Over 50? Stop stalling and get that colonoscopy

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rmuir

Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
Mar 26, 2017 - 11:50am PT
…I am unaware that there are any statistics to justify why you would have an "extra" procedure outside the 10 year guidelines…

My prior specialist—outside of Kaiser and Medicare—recommended five years between colonoscopies, with three years recommended if there were any prior 'issues." He was pretty well informed on latest best-practices, IMO. At least this was the prevailing medical opinion 8-10 years ago…

Ten years between seems like a cost-containment policy, given the benefits of early detection. I don't see the downside of doing this on a more frequent basis. A whole lotta sh#t can go down in ten years! ;-)
phylp

Trad climber
Upland, CA
Mar 26, 2017 - 01:38pm PT
A whole lotta sh#t can go down in ten years!


Very funny, and very true!!
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
Feb 27, 2018 - 08:29pm PT
I had my once every 10 years colonscopy last week. Last time around, in 2008, I was "clean as a whistle." (Perhaps that is not a good analogy, but you know what I mean.)

This time, when I woke up, the doctor explained I had 5 polyps removed, 4 tiny & one small-medium. They would be sent to biopsy to check if any were cancerous.

Cancer!

No problems in my family-tree previously, that I know of, but something to worry about for a week, until I got the biopsy results back.

I figured my odds were not good & at least one had to be cancerous, but I didn't stew or read up on the next step, if I had colon cancer, since I really didn't want to worry about it, if I didn't need to worry about it.

This weekend, the dark thoughts crept in, that it would be good for the clinic & the doctor, if one of the polyps was declared cancerous, even if it wasn't.

I received a letter today that all five polyps were cancer free!

Wooohooo!

Unfortunately, my next recommended Colonoscopy is now three years away, rather than 10 years away, due to those polyps.

I still feel gud, having once again, cheated death, for a while longer!

Cheers!
phylp

Trad climber
Upland, CA
Feb 28, 2018 - 09:06am PT
Great news, Fritz!
SC seagoat

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
Feb 28, 2018 - 09:20am PT
Yeah Fritz!!!! That waiting sh#t is AGONY. what restraint to not go Google nuts on all the things that could happen.

My dad had his last colonoscopy at age 89. It was clear and the doc said “see you in ten years”. My dad said “sure, right”.

So happy for your report. I’m due in two years....gosh how 10 years flies by.


GOOD FOR YOU! It’s good to know they’re staying on top of it.

Susan
zBrown

Ice climber
Jan 31, 2019 - 11:29am PT
I had my erratically scheduled 18 year interval colonoscopy today . Last time around, in 2000, I was "clean as a whistle." (Perhaps that is not a good analogy, but you know what I mean.)

1 sessile 4-5mm transverse colon polyp showed up. Awaitin biopsy, but eyeballing it resulted in a non-cancerous designation.

Repeat colonscopy in 5 years, "health permitting".

Huh?


Lorenzo

Trad climber
Portland Oregon
Jan 31, 2019 - 02:54pm PT
Repeat colonscopy in 5 years, "health permitting".

Huh?

They don’t scope corpses.
skitch

Gym climber
Bend Or
Jan 31, 2019 - 04:51pm PT
I'm 40 and can't for the life of me see why I'd want to live past 50. . .
zBrown

Ice climber
Jan 31, 2019 - 05:38pm PT

American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening

For people ages 76 through 85, the decision to be screened should be based on a person’s preferences, life expectancy, overall health, and prior screening history.

People over 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.

Interestingly enough, I know an 85 year old (with history) who had exam and cancer surgery at 85 years of age.

Also, my second experience with Demerol (first was kidney stones). The drug works well.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
Mar 30, 2019 - 10:57am PT
This is an important thread,
I didn’t know Rodney Jue, but this thread seems like an appropriate reminder
Best wishes my friends
Chugach

Trad climber
Vermont
Mar 31, 2019 - 09:17am PT
Bump. My sister is dealing with colon cancer at 48 y/o. Wasn't considering a colonoscopy for another two years.
i-b-goB

Social climber
Nutty
Mar 31, 2019 - 10:15am PT
TwistedCrank

climber
Released into general population, Idaho
Mar 31, 2019 - 10:22am PT
Blower!
zBrown

Ice climber
Mar 31, 2019 - 07:07pm PT
Stay the near the toilet is all I will say




GET CHECKED especially if you have symptoms





Robert Yoho

Social climber
Los Angeles,ca
Mar 31, 2019 - 07:28pm PT
This is not going to be easy to understand.

The numbers do NOT support screening colonoscopy.

See https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/worried-sick-md-hadler/1111440300?ean=9780807872338

In other words, colonoscopy in people without symptoms.

USA is only country which does this. The Gastrointerologists, who make billions , universally recommend this every few years.

The overall death rates are NOT improved. Of course, if you have symptoms such as bleeding, they must be evaluated. The procedure itself has small risks, and partial colectomty may have a fatality rate of 1/1000. And if you have hereditary polyposis or other colon problems such as Crohn’s disease, you should be evaluated regularly.
zBrown

Ice climber
Mar 31, 2019 - 07:37pm PT
I waited 18 years between exams

One non cancerous polyp was found

It is recommended now that I get another screen in three to five years

The Demerol was nice





jstan

climber
Mar 31, 2019 - 09:53pm PT
If you have a history of colon cancer in the family, doctors advise more frequent screening. And at higher ages they also are apt to screen more frequently. My mother died because of colon cancer. Believe me. You don't want to do this.

As to possible false positives on the PSA test, I would expect more frequent testing there also to see how fast PSA is increasing. When treatment has held PSA undetectable for a period of five years doctors may decrease testing frequency.

Doctors/ Government Bean Counters used to argue loudly for "watchful waiting" until you got symptoms. All based on statistical studies. Not so frequent now. Why would one prefer statistics in preference to data from direct tests( possibly incorrect but still a direct test). I found statistics and five cents assured me, in every case, I could get a five cent cup of coffee.

When faced with the need for a decision on such matters, I have found it useful to ask myself a simple question. What am I going to say when things don't work out the way I thought they would? This is even useful when climbing.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
Apr 1, 2019 - 07:00am PT
Robert,
The numbers are difficult to understand because they are garbage.
I ONLY trust peer reviewed mainstream journals.

My former dentist had stage 3 colon cancer at age 33, his kids will begin screaming at age 23 or earlier.

You simply cannot trust trash on the internet.

Dozens of articles support colon cancer screening.
Best
Ezra

Ps: you are correct that we are not living longer, but that is because we are fat as hell and overdosing on opiates.
Lifestyle certainly is an at least equally important role.

The two cancer screening programs with bulletproof data are colonoscopies and Pap smears
Messages 161 - 178 of total 178 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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