Colonoscopy-Yes Or No?

[canopynut66]

I have hit the big 50 and my Doctor is pushing hard for a Colonoscopy.I am having no problems and have no family history.

I have been reading about possible complications from the procedure.

I don't want to have it done,but know my Doctor is just trying to do the recommended thing at my age.

For those of you who elected to have it done at age 50,are you glad you did it or do you regret having it done?

Thanks!

Get it done the worst part is prepping for it as they give you valium in the vein and it is over in no time. I felt fine also and was 50 and time to have one and ended up having 4 pre-cancerous polyps that they removed while in there. Then my Doctor has a video of the procedure and showed me where they were at. Then my follow up was 4 years later and then 5 years and now is another 4 years as have only had one more polyp.
Things can go wrong the older we get as the lntestine gets thinner as we age. Just want to be sure is good Doctor and hospital and that Doctor has done several and my Primary Doctor had said a full scope ,not the short one as the short one does not show enough. I just done what they told me to and all went fine

 

[canopynut66]

My aunt (on my father's side that I don't know well), she had to fight with doctors to get the procedure done. By the time it was finally approved, it was already stage 3 cancer. I don't know how long she had, but she died last year from it. If they're giving you the go ahead, just do it.

that is horrible as polyps are slow growing so I have been told. Know that Insurance companies do not cover under 50 years old. My son in laws sister was 42 and she also died from colon cancer as no one would listen to her symptoms blamed on so many other things bloating and menopause etc and when they "finally" did the scope was stage 5. so sorry about your loss.

 

[Mickey527]

Another one here saying get off your B*tt and get it done.
I had my first at 45 and they found 4 polyps. told to come back in 10 years.
At 50 I had breast cancer and called the DR after treatments and she said get another with my history. She didn't find anything. But now I have to go every 5 years. I had one done about 4 months ago and she found 2 non cancerous polyps.
I will go back again in 3 years for another and keep going until I am no longer able to go.
The prep is the worst and the worst is drinking the fluid. this past time I had the huge 64 oz jug of go-lytly (which of course you don't). All the other times I only had to drink an 8 oz bottle of citrate of magnesium which was terrible but only 8 oz. My dr won't do the pills, she said you don't clean out well enough and she wants a good view.
I have a friend who has a colostomy bag and regrets daily that he waited till he had pain and bowel symptoms. Please don't let yourself get to that point, and of course death from colon cancer is not pretty either.

 

[monorailsilver]

My dh (42) had it done in June. His father died of Colon CA early June so he knew it was a must.

They found 6 or so pre cancerous polyps in there. He has to go back in a few years.

He was not looking forward to itjust because of where they were going to be working. But I just kept telling him that the medical professionals looking at his butt are probably talking about what they are going to do after work or what they are cooking for dinner that night or who is bringing in the donuts for the next days meeting. It didn't calm his nerves.

 

[mrsstats]

Do it. Not a big deal.

 

[Rora]

I think you should definitely get it done. I know it's not a fun experience whatsoever but it's 100% worth it.

I'm trying to convince my parents to go (they're both in their 50s) but neither are willing.

 

[Poohbear123]

I think you should definitely get it done. I know it's not a fun experience whatsoever but it's 100% worth it.

I'm trying to convince my parents to go (they're both in their 50s) but neither are willing.

I had both done, Coloy and the Endo and both were fine....I was 50 and have to go back in 6 years. Not a problem with preperation, as I am lactose intolerant anyway, and started "prepping" a day before the day before.

 

[dejr_8]

Huh? Doesn't that depend on what insurance you have?

Nope. Under the new health plan colonoscopies now have to be covered.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/09/20/new-health-care-reform-rules-debut-sept/

Preventive services covered. Beginning Sept. 23, all new or renewed health insurance plans must cover preventive services such as vaccinations, mammograms, colonoscopies, and nutrition counseling for obese patients. These services must be free to the patient, with no applicable deductible, co-pay or co-insurance.

 

[Diznotyzed]

I think it's amazing that there's a relatively simple procedure that in many cases prevents cancer. I had one right at 50. Nothing found, no problems, no regrets.

 

[elbowglitter]

My roommate just found out her mom has to go through another round of chemo for her colon cancer.

Do it.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I am scheduled to have this procedure next Wednesday. Like you, I was feeling somewhat ambivalent. The other day I was talking to someone who had hers done last week and they found 4 polyps. So, I'm sucking it up and getting it done. Why risk your health over a little discomfort? As for the risks, all medical procedures have risks. They just have to expose them to you to cover themselves. Really, though, when is the last time you heard of someone dying of complications due to a colonoscopy?

 

[WDWLVR]

I have hit the big 50 and my Doctor is pushing hard for a Colonoscopy.I am having no problems and have no family history.

I have been reading about possible complications from the procedure.

I don't want to have it done,but know my Doctor is just trying to do the recommended thing at my age.

For those of you who elected to have it done at age 50,are you glad you did it or do you regret having it done?

Thanks!

I put it off for a year after I hit 50. My doctor suggested it again when I went for my annual physical at 51. I'm glad he did as they found I had Stage 3 colon cancer. I've had surgery and chemo and have been clean for a year now. I no longer complain about having to have that colonoscopy and wish I had gone in that first year.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My grandfather had stage 4 colon cancer and the only reason he survived his that his tumor grew inward and did not spread. So it's in my family history. Get it done, if everything checks out, you are worry free for 10 years.
Now I'll pass along a bit of a horror story.

When I first began working in Payroll, we had an informal meeting every other week just to go over work stuff and then we would spend 20 min talking about family etc. One of my coworkers told us about a girl named Angie who used to be in Payroll but had moved on to another department. Her back started hurting. This was her only symptom. She finally went to the dr, they did the colonoscopy...it was end stage cancer. I don't even think they treated her at all, just made her comfortable. Three weeks after the diagnosis, she was dead at the age of 35.
Ok, there is more to this story. My boss, Sherry, didn't know Angie. She came to Payroll after Angie had left. But her back had been bothering her. She didn't say anything to anyone. Thank God she was in that meeting and it scared her to hear about a woman around her age with back pain and diagnosed with colon cancer (Angie had not died at this point). She went and had a colonoscopy and had Stage3 colon cancer AND it had already spread to her lymph nodes. She was 39 at the time. She came through ok eventually, but right before I left my job, she confided in me that her blood work wasn't looking good. It takes 5 years before you are considered cured, and this had only been 2 years. I really hope she doesn't have a reoccurance.
Go make your appt ASAP. EVERYONE says the prep is the worst. The last time my dad had his done, the dr. was getting ready to start the procedure and the very next thing he knew, the dr. told him everything looked fine. My dad said "but you haven't done it yet". The dr. laughed and said look, you are in a different room. My dad still wasn't convinced. He said, you just shook my hand and told me you were going to put me under but you never did. And now you are telling me it's over?? LOL
I don't know of any complications, but if there are, I'm sure the risk of not getting one is far more dangerous than any complication.

 

[*Meagan*]

YES you should have it done.

do not put it off.

Have it done.

Please.

 

[arminnie]

These are some harsh words (not mine) from a leading doctor in that field:

"Color cancer is a disease that is 90% caused by stupidity. People too stupid to have the colonoscopy that they were directed to have.

Colon cancer is fairly easy to prevent for most people over 50 with colonoscopies."

My cousin begged her husband for years and years (about 15) to have a colonoscopy. He didn't until he had bleeding at age 65. The cancer was no longer a polyp - it was the size of a softball! Not a good prognosis. It could have been prevented.

I think some men have a difficult time accepting the concept of the procedure. Women are more used to being poked and prodded. The patient is in la-la land long before any instruments are introduced.

 

[dejr_8]

These are some harsh words (not mine) from a leading doctor in that field:

"Color cancer is a disease that is 90% caused by stupidity. People too stupid to have the colonoscopy that they were directed to have.

Colon cancer is fairly easy to prevent for most people over 50 with colonoscopies."

My cousin begged her husband for years and years (about 15) to have a colonoscopy. He didn't until he had bleeding at age 65. The cancer was no longer a polyp - it was the size of a softball! Not a good prognosis. It could have been prevented.

I think some men have a difficult time accepting the concept of the procedure. Women are more used to being poked and prodded. The patient is in la-la land long before any instruments are introduced.

I was asked if I wanted to stay awake.

 

[tvguy]

What are these complications? I had my first done at age 50, but I don't recall what the possible complications are. (other than a reaction to the anesthesia - that can happen even at the dentist office.)

Phospho-soda, one of the cleansing preparations used before has recently been found to cause liver damage. Or maybe more accurately, COULD cause liver damage.

And there have been cases of hepatitis from improperly cleaned scopes. I believe one of the biggest cases of this involved people who had the proceedure at U.S Military hospitals. Apparently "official" military sterilization rules differed from the manufacturers, and apparently did not sterilize the scopes.

My wife had one at 50. No big deal. My doctor says they aren't necessary until 55, so I have 2 years to wait. Although the doctors group he belongs to did send me an occult stool test last year, apparently without my doctors knowledge, or permission. Came back clear.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Get it done, Wed. I'd like to meet you some time at WDW and don't want you to take chances.

 

[Jennasis]

Do it. Benefits outweigh the risks. Can't imagine why any sane person would put it off aside from just being afraid of the test.

 

[Cinderella94]

I'm 16 and I've had 2 because of my ulcerative colitis....you can do it.