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Colonoscopy after Prostate Surgery

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Posted 10/6/2010 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
There have been some threads asking about having a colonoscopy after prostate removal.  Since I turned 50 this year and had my prostate removed at age 48, I had my first colonoscopy last Thursday.  The prep work wasn't fun but the actual procedure was easier than the prostate biopsy because I was sedated.  I had two polyps and I was concerned.  The nurse called today and said everything was OK.  I guess after going through PC, I immediately get concerned and started thinking about the prospects of being diagnosed with another cancer.  I will say I couldn't find a site on colon cancer as good as this site is for prostate cancer. 
Posted 10/6/2010 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
rob, so very glad you got the clear signal on that.
Posted 10/7/2010 12:32 AM (GMT 0)

Congratulations on your successful colonoscopy. 

I just saw my uro for my six-week appointment after DaVinci surgery.  I'm definitely due for a colonoscopy.  I had read some comments warning about scheduling a colonoscopy too soon after prostate surgery.  He said I can wait if I want to, but that there's no medical reason to do so.  He said I can have the colonoscopy anytime I want.  I was especially concerned because he had removed a lot of bowel adhesions during the prostatectomy, but he assured me it would not be a problem.

Posted 10/7/2010 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Good news on a successful colonoscopy. I had one 6 months after my PC surgery. The year before my RRP I had a sigmoid resection to cure my tuberculosis disease. The surgeon took 1 ft of colon. It was a painful surgery but it cured the problem.
Posted 10/7/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
My husband had a colonoscopy about 7 weeks after his biopsy, 5 weeks before his RALP which was last Friday. All clear once again. He is a 7 1/2 year colon cancer survivor. He was 56 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer....and had never had a colonoscopy prior to his right hemicolectomy to remove a large tumor. We were fortunate he had what he thought was an attack of appendicitis which caused him to see his PCP, that the cancer was Stage 2+ when discovered and treatable with surgery, 6 months of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. We have since known a number of people who were diagnosed after it was too late and died within a year or less thereafter.

So, kudos to you for having a colonoscopy. Everyone should have one by age 50 or 10 years earlier than a 1st degree relative (father, mother, sibling) was diagnosed with the disease. Colon cancer could be virtually eliminated if that protocol was followed.
Posted 10/7/2010 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Pity that people will publicize Colonoscopies (I've had one) before they will talk about PCa.

I'll be due again in 2012.

 

Posted 10/7/2010 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
The first one I had years ago I was given a valium. I got to watch the process on the monitor along with the doctor. I get one every 5 years or until a doctor needs to make a car payment. All of them since the first I've been put out.
Posted 10/7/2010 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone gotten a virtual colonospsy? I need to get one, but since I had radiation I'm leary of complications.
JT
Posted 10/7/2010 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
john, i took you literally. are you being serious, is there such a thing?
Posted 10/7/2010 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
John might be talking about the pill you can take that has a camera in it. Or the 3D CT scan. I expect that neither can see as well as a regular colonscopy, plus doc can't go in and snip or trim if he thinks its warranted. Last I heard, the camera was still experimental. And the CT scan exposes you to radiation, so if you're leery of more radiation exposure, that's not the path to take...

...Decided to look it up online. The CT scan approach does have the advantage of seeing farther "upstream" than the scope can reach.

DJ
Posted 10/7/2010 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
from what i read

The Virtual Colonoscopy

1) Not covered by most Ins
2) Sill have to do the bowel prep
3) It used a tube that is still inserted in the anus
4) If polyp found they switch and use a colonoscope and remove it the conventional way
5) They need to fill intestines with gas

Not clear on what the advantages are exactly other than no sedation and you can drive home ( due to no sedation)

I suppose if they find a polyp and switch midway that they sedate you
Posted 10/7/2010 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
JohnT,

I had a colonoscopy about three months after my radiation was completed. There were no complications arising from the radiation and I had one polyp removed. Benign tissue was the verdict. I had never had one before and after being diagnosed with the PCa after one PSA test I was quite concerned. Like everyone else says the worst part was the prep. That laxative is nasty tasting!

Don

 

Posted 10/8/2010 2:55 PM (GMT 0)

I am reading this thread and it appears that a lot of us have had either colon cancer and PC, or pre-cancerous polyps and PC.  When I turned 50 like a good little boy (and thank god for nagging wives) I got the colonoscopy and 5 pre-cancerous polyps were removed.  I never went more than 2 years without a physical (again the wife). The last physical was the one that raised red flags and I was diagnosed with the PC at a very early stage.

The main point I am trying to make is, a lot of lives, grief and money could be saved if people would just get the physicals and testing they are always talking about. 

I consider myself to be a textbook example of the benefits of getting taking care of physicals, etc.

Just couldn’t resist commenting.

Posted 10/8/2010 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Woodworker - Oh, how I wish my husband had done what you did - had a first colonoscopy at 50. I could and should have nagged him but I was in la-la land too as far as regular check-ups. You surely saved yourself a lot of grief....and quite possibly your life by having the test done timely.

At 56, my husband had not been hospitalized since birth, nor ever had ANY physical ailments worse than a cold when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. The docs said it had probably been growing for 7 years. Ironically just weeks before his diagnosis we had agreed to proceed with having colonoscopies as soon as our son's senior (high school) wrestling competition was done for the year. That was in January, Tim was diagnosed the first week of February and missed a few wrestling matches as a result. The next six months on chemo and radiation were among the worst of our lives - he was so sick, looked like death warmed over and we just slogged through trying to hold his practice together while he was in treatment. After the initial surgery, he never missed a day's work and only took time off enough to go for his treatments. Looking back, we still don't see how we managed to hold body and soul together. It was at least two years post-chemo before Tim really felt like himself again.

So, you done real good.

You've raised another issue...is there a connection between colon cancer and prostate cancer? Is someone who has one, likely to experience the other at some point down the road? I have not read anything that indicates this, but with so many anecdotal incidents, one has to wonder.
Posted 10/8/2010 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
I had a colonoscopy about three years ago, and it was clean - no issues at all.

Then the PCa last year, so I would be a statistical mark against an association.

I did have significant other colo-rectal issues a few years earlier, so that has made the PCa recovery more problematic.

I checked on the "virtual" colonoscopy, and found nothing to actually make it a winning choice. Went with standard.

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