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Colonoscopy after RT

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Posted 5/16/2013 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had all three treatments; surgery, ADT and RT. My RT was completed in March 2012. Now its time for my routine colonoscopy. Does anyone have any info about the timing of colonoscopy after RT? Is there a risk of having colonoscopy after RT?

Thanks a lot

Traveller58
Posted 5/16/2013 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Good question. We are due for one also but cannot get a clear answer! already had bladder tumors from fried up bladder and the test may start the colon bleeding!
Posted 5/16/2013 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
..I have read yes it can be dangerous to wait 3 months or so. The colon wall sometimes gets compromised during surgery and a colonoscopy can perforate the lining wall. Definitely look into this before going. Pick the Doctors brain, I am only a regular guy..
Posted 5/16/2013 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
I had a colonoscopy about six months after BT and IGRT.  none of my doctors was concerned about the timing.  my colonoscopy came back clean -- no polyps or radiation damage.  I was told I wouldn't need another colonoscopy for 10 years.

ed

 

Posted 5/17/2013 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I had my colonoscopy just before my RT because my RO told me he hates putting instrumentation in newly irradiated tissue. Things can tear easily. Check with your RO before proceeding.
Posted 5/17/2013 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
I had RRP and SRT. My Dr advised against a colonoscopy, unless there is a valid reason for it, because of fear of perforation. My first and only one was about 10 years ago.
Posted 5/17/2013 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I had a colonoscopy six months after IGRT. The doctors weren't concerned but said they'd be careful.

I didn't have one because of the RT but because I've had colon polyps removed in the past and it was time for my 5 screening after that. The doc noted no new polyps but did see where the radiation had hit the colon.

I was told I didn't need to be screened again for at least 10 years - unless I got symptoms that needed to be checked out.

and the danger of a colonoscopy is the prep and that they might find something that needs treatment. And there is the risk of perforation (don't know how rare that might be). Not a procedure I recommend unless there is a reason - like a history of cancer in the family or bleeding that can't be explained - stuff like that.

All the best.
Andrew
Andrew
Posted 5/17/2013 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery in 2008 and had the colposcopy two years later. I told the doctor but he didn't seem to concerned. All was well. I will tell you the prep work is a lot harder than the actual scoping.
Posted 5/17/2013 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
My radiologist said wait one year after XBRT to have any procedure in the colon or surrounding area.
Posted 5/17/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your input
Take care
Posted 5/17/2013 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Traveller,
Be sure to tell your doctor you have had radiation and under NO conditions he perform a biopsy near the anal area. Some times radiated areas look suspicious, but if they are biopsied they will never heal and this causes serious problems. As long as this precaution is taken there should be no problem and there is not an issue with removing polyps since they are higher into the intestines. Inexperienced doctors have caused serious damage to radiation patients so be sure you have a doc that is experienced with radiation patients.
JohnT
Posted 5/17/2013 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi John T:

Thanks for the authoritative post that seems to be good advice.  Was that the opinion of the Dr. who was to perform the colonoscopy, or your RO?  My doctor to perform the colonoscopy did not seem to care whether I had radiation or not, so I suspect he is not aware of your advice.  Hard to find good help these days!

At 75, with my last colonoscopy done when I was 69, it is optional for me and I am not sure I want to take a chance of complications.

Houseboy

Posted 5/17/2013 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I want to emphasize what John T said. I had a colonoscopy about a year and a half after my SRT. My RO told me to tell the colonoscopy doc to do absolutely no biopsies in the lower 8 inches or so of rectum. My RO told me he had a patient in the past who ended up with a very bad infection and permanent damage from a punctured rectal wall from a biopsy. The RO told me that if they saw anything suspicious they were to do nothing and he would refer me to a specialist. Fortunately for me, they found nothing suspicious anyway.
Posted 5/18/2013 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
My oncologist insisted that he speak to the dr. performing the colonoscopy beforehand. Apparently the radiation creates 'hot spots' which could be mistaken for cancer. At least that's how I understand it.
Posted 5/18/2013 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
My RO told me exactly the same thing Bohemond said. Maybe we had the same RO.
Posted 5/18/2013 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery in February of 2009 and a colonoscopy in October of 2009. My doctor to was OK with itI don't know if having RT changes things.
Posted 5/21/2013 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Dear all,
Many thanks for your valuable comments. My RO (Dr. M. Zelefsky) wrote a letter to my gastroenterologist recommending him to avoid any biopsies and laser treatments of the rectum. I will be having a colonoscopy in two weeks time.
All the best and thanks again
Posted 5/22/2013 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
JohnT thank you very much for your comments and warnings. I had my first colonoscopy 5 years ago, 4 polyps (each 0.2 -0.3 cm) were discovered and removed at the rectum, all of which were defined as hiperplastic polyps in the pathology report. I had a meeting with my gastroenterologist today and discussed my situation with him. He is not going to perform any biopsies of the rectum, however he plans to remove any rectal polyps or colon polyps found during the colonoscopy. He told me that this is a routine procedure that they perform on all patients who have undergone radiation therapy at least 12 months ago. Do you agree that removal of polyps (especially rectal polyps) is a safe procedure for a patient like me?
Thanks again


John T said...
Traveller,
Be sure to tell your doctor you have had radiation and under NO conditions he perform a biopsy near the anal area. Some times radiated areas look suspicious, but if they are biopsied they will never heal and this causes serious problems. As long as this precaution is taken there should be no problem and there is not an issue with removing polyps since they are higher into the intestines. Inexperienced doctors have caused serious damage to radiation patients so be sure you have a doc that is experienced with radiation patients.
JohnT

Posted 5/23/2013 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Due to my extensive radiation damage from SRT, it took almost 3 years before any of my doctors felt it was safe to attempt my first and only colonoscopy. Glad it's over with, and polyps were found and removed. They did the upper procedure and lower at the same time, and I was put under for it, which was nice. As others report, the prep is the horror of it all, lol.

david
Posted 5/23/2013 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Listen to John T...
Well heck..Finished with my imrt radiation treatments on 14 Feb 2011 at one institution and had a colonoscopy at another on 20 April 2012...I favor radiation and hormones to treat PC and try not to moan and groan to much so I won't scare off newbees to these treatments...
I guess that I'm a "wuss" since I was pretty drugged up for the colonoscopy but after my wife drove us 70 miles to our home she exclaimed "what did they do to you"..I was soaked in blood! I called my RO and since it was late friday told me to go to ER if it became real bad...I was able to talk to the nurse at the other institution that performed the procedure and she called me back and said they removed 3 polyps away from my "radiation changes"..Apparently, I was injected with gas to expand the rectum and this broke open the damaged area of my rectum..
My recommendation is to have a colonoscopy prior to any PC treatment..Currently, I am a semi-invalid and my wife and I have discussed moving--1 bathroom doesn't cut it!! After all this time the bleeding is only occasional but my BM's are frequent and timely (is that the word??).
Anyway, I turn down fishing trips on the "OL MIS" from friends who don't have cabin cruisers without the facilities...PC is certainly a real "life changer".
Bill--Have to change my moniker to "wuss"--lol
Posted 5/23/2013 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Ouch.
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