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Colonoscopy-How often

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Posted 2/13/2014 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
How often should you have a colonoscopy? I was diagnosed in March 2011(38 yrs old) and had my last one in October of 2011. My doctor is telling me I need another already. I do have a severe case and on Remicade and Imuran but the last 6 months have been remission like and great so I hate to stir things up in there. That said I understand the risks of cancer and have no problem doing one if needed. Any thoughts?
Posted 2/13/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
It's been 2 years and 2 months since mine when I was diagnosed and my doctor is saying its time for another one.
Posted 2/13/2014 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Me too. I'm two years after diagnosis and my GI suggested another look to see what's going on. I haven't achieved remission yet though. My symptoms now are quite a bit worse than before my diagnosis.

If I was doing well, I'd put off another colonoscopy as long as possible but since I'm actually worse than before I started treatment, the only worry is the risks of the test itself.

I'm also wondering if cancer develops in the colon how they see it amidst all the chewed up, inflamed colon.

Good luck there.
Posted 2/13/2014 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
I have had Uc for quite a while and if I can recall right, I had my initial scope to determine diagnosis, another one about 3 years later when I switched docs, than at 5 years. I now go in every 2 years because I'm well past the 10 year mark. After 10 years they recommend yearly or every 2 years depending on history.

If you are doing good, than perhaps ask your doc if you can put it off for another year. Scopes are pretty much mandatory for us because we have a higher risk of colon cancer but usually the cancer risk increases after having it for 10+ years. Since you are fairly new to Uc and you're in remission, I see no need to rush into another scope....unless colon cancer runs in your family?? Or have had any past negative biopsies?
Posted 2/13/2014 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
I think every GI is different, some want them more frequently compared to others...I'm glad you're doing well, that's key, it's probably still a good idea to let him scope you even though you're well, you just never know what goes on inside, it doesn't always reflect how you're actually feeling...I'm a good example for this right now, I'm actually feeling somewhat physically better but I am a huge mess inside with many layers of my rectum being affected by my crohn's and having developed an RV fistula and some inflammation spread here and there in my colon as well...I just started on Humira.
Posted 2/13/2014 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed 25 years ago....started out with c-scopes every 3 years, then every 2.

All my biopsies were clear regarding abnormalities towards cancer, and I've never had any polyps.

I would assume much has to do with the amount of flares/inflammation that's continual as well as biopsies results.

My opinion, you're overdue, especially for a new baseline since you're on the biologics.

q
Posted 2/13/2014 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I went 4 years between the two I have had but was in remission for the last two years.
Posted 2/13/2014 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
if it was me, I'd schedule one for January 2015 -

oh wait, I actually did do that 2 weeks ago - we can count the days together :-)

the only reason I agreed to let doc Amar look up my butt is that he's such a nice guy, I just couldn't turn him down again :-)
Posted 2/13/2014 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
my question is, how long have they been saying the 2yrs after 10yrs thing - and what are the LATEST cancer rates for us guys ? I'm assuming this is all old, outdated scare tactics -
Posted 2/14/2014 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Every two years. I've had four different docs and this was the interval they all used. Since I passed the ten year anniversary in 2011 I thought I'd have to go yearly, but since I've been in remission so long with three consecutive normal scopes, I'm still on the two year schedule.

Afterthought - I do have mine more often because my mother died from colon cancer. So I have a double whammy.
Posted 2/14/2014 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I seem to be roughly every two years now as well. Though when I was first diagnosed I had three in one year and a flex sig... was a brutal year/bad GI and a really bad case of chron's-colitis.

However my first GI (the one that gave me three plus a flex sig) said in order for me to remain her patient I needed to undergo one every year, otherwise I would loose "patient" status and have to re-apply through my family physician to see her. So back then I was scared to death of not having a GI and went through with the yearly.

Then I started asking others, and finding out this is not the case with most GI's - and a little while later there was a bit on the news about how GI's really make the majority of their income from these procedures here in Canada. When I confronted her about this, and the yearly scope, and a few other things she wrote a letter to my family physician saying I was an uncooperative patient and that she would no longer treat me.

Moving on I have finally found a new GI that says he only needs to take a look up there if he suspects things are getting worse and I'm not responding to meds, or to check progress of meds. But other than this he says there's really no reason to have one every year.

So I guess there are some bad doc in the mix out there. Or maybe not bad per say but after making a few bucks.

Edit: My family physician also no longer refers patients to her.

Post Edited (Canada Mark) : 2/13/2014 6:23:14 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/14/2014 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Is there any concern about washing out any good bacteria one has managed to repopulate their colon with?

I've wondered this for awhile, for those of you who have improved (maybe moreso through natural means ie: getting rid of infections and repopulating/rebalancing bacteria mix).
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