Welcome to Carolina Digestive Disease
We are Carolina Digestive Disease and Palmetto Endoscopy Suite.
Our committed team of gastroenterology/hepatology physicians, nurses and associates are passionate about
achieving good digestive health for our patients — and ensuring the prevention of colon cancer with early
examination and screening.
We offer a comprehensive range of diagnostic and treatment services in a convenient location with easy parking in
the heart of the downtown medical community. We specialize in digestive disorders and disease, including
colorectal cancer screening, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), gallbladder disease, pancreatic disease and liver disease. We are fully equipped to perform diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy and upper endoscopy procedures in our “state of the art” accredited Palmetto Endoscopy Suite.
Scheduling a Colonoscopy
We provide a service that allows healthy, age-appropriate patients to easily schedule a colonoscopy, usually without a pre-procedure office visit.
Colonoscopy is advised for all average-risk patients, age 50 and older, as the preferred method of colon cancer screening. Patients with significant illnesses (poorly controlled diabetes, significant cardiac disease, severe breathing problems, kidney problems) are advised to schedule an office appointment prior to the procedure.
If you have rectal bleeding, pain in the abdominal area, changes in bowel habits, or any other gastrointestinal issues, scheduling a colonoscopy without a doctor's office visit may not be best for you. If you are experiencing any of these problems or have other significant medical history, we encourage you to call our office at 803.509.5710 and schedule an office visit first.
If you are in good health and wish to schedule your colonoscopy, please complete and submit your name, daytime phone number, and email below. Once submitted, you will be contacted within 24 hours (or the following Monday, if received on Friday) by a nurse to obtain or update your medical history, provide more information about the procedure, and schedule a convenient procedure time.
Open Access Colonoscopy
Understanding Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the United States. Early diagnosis often leads to a complete cure.
There is no single cause, but it usually begins as non-cancerous polyps. These polyps slowly develop into cancer.
Those at higher risk:
- are over 50 years of age
- are African American and over 45 years of age
- are Eastern European descent
- eat a diet high in fat and red/ processed meat; low in fiber
- have cancer elsewhere in the body
- have colorectal polyps
- have family history of colorectal cancer
- have inflammatory bowel disease
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms,
but any one of the following may be an indicator:
- Abdominal pain
- Tenderness in the lower abdominal area
- Blood in the stool
- Diarrhea, constipation or other change in bowel habits
- Intestinal obstructions
- Narrow stools
- Unexplained anemia
- Weight loss with no known reason