The inspection time varies depending on the patient's situation, but generally it takes about 30-45 minutes. The hold time is around 1.5-2 hours for colonoscopy.

The results can be known on the same day (if there are polyps or tissue resection tests, there is usually a report after one to two weeks).

If you are suffering from upper abdominal pain, acid reflux, heartburn, upper abdominal bloating, difficulty in swallowing or foreign body (such as fishbone ingestion), gastroscopy will be recommended.

A gastroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure. It is a safe procedure, but like all medical procedures it does carry a risk of complications. Possible complications that can occur include:

• Respiratory complication: e.g. Aspiration pneumonia
• Haemorrhage (less than 1:3000), perforation (1 in 10,000) and death (1:50,000). If therapeutic procedures are required (e.g. polypectomy, endoscopic hemostasis etc), the risks are in general slightly higher
• Soreness of throat
• Bloating due to air in the stomach

You will be instructed to follow the food intake guideline: stop ingesting high fiber diet/drink within 3 days before the procedure. Laxative for the cleaning of large intestine will be given to patients the night before the procedure.

Colorectal cancer often begins as a growth called a polyp inside the colon or rectum. Early detection is important because finding and removing polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool, that lasts longer than four weeks. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain.

Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of the patients.

Stomach cancer occurs when malignant tumours are present in the tissues of the stomach. It is slow-developing and may grow for many years before symptoms appear. Stomach cancer can spread through the stomach wall to nearby organs, such as the liver, pancreas or large bowel. It can travel via the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes or via the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the lungs.

 

It was the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hong Kong and accounted for 4.7% of all cancer deaths in 2019. It is also more common among men. Risk factors include aging, H. pylori infection, smoking, alcohol use, consuming foods preserved by salting, processed meat, and obesity.

Oesophageal cancer develops when abnormal cells in the food pipe (oesophagus) grow in an uncontrolled manner. Food is carried from your mouth to your stomach via the oesophagus. Oesophageal cancer is often found where the oesophagus meets the stomach. People above the age of 60 are most susceptible to this form of cancer.

Oesophageal cancer is quite common in Hong Kong, accounting for 1.4% of all new cancer cases in 2015, according to the Department of Health. It is also more common among men than women, with the ratio being approximately 3.6 to 1.

Risk factors include aging, smoking, and drinking. The usual symptom is difficulty in swallowing. However, it may escalate to difficulty in swallowing solid food to vomiting, back and chest discomfort, malnutrition, and significant weight loss.