colorectal cancer screenings, Doctor Dever noted that they don’t compare to the procedure. That’s because the colonoscopy is diagnostic in the sense that it can identify polyps, and therapeutic in the sense that it can remove the polyps, essentially making the colon younger.

Colonoscopies are not something many like to think about, but it's definitely an important thing to consider.