Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the endoscopic examination of the colon and the distal part of the small bowel with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. It may provide a visual diagnosis (e.g. ulceration, polyps) and grants the opportunity for biopsy or removal of suspected lesions.

Colonoscopy can remove polyps as small as one millimetre or less. Once polyps are removed, they can be studied with the aid of a microscope to determine if they are precancerous or not.
Continued here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonoscopy

I had my first one done yesterday.... The peace of mind from getting bascially a clean bill of health is worth its weight in gold... Had two polyps removed...

The hard part is the liquid only diet the day before. That and seeing all the TV Commercials there are about FOOD products didn't help a bit

I left my first colonoscopy until I had colon cancer -- too late

I spent 7 days in hospital and lost a third of my colon, and I consider myself one of the lucky ones ~ other family members haven't been so lucky.

Compared to the surgery, a colonoscopy is a breeze. Those of us who have been through the prostate cancer mill (DRE, biopsy) will be in familiar territory. As Steve and Garth said, the hard part is the preparation.

Colo-rectal cancer is very curable if caught early, but deadly if not. And as it is a very common cancer in men and women, we should seriously consider checks from around age 50.

Garth - I was given both a pill at noon and the liquid Drain-O at six pm. My liquid was only about a half gallon which is one of the newer features of the prep from what I understand. The liquid came with my choice of five different flavors... OH BOY. Orange worked for me.

Piano - I have an online friend that mentioned he lost half his colon at age 38... Chatting with him is what helped push me over the edge and Git-er-Done...

I've had three upper GI tests and two lower GI tests in my life. The white chalk crap you drink for the upper test is HORRIBLE compared to the colonoscopy stuff.

EDIT: I brought up my prostate surgery twice with my Doc... He mentioned that its two diferent systems and for me to not worry about anything.

Aaah, yes, when I reached the magical age of fifty I knew I was due for the "sneaky snake"! It surely wasn't one of those things you look forward to. I had all the pre conceived thoughts and had listened to the na sayers. After all it's an exit not an entrance and that garden hose looking thing goes where?
I'm right along on complaining about the prep, it's nothing to do while on the road or away from one's golden throne. Chugging down bottles of Gatoraide, I did what I had to do.
The procedure was easy enough, I stayed awake and watched it all on the monitor. I saw my three (small) polyps being removed. There was a bit of discomfort but no pain. Out of the three polyps two came back as pre cancerous. The Doctor has recommend that I have the sneaky snake visit me in two years.
My Colonoscopy went very well as far as I'm concerned. It's what else the Doctor discovered that had me extremely worried. The Doc informed me that my prostate was enlarged, and that he felt what he thought was a cyst. Wow, I had just received a clean bill of health and now I had something to worry about. A biopsy would confirm the worst, PCa with a Gleason score of seven. From there the journey started, getting cured, getting the monster taken care of.
It's gone now, clean margins, no spread to the lymph nodes or seminal vesicles. I'm close to a month out of surgery, recovery hasn't been that awful. Yes, there is some internal pain, swollen testes, and stress incontinence. The one eye warrior hasn't stood at attention yet. But I'm ecstatic to know for now the cancer is gone.

Hello:

My husband does not have prostate cancer but his urologist is keeping a close eye on him with psa test every 6 months. He is also taking Avodart and has seen a good drop in his psa.

His 6 month psa test and his yearly colonoscopy always seem to fall close together this year being Oct. 19 for the colonoscopy and then Nov. 7 for his psa test.

So that will be 19 days.

I always worry that the colonoscopy will put his psa up that long after?

Anyone know???

Thank You in advance .

Also THANK YOU for such a good message board I read it every day

I had a colonoscopy done about 8 years ago and got a clean bill of health. Then I had my RRP in 2006 and SRT in 2008. Now my Dr. advised against another colonoscopy. He is concerned about bowl perforation during the procedure. Has any one else had a similar experience?

Mag

I just turned 59, and have never had one, nor one suggested by my doctors.

Kbars, no reason, but of course mention your prostatectomy to the screeners. I had a colonoscopy about 9 months after prostatectomy and there were no problems.

My first colonoscopy plan got interrupted by a detour into PCa/RALP. Had to do the liquid purge for that procedure. It's really time to do the 'scope, which I'm not too worried about, but the draino has me put way off. Two weeks after the RALP, I found a label from the liquid box and threw up just from looking at it. I'm hoping the pills are easier to deal with...true?

I had mine last year and had 2 polyps. I worried until I received the results. I had to multi-task worry about prostate cancer and the polyps. It did show me worrying doesn't help but I am a worrier!

David, I'm with Aimzee in my surprise that your PCP has never brought up the subject. Unless there is a medical reason why you should definitely not have one, almost every major medical organization suggests regular colon screening starting at age 50. That includes colonoscopy at least every 10 years. I would seriously question the capabilities, education and competence of a physician who does not at least discuss this with a patient.

Tudpock (Jim)

Steve your a very wise man. I hated thinking of having mine done but you just gotta do it. Part of growing old we have more places poked and prodded than you ever think possible. The good thing is after my open radical there in not a single bone in my body that is modest. All modesty was gone the day of my surgery. :)

Cajun Jeff

To help make things clearer on my case, I talked to my new oncologist on last visit about a colonostopy, and he feels that I would be at extreme risk for rectal damage due to the severe radiation damage I received, damage bad enough to fry my bladder and bladder neck. He said there could be likely damage done to the walls in that area from the test, that could give me a new set of problems.

During the "normal" time period that people start to get the test, I was fighting 3 other bouts of cancer aside from PC, and involved in numerous operations. Had so many back to back health issues going on.

So no need for any doctor bashing here

I am not wanting to take the potential risk at this point, and to be honest, I've reach the point where I simply wouldn't even want to know about a new set of problems to worry about. If any of my doctors had some compelling reason to do a colonosocpy, then I would be willing to re-condsider the risks invovled With me, nothing is every simple.

David in SC