Colonoscopy

@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.

Good information.

@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.

I had 37 external beam radiation treatments for a PC recurrence at age 78. Knowing that I couldn't have a colonoscopy for a year after radiation, I wanted one before. Three doctors refused because I had a colonoscopy three years earlier. I finally found a doctor to do it and he removed three pre cancerous polyps. A year after the radiation I had another colonoscopy, which found three more polyps, including a 1 1/2" polyp which must have been missed in the previous colonoscopy...it was too big to grow in that time. It also was too big to remove with a colonoscopy and I had to go back for an EMR (endoscopic mucosal resection). Because I get polyps so often, I now have to get colonoscopies annually. Bottom line--colonoscopies aren't fun but a day or two of discomfort sure beats dealing with colon cancer. Most people don't need them annually but it's a good idea to at least get one before radiation with a very experienced doctor. Fortunately, my PSA is now undetectable. I have my annual colonoscopy in three weeks.

@toeknee Exactly…I just had my regular 3 yr colonoscopy exactly one year after radiation - as per my GI doc.
I had the last one done when I saw my PSA rising and knew SRT was in the cards.
Happily, I had no polyps and all the tissue looked good; so the doc gave me a 5 yr pass this time.
I get it that you probably wonder why bother with your gut when you have this G10 horror show to deal with…but you can last DECADES with advanced PCa and live a fairly normal life.
It’s the colon, bladder and pancreas that will take you out in a year. Yes, it’s another ordeal to go thru - all the crapping and fasting - but it’s the bullet you never hear that kills you, right? Hang in there!!💪
Phil

@scottbeammeup It was 3 years after radiation for me (just timed out that way). I consulted my RO and family doctor first, then the proctologist wanted to meet me beforehand (just to make sure I was up for it, I guess).

For me, it was also the colonoscopy that revealed that I had radiation proctitis as well as radiation cystitis. The former is just irritation, not bleeding. I guess it's "lightly braised" (or something like that).