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How often do you get a colonoscopy?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/17/2013 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
I just had my 2nd colonoscopy a few weeks ago. My first was 5 years ago (I'm 49) whaen I had GI symptoms. The scope was clean, but a few months later a flex sig showed mild proctitis.

Anyway, my last colonoscopy a few weeks ago went fairly well. My rectum is healing well (no inflammation) and I have just a bit of inflammation in my sigmoid. I dare say I'm in remission. I am symptom free, FINALLY!

However, the doc found a polyp very high up in the colon...nowhere near my inflammation. It was biopsied and had "dysplasia". So, my GI says now I have to have a colonoscopy every year for the rest of my life because the doc is worried about colon cancer. I appreciate his concern but wonder if he's being a bit too conservative. Thoughts?? Hope you all all enjoying the holiday season.
Best,
Cita
Posted 12/17/2013 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Every other year unless there is inflammation or unless they find polyps. Then every year. Your doc sounds right on to me. Dysplasia can be a precursor for colon cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early. My mother died from colon cancer. Believe me, the inconvenience of a scope every year is a small price to pay to avoid it.
Posted 12/17/2013 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cita,
I don't know about the polyp...but want to say congrats about remission. That rectum is so darn hard to heal, so that is great news!!! Hope others can help you with the polyp/coloscopy question.
B
Posted 12/17/2013 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
my GI told me that in people with IBD, colon cancer develops at a much faster rate. In normal folks it is a relatively slow-developing cancer, hence the recommendation for every 5-10 years. You have my sympathies: I really have come to hate colonoscopies and think they interfere with getting my intestinal tract into a healed state
Posted 12/17/2013 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi B,
Thanks. It's been a long, ugly road but I'm finally doing well! My husband remarked the other day when we were out at a Christmas party and I was dancing like crazy that "you're back!" I really think the rectal meds did it. My proctitis was SO nasty. I was up to 60mg pred last winter.

I think Judy is right about the yearly scopes. They are no fun, but I know they can be life saving. My neighbor had terrible GI symptoms and ignored them. When she finally got her colonoscopy they found stage 4 colon cancer. This will probably be her last Christmas with her husband and three daughters.

The real test for me will be when I dare to eat salad again. I've been tolerating nuts and a bit of alcohol, so salad is next.
Posted 12/17/2013 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
MossPiglet,
Yes, you are right! The four days after my scope, I feared my flare was back. Things were not good. I asked the doc if the scope could do that and he said "no", but I know he's wrong. How could the scope scraping around not irritate the colon? Thankfully, it only messed me up for a few days.
Posted 12/17/2013 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
Tony snow is a reporter that later went on to work in the white house and had UC. He got regular colonoscopies, one of which did not detect any colon cancer. By the next colonoscopy they found cancer not only in his colon but it had spread to his liver. He's dead now.
Posted 12/17/2013 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Can someone remind me -- is it after 7 or 10 years with UC that we're supposed to get scopes every 1-2 years?
Posted 12/17/2013 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
once a year for me! Love it... not! I'm due in January. Reason behind the yearly scopes is that I was diagnosed over 10 years ago (there's your answer, Sara!), I have active disease all the time basically, & I have 100's of pseudopolyps. So, we take the safest route possible- my GI would much prefer me get the colon out, but... I'm sticking to yearly scopes until they find dysplasia. DO NOT fool around, Cita- doesn't dysplasia always turn into cancer? I assume he took that polyp out? I hate scopes too, hate them with all my heart... but I think I'd hate colon cancer way more! You can't be "too" conservative regarding cancer.
Posted 12/17/2013 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Eva Lou,
You are right. They did take the polyp out and biopsied it. So, I knew when he said yearly scopes I would do it. I just needed support. I have it. Thank you all!!!
Posted 12/17/2013 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Smart girl! I'd get them every six months if my doc recommended, but then I have two risk factors. It's not a iron-clad guarantee, but your chances of surviving colon cancer are much better if it's discovered early with a scope than if it waits five years.
Posted 12/18/2013 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
With dysplasia in a polyp, you for sure need every year.

Do you have a copy of the pathology report? hopefully the doc took lots of biopsies.

Odd you have an area in the sigmoid that's inflamed...I'd suggest you get on the enemas instead of relying on the suppositories.

Great you're doing well otherwise....

q
Posted 12/20/2013 10:45 AM (GMT 0)
I get one a year
Posted 12/20/2013 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have only had one colonoscopy, in 2009, when my UC was diagnosed. I have asked my GI whether I need another, and he'll generally say that he sees no need for 8(? 10? I forget, but it's a while longer) years after the first unless something appears to have changed. Like, last time I was in his office, I said, yeah, just checking, before we go to Remicade, should I have another colonoscopy? And he was like, I don't need to do a colonoscopy to know you have inflammation.

My boss, on the other hand, was diagnosed in February of this year and has had 2 already and his GI is talking about doing a third. I'm like what for? His GI sounds a little crazy to me, too. Either that or my boss mixes up the things he says when he reports them to me.
Posted 12/21/2013 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
I just had one, and my doc says it had been 5 years! Really? Oops. I'm supposed to have them every two years she says, not necessarily because of Remicade but because of more than 25 years of disease. But she knows I am pretty well tuned into what's going on with my gut after all these years.

BTW, officially in remission! no polyps this time, still waiting to hear about the many biopsies she says she took but I didnt detect any concerns.
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