No Polyps Found as President Bush Undergoes Colonoscopy

President Bush underwent a screening colonoscopy performed by military doctors at the presidential retreat at Camp David, and no evidence was found of any problems, according to a White House spokersperson.

"No polyps were found and no evidence of any abnormalities was discovered," a White House statement said.

A couple of hours after the procedure, during which Bush was under sedation for about 20 minutes, the president took a four-and-one-half mile walk around Camp David with first lady Laura Bush and younger brother Marvin Bush.

Air Force Col. Richard J. Tubb, the presidential physician, later told reporters at the White House that Bush was in good spirits and "continues to be in outstanding health."

"He is an inquisitive patient -- he wants to know exactly what's going to transpire and afterwards, what has transpired," Tubb said. "He would be joking about the exam and about wanting to get back to a normal diet and normal activity."

Tubb recommended routine screening for colorectal cancer for people over 50, noting that it often has no symptoms or warnings.

Dr. Christy A. Russell, a medical oncologist at the University of Southern California Medical Center, said the 55-year-old Bush was wise to have the colonoscopy since doctors found polyps during screenings in 1998 and 1999.

She noted that "the purpose of a colonoscopy is not to look for cancer, but to remove those polyps. If they are removed, then it's virtually certain you will not have colon cancer.

"If everybody had this screening test regularly, we could almost completely eradicate all colon cancer," Russell said.

Other Sources: White House, American Cancer Society