Colonoscopy

I'm age 60, stage 4b (metastatic to my spine). I do still get colonoscopies.

My dad died of colon cancer at age 70. If my cancer drugs keep on keeping me alive (as they've been doing for 4½ years so far), I don't want to beat prostate cancer only to go through what he went through.

Good call!

toeknee, if you haven't had a colonoscopy in a while, if you had polyps located after your last colonoscopy, you might want to have a colonoscopy before radiation or surgery. Because radiation can affect the colon, you'll want to wait a while after treatment before having a colonoscopy.

Good information.

I'm 80 and was scheduled for my last (aged out) colonoscopy last month, but Gleason numbers from this year's biopsy indicate I need to leave AS and decide on some kind of treatment so I postponed my colonoscopy. I intend to factor the possible colonoscopy into discussions with my urologist and RO about possible PCa treatments.

I had my latest colonoscopy about 2+ years after completing radiation treatment. Though it was on my regular 5 year schedule (history of polyps), my RO was interested in learning what might be found since I had experienced some brief mild rectal bleeding. The colonoscopy did reveal some mild radiation proctitis at the rectum, but no bleeding. Good to know. As for having a colonoscopy before, or during, cancer treatments, I would certainly want to consult my RO before proceeding.

@northoftheborder How long did you wait after radiation to get a colonoscopy? I'm due for one and am 21 months past radiation. Dr. Google says to wait a year but I'm kind of afraid of the colonoscopy scope doing damage.

Had a regular 3 - 5 yr colonoscopy at age 74; now 76. PCa Stage 3, G 9 w/ EPE. Prostatectomy at 72 followed by Salvage Radiation Tx at 73.
I plan to have another at 78 - 80.
Colon cancer is not something I need to be surprised by and have to deal with in addition to PCa. Prep still sucks; but the colonoscopy itself is not a big deal.
And, I have to request the next colonoscopy; the Gastro office doesn't send reminders after age 75. Sounds a bit like not testing PSA after age 65.
Best wishes.

Apparently there is a risk, if a patient has a colonoscopy too soon after radiation for prostate cancer, that the gastroenterologist doing the colonoscopy may not understand what a rectum can look like after prostate radiation. If they decide to biopsy something rather than leave what is obviously radiation damage alone, "horror stories" can result. Another reason I've heard mentioned in favor of having a colonoscopy prior to radiation is colon cancer, if found, takes precedence over prostate cancer.

@climateguy

I concur; I am actively treating rectal / bowel issues along with PC. Oncologist said to take care of everything else 1st, even though my post prostatectomy and radiation PSA is now over 1.0