After what happened to my wife, I will only agree to non invasive testing (MRI, CT, sonograms, x-rays). Sorry, but my faith in the medical profession overall has been eroded to a point where I do not trust many doctors and certainly not invasive procedures.
My "tour de force" to ge to the bottom of the problem that took Kathryn's life has resulted in denial, possible cover-up (I had to threaten legal action because the death certificate originally did not even mention the perforated colon), and refusal to supply speific information (attorney is dealing with that). Currently, that specific doctor is under investigation by the AZ Medical Board.

On a less emotional side: If you must, go to your State Medical Board website and check out your physician. Also you can check on the record of the hispital and whether your physician in Board Certified and in what disciplines. After Kathryn died, I found that her gastroenterologist's license was revoked in California and he had two letters of "censure(?)" in Arizona; one for failure to properly diagnose colon cancer and the other for failure to monitor prescription drug usage/effects.

So please fogive me for the contrarian view. I simply advocate caution. One in 500 colonoscopies will result in a perforation. However, I cannot seem to ge anyone verify what percentage of those with perforations die.

Wow again.

1 in 500 . . wow.

I'm glad you have an attorney on this -- from your very first post of Kathryn's problem I was PO'd. (I have my own experience of a surgeon /hospital putting me close to death.)

Anyway... Colonoscopies are one of many big money makers for hospitals.

For the most part hospitals can't do too much for you. They can do a lot TOO you. But really, if your body starts down the really-wrong path chances are medicine isn't going to put you back. Sure, we hear about success stories . . .people who live. But who speaks for those who die? Those stories tend to fade. --I know I've witnessed disgusting (criminal?) hospital care, and I don't like even thinking about it.

"1 in 500" Wow!

Had one at age 50, was only given a mild sedative and was awake through the entire procedure. Got to watch the video screen with the DR. as the journey unfolded!

Only a mild, 'bloating feeling' as the air pressure inflates the bowel.

An important test for ALL older men or those with family history of problems.

Here you go again, you 'mericans, with your screening procedures. :D

Just kidding. Each to his own. No surgeon in Sweden would dream of performing a colonscopy on a perfectly well person with no symptoms pointing to bowel desease or malignancy.

As far as I know, there are no scientific evidence on a population basis suggesting there is anything to gain with such routines.

For any individual, the case is of course different.



Disclaimer: Excuse my bad spelling, the Spell Check refuses to work!

Had one, my first 3 weeks ago. The prep is the worst part. You drink this stuff that makes you piss out your a$$ for the whole night before. The rest you won't remember at all. The drug they knock you out with is great. They told me they were going to administer it then the next thing I knew they were waking me up.

It's a piece of cake. No need to be afraid at all. They told me to come back in 10 years ...yeehaw!

Oh yeah they inflate you too so tell everyone to clear the room for the biggest fart you have EVER let out.

Jeezus. I might just shoot myself the day I turn 49.

I agree...I've weighed the options. Through my own personal experience, too lengthy to go into here, I too have lost faith in the so called medical community.
No way in hell are they going to shove a tube up my donkey.

They almost killed me once. I'm not going to give them the opportunity to do so again. If I get colon cancer? So be it!

One other word of advise -- though it may sound strange, but if you can find a woman doctor who can do that procedure, it would be better.

Why? Quite simple: slimmer fingers. :eek:

I'm 39, and will be scheduling my appointment within the next couple of years...

-Z-man.

I have a woman doctor. You're right. Plus it just seems more..uh..."right".

Livi, Here it is "follow the money"...IMO, that is why this test is so widely promoted.

I had a double whammy a few months ago when I had mine. My father died of colon cancer (colon to liver to brain), so I & my sisters were advised to get them.
I finally decided to ask for one through Kaiser. The prep was as everyone says. I only had a mild sedative and was awake. When the doctor started feeding that thing up there, it went just so far & started hurting. The doctor said he had to stop because of moderately severe diverticulosis.
So following that they sceduled me for a barium enima, which required me to go through a similar but less extensive prep. You get a tube shoved up your a$$ and they pump air in there along with the barium. They didn't find anything, but my doctor said my father probably had diverticulosis also and advised me to make sure I had enough fiber in my diet.
So there may be other things you should be made aware of.

I have had it done(by a local surgeon friend of mine) and it was fine. In fact it's due again-every 5 years or so at my age. The anesthetist gave me fentanyl, which really makes it quite tolerable, no hangover for me. This is one of those medical tests that pretty much catches colon cancer before it can catch you. This is the gold-standard test for diagnosing this form of cancer, and most insurance companies pay for it. If you are over 50, you need to do it.

Just had my physical (for key man inurance) and Im facing (probably not the correct word) this too - just need to schedule.

My dr told me - that the growth rates for colon cancer are slow - Typically the time from polyp to cancer is 5 years plus. SO if you snip the polyp(s) - your chances of NOT having colon cancer increase substantially.

Anyway - looking forward to the intrusion - NOT

Seriously Jeremy it's easy. Just crap you guts out the night before and sleep well.

Strongly disagree. Colon cancer can be a preventable disease when discovered early. How many forms of cancer are preventable?--not many.

I lost my mother at 54 to colon cancer. I had my first screening at forty and plan on repeating this every five years.

50 is a good bench mark with no family history.

My 2cents.

Get the test.