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Having a colonoscopy is like joining a secret club no one brags about, so asking questions about what to expect can get tricky.

Early detection of problems like colorectal cancer, though, drastically increases your chances of survival, so Lifehacker’s Deb Schwartz spoke to experts to guide you through the process, and remove the mystery.

So, grab a magazine, head for the bathroom, and read up. Consider it practice.

Here’s a quick excerpt:

What Is a Colonoscopy and Why Get One?

During a colonoscopy, your doctor uses a very thin and flexible scope equipped with a light to inspect the lining of your colon for polyps. Most polyps are benign, but some are capable of becoming cancerous if they are not removed, and others are malignant. If the doctor finds a polyp, it can be immediately removed and sent to a lab for analysis.

Colorectal cancer is really common (it’s the third most common cancer in men and women) but it’s also very preventable. Death rates from colorectal cancer have been dropping in recent years, which the American Cancer Society attributes to increased screening and removal of polyps which, if left in place, might have turned into cancer. It can take as many as 10 to 15 years for a polyp to develop into colorectal cancer, and during this time it’s possible not to have any symptoms that might reveal its existence. As with most cancers, if colorectal cancer is found early, it’s much more likely to be curable.

Full story at Lifehacker.

Early cancer detection is key.