I just saw a surgeon about a hernia repair and he scheduled me for a colonoscopy first (no symptoms at all) he says he needs to rule out any bowel problems before the surgery. My grandmother had bowel cancer at the age of 76. My hernia is above the umbilicus and I can't imagine why he needs to look at my colon first - I also had a recent abdominal ct scan with contrast which I think (?) would pick up any cancer. Does a colonoscopy sound like a reasonable preoperative test?? I have searched the literature and can't find any that suggests colonoscopy before ventral hernia repair. Has anyone had this done?