Posted on 05/05/2014 12:31:39 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Colonoscopy is important because it is a potentially life-saving procedure that can prevent the development of colon cancer. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, yet it is one of the most preventable types of cancer. This year, 50,000 people are expected to die of colorectal cancer. Screening with colonoscopy could save more than half of these lives.
Colonoscopy does not only find colon cancer but can prevent it by removal of polyps, which are abnormal, precancerous growths in the colon. If polyps are found, they can be removed during colonoscopy, which halts their progression to colon cancer. Typically, colonoscopy is recommended for anyone over age 50, but individuals with increased risk should consult with their doctors.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
A colonoscope may have saved my life. I’m going on 2 years cancer free now, I had a cancer that had nearly made its way through the colon wall at the time I had the test. I had another large tumor and thousands of precancerous lesions.
My kids will need to be screened much earlier than me but colonoscopy is very important. I encourage everyone not to put it off.
I get a colonoscope every 6 months with annual scope from the top to boot. If all goes well, after the next upper and lower, I can go a year for the lower and may not need the upper again.
I am growing to despise the prep.
I know of at least 3 people who have had major problems with removal of the polyps. They spent many days at the hospital in intensive care.
“The procedure is minor.”
Not if they hit something- then it hurts like h*ll even while you are half out of it!!!!
Every 6 months? Wow!! The medical industry must love you. The American Cancer Society and the CDC recommend one every 10 years.
Wolfpat,
I had a few rounds of diverticulitis 15 or so years ago. Then instead of the diet they recommended, I went to a high fiber diet complete with seeds and nuts. At my last colonoscopy, almost all the diverticula were gone! Smoothed out and gone.
Good luck to you.
The world changes when you are diagnosed with cancer. If my next test is normal, we will stretch that out to yearly, or maybe every two years if I can talk him into it.
Having an endoscopy and colonospy tomorrow. Prep is Moviprep. Pain is, off coumadin for 5 days and the Lovenox belly shots are the bridge.
The preventive medicine task force has recommended against routine PSA testing for a number of years now.
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis from my first colonoscopy.
I HAD to have one when I was 48....I was bleeding and the doctor removed a huge polyp that was not cancerous but I was told if I ignored it then there would have been a problem.
I woke up and the proc doc was drinking wine and smoking a cigarette. “Was it good for you?”
My dad had colon cancer. Because of this, my doc mandates a colonoscopy every year. Last year he did find a polyp which he removed.
Please - get it done!! I watched my mother die a very hard death from colon cancer and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone!!
If you have an immediate family member who has had colon cancer start getting your tests at age 40! I had a precancerous polyp removed at age 44, but thankfully, no more precancerous ones. Without the test, I would have died the same way and at the same age as my mother.
Colon cancer is now one cancer we can at least try to hold back.
When it was over, my wife took me to Capital Grille that night and I ordered the biggest steak on the menu. They say you should take it easy on the food for a day or two but as soon as the procedure was done, my appetite roared back and my body told me to eat, drink and be merry so I obliged!
The procedure itself is quite a trip. They put you under "twilight" sedation so you aren't really knocked out but you aren't with it either. I remember being wheeled into the room and as the procedure started, the doctor was talking to the assistant about the Red Sox. I remember the conversation but was unable to speak as I was in between being conscious and asleep. Suddenly I'm being wheeled out of there and I was told a half hour had gone by even though it seemed to me only 2 or 3 minutes.
So no big deal at all. I was nervous about it the first time and had put it off as long as possible but I'm not going to have any issue getting it done again in five years.
So I recommend every man getting it done sooner rather than later.
My neighbor died of colon cancer about five years ago at age 51. He had a history of cancer in the family and had been told to have a colonoscopy starting at age 40, but did not do so until too late.
I did the same thing. After my latest procedure was over, went to Outback with the family and had the bloomin' onion followed by a nice prime rib.
They better take a second look for his pet gerbil while they're at it.
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