Your first visit to the office will be more productive if you have decided in advance why the visit is important to you. You will have different reasons at different times. However, the reason you are going to your physician will usually fall into one of three categories listed below:

• I am healthy as far as I know, but I want an evaluation of my colon.
• I have noticed something, or someone else has, and I am concerned about it. Specific concerns about your colon raise three additional questions: Does your physician agree that something exists? Is the finding a sign of cancer? If it is not cancer, what is the best treatment?
• I have recently been diagnosed with a condition and want to understand my options for treatment.

Before you go to your appointment you should also gather all of the information that is available about you. This should include your colon X-ray studies, colonoscopy reports, biopsy reports and any other studies that may be available. The written report of the observations related to these treatments and any prior surgeries is also very important. You should include reports from previous physicians or specialists who may have seen you in the past about this condition. You should include information about your family history as far as colon and rectal, breast, uterine and ovarian cancer is concerned. Additionally, an accurate list of your current medicines and allergies will be very useful.