On average, patients need somewhere around 24 hours to recover, and many are able to resume their normal activities the next day. If colorectal polyps are found and removed, the recovery period may take about a week. It is not uncommon to notice a few abdominal symptoms after your colon cancer screening, such as cramping and/or bloating. Our Hattiesburg GI Associates doctors will give you further information about what to expect while you recover.