← Return to Colonoscopy and bronchiectasis

Discussion

Colonoscopy and bronchiectasis

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jan 15, 2020 | Replies (14)
Comment receiving replies
@thumperguy

Papillion, I've had colorectal cancer and, over the years, had probably five colonoscopys. Here's the goofy thing though, my carcinoma was in the lower sigmoid section of the colon. Indeed it was discovered by my primary care doc while performing an :"in-office" sigmoidoscopy. Much later after total recovery the colorectal doc revealed to me that the significant majority of colon cancers occur in the sigmoid section. I asked him "why." He said if he knew he'd be rich. Bottom line. Bolstered by additional reading I've done over the years since, I've become convinced that colonoscopy is a very over prescribed intervention and one might speculate that the decision to choose it over a flexsig is corrupted by the long green ($),

Jump to this post

Replies to "Papillion, I've had colorectal cancer and, over the years, had probably five colonoscopys. Here's the goofy..."
thumperguy | @thumperguy | Dec 9, 2019

Oh Papillion, pertinent to your situation, you can undergo a flex sig without sedation.

VIEW AND REPLY
ling123 | @ling123 | Dec 9, 2019

@thumperguy I can see that for those with low risk of colon cancer, flexible sigmoidoscopy is probably a good choice. With my family history, though, I would rather go through colonoscopy so the doctor can see the entire colon rather than just the lower portion of it. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/flexible-sigmoidoscopy/about/pac-20394189

VIEW AND REPLY
rits | @rits | Dec 9, 2019

My cancer was in the transverse section which is as high up as possible. Anything other than a full colonoscopy would have missed the tumor completely. I wasn't aware of any symptoms and it wouldn't have been found until a much later stage.
Colonoscopies are preventive (removal of polyps that may turn into cancer) and diagnostic (biopsy of any suspicious cells). Recently the age to start colon cancer screening has been moved up to 45 from 50 due to colon cancer appearing more often now in younger people. If there are no polyps and/or no biopsies, colonoscopies are covered completely by insurance as part of preventive care . Same for mammograms, prostate testing, flu shots etc. under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare,).

VIEW AND REPLY