Colonoscopy

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:02 pm

Does anyone know how often a person with MC should get a colonoscopy? Every year? Every five? Never again?

Mandy

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:55 pm

Whatever your normal cancer-screening interval happens to be.

Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:18 pm

I totally agree because whether or not MC shows up with the biopsies... I don't think it matter one whit. If you have MC you have it for life. You may go into remission but the possibility is still there. If I'm wrong, someone correct me please.

Love, Shirley

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:22 pm

I don't know what a normal screening time would be. And doesn't a colonoscopy aggravate MC?

Mandy

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:41 pm

http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/FindCance ... -of-cancer

The scoping may or may not aggravate it, but the caustic solutions used for cleanout not only aggravate MC, but can trigger it. Once in a while, though, some patients find that the cleanout stops their D, or at least puts it on hold for a while.

Shirley is quite correct, of course.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:54 am

Hi Mandy,

I agree with the above. Actually, I am a case in point for what Shirley said. I had a relapse after having a normal biopsy. And, as Tex indicated, I believe it may have been due to the corrosive cleanout drug (a 2-week supply of Miralax taken all at once).

I really don't think continuing MC is a valid reason for repeating the colonoscopy, although some GI docs seem ro recommend more frequent colonoscopies, especailly when they have no idea what to do with continuing/recurring MC symptoms.

The usual recommended frequency is once every 10 years between ages 50 and 75. Unless there is a family history of colon cancer - then it will be done earlier. Or unless polyps are found - then every 5 years is recommended. (I had polyps on 2 occasions so am on a 5 yr. interval). Of course, I wish that I would NEVER have to have another one! LOL!

Love,

Polly

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:11 am

So for those of us under 50, there is no need for a colonoscopy until we're 50? I had my diagnostic colonoscopy at age 35, and I vaguely recall my GI recommending 8 years...but she's not my doc anymore, so it's up to me. :cool:

Post by **tex** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 10:54 am

As long as the exam didn't find any polyps, that schedule should work. If any polyps were removed, I'd suggest 5 years.

Tex

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 6:48 pm

I had polyps at 50,removal showed no issues, another colonoscopy 5 years later with more polyps which were removed, another colonoscopy due to MC 3 years later, no polyps and I believe I don't need another one for 10 years. I have an appointment with my pcp this year and will confirm this. That's all the medical care I'm getting these days and it is at the Mayo Clinic, which in spite of some of their positions, I believe, has excellent medical care.

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:35 pm

Okay, here's my two cents' worth: I have a family history of rampant colon cancer (the 13th case was just diagnosed about a month ago), so I have done a hemocult every 5 years since I was 20, and last year when I turned 40 the doctor did a colonoscopy. Despite the fact that my scope didn't show any polyps or cancer, I will still have one every 5 years because of the family history. Colon cancer is a slow-moving cancer that is 98% curable IF it's caught in the early stages. If it spreads beyond the colon, the survival rates drop way off. SO, yes, I know that those of us with MC dread a relapse due to the prep for a colonoscopy, and yes, it's unpleasant, but if you've ever had any polyps, or if you have a family history, you should be scoped every 5 years. I would rather have MC than cancer.

By the way, that 13th case? My mother's 60-year-old cousin, who had not had a colonoscopy (despite the family history), and now has stage-4 colon cancer. His dad had colon cancer 20 years ago, but it was caught early and he survived it. The son probably won't.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:43 pm

Polly wrote:I really don't think continuing MC is a valid reason for repeating the colonoscopy, although some GI docs seem ro recommend more frequent colonoscopies, especailly when they have no idea what to do with continuing/recurring MC symptoms.

That's exactly what my GI recommended today. It's been 5 years since my last colonoscopy. He doesn't have a clue how to manage my MC, other than prescribe Entocort, so he's thinking that I must have something else wrong. I figured that would be his suggestion because he pushed for one the last time I saw him. When I balked and told him I didn't want to put such a caustic solution into my intestines, he got very defensive and said that hundreds of thousand of people have taken it, even 80-year-old women with thin colons, and they are doing fine. I countered and told him that my colon is already inflamed - why would I put something caustic into it? At the end of the visit, he suggested that he could do a sigmoidoscopy and I'd only have to do an enema. I didn't jump on his suggestion, of course.

Gloria

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:18 pm

Gloria,

Good for you for standing your ground. And if colonoscopies were no problem for 80 yr. olds, why have they recently recommended to stop doing them after age 75??? You must feel so frustrated with your GI doc. Hang in there............

Hugs,

Polly

Post by **tex** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:36 pm

Gastroenterologists who want to do another colonoscopy because the patient isn't responding to treatment, are a lot like Linus in the Charlie Brown cartoon series, always searching for the giant pumpkin. The gastros are always expecting to find something in there that they missed the first time, but they never do. Like Linus, though, they're convinced that it will eventually show up, if they keep searching.

It never dawns on them they just don't know how to treat the disease.

Tex

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:36 am

Since I have given up on GIs my PCP is trying to push me to a colonoscopy. I am adamantly refusing and she is not happy but I explained that the caustic chemicals ingested for clean out might put me back at step 1 in healing. Needless to say, I don't think she gets it. So for me no more.

Love, Maggie

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:52 pm

After my diagnosis 5 years ago I was told to do another one in 5 years. Due to some severe health issues and changing doctors, I had it done after 4 years. My GI removed a polyp so I'm scheduled for another in 3 years. Not looking forward to it, but it makes sense in my case.