Medically reviewed by Ayanna Lewis, M.D.
Designed by Elizabeth Gething
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… 3 days before A woman, Meg, around age 45 whose race is ambiguous, is receiving a RX at the pharmacy |
Pharmacist: So, you’re having a colonoscopy? Good for you. Here’s your medicine for the prep. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. Meg: I’ve heard it can be rough! Is there anything I can do to make it easier? Pharmacist: Yeah, you’ll want to stay close to the bathroom. But you can eat a low-fiber diet a few days before to make it a little easier. The day before your procedure, stick to a clear liquid diet. |
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(Pull out) Avoid Whole grains Nuts & Seeds Dried fruit Raw fruit Vegetables |
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… the day before Reading the back of the box Then show her taking the pills and drinking PULLOUT: Bowel prep kits can be liquid, tables, pills or powder |
Meg … Thought bubble: So, I have to take these pills with a full glass of water until I finish them. |
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Convey that Meg is doing things around her house — be sure her ambiguous-gendered partner and kids make appearances in the background — as she waits for the prep to kick in |
Thought bubble: Hmmm … the prep isn’t working. Thought bubble: I really thought I’d be feeling it by now. |
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Show a surprised face and then show Meg running to and from the bathroom a few times, maybe with Tazmanian devil lines all around her |
Oh! Now it’s working! Yup, it’s working! |
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The two kids heads and a dog’s head pop in to the frame as they watch Meg run to the bathroom. |
It must be finally working! |
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PULLOUT: Have these handy: Baby or adult wipes with aloe & vitamin E Diaper cream Petroleum jelly |
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… the day of Meg enters the facility with her partner. |
Receptionist: Are you ready for the big day? Do you have someone here to drive you home? Meg: Yes, my partner’s going to stay with me. |
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Quick series to show her putting on a medical gown, and then in an OR with a big screen next to her with a medical team around her, she should be lying on her left side. Show external monitor that the doctor will be looking at |
Nurse: Here, you go. C hange into this gown. Everything comes off! Don’t worry, it sounds worse than it is. You won’t feel a thing, and it’ll be over before you know it. Doctor says: We’re just going to make you comfortable, give you a sedative and use a small camera to take a look at your colon. We’ll be checking for polyps and any other abnormalities. |
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Meg is on the table, lying on her left side, with an anesthesiologist nearby |
Anesthesiologist: Count backward from 100. |
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Meg wakes up and sees her partner in the chair next to her in a recovery room (or stall) |
Meg: When are they doing the procedure?
Meg: It’s done? All that worrying for nothing? |
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Doctor walks in |
Doctor: The lead-up is definitely worse than the procedure. And I’ve got your results right here. Everything looked good, and you don’t have to visit me again for 10 years. No butts about it — screening is easy! |
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Screening Guidelines
Risk Factors Include |
All adults should be screened for colon cancer regularly starting at age 45.
Family history of colorectal cancer Inflammatory bowel disease Certain genetic syndromes, including Lynch syndrome Tobacco & alcohol use Overweight and obesity A low-fiber, high-fat diet Ashkenazi Jewish heritage |
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Follow-Up Guidelines |
After your test is over, your HCP will tell you when to get screened again. If you have polyps, follow up could be anywhere from one month to 10 years. |
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For more information, please visit HealthyWomen.org |
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This resource was created with support from Merck. |
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