Disappointed with Colonoscopy Results **Updated**

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Joy1216
Joy1216 Member Posts: 290 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Monday I had my third follow-up colonoscopy since my colon resection in March 2006. (I was diagnosed with Stage I colon cancer in that same month.) The first two colonoscopies (six months after surgery and one year after that) were clear. This one had mixed results. There were no signs of cancer at the resection site - Yeah! But, there was a small polyp in another part of my colon. It is very small and the GI doc is sure it's benign; it will be 10 days - 2 weeks before I receive the biopsy results. It's just disappointing because the other two were clear. I'm still on the 3-year colonoscopy plan; the doc told me before the colonoscopy that if it was clear he'd put me on the 5-year plan. I know I shouldn't be disappointed because the colonoscopy procedure worked - a polyp was found and removed before it could become cancerous like the first one was. It just seems like I'm taking a couple of steps back because the first two colonoscopies were clear. I'm through whining now. I know how much I have to be thankful for.
Joy

Update - Thank you, Lord, that I got the biopsy results I was praying for. The polyp was benign.

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  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #2
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    I hear you.
    I'm on 3 year colonoscopies for life. My GI dr wants 2 years, but my oncs at MSK say 3, and I trust them.

    And I went into my first one disappointed because I already knew I was on a 5 year cycle because my brother had polyps in his first colonoscopy. However, the goal is to find and remove polyps before they become cancerous, so you've won on this one, even tho it feels like you lost. Remind yourself that the frequency should help you avoid further malignancies (and be grateful that you're not my friend who has them every 6 months, always with new polyps.)

    Hugs, Joy. I know it's hard.


    Alice
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #3
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    Joy
    I am sorry that a polyp was found; but this is not steps back, it is steps forward. Your doctor thinks it is benign, how great is that? Best wishes for good results.
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    #4
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    Colonoscopy protocol
    Diagnosed Stage IIIB 12/08 and that was after a routine 3 year and after about 4 routine 1 year ones because of polyps. I had a colonoscopy 10/09 and just had one yesterday, one year. All ok. I also had a endo with a biopsy which he believes is ok, just had irritation. So he said one year colonospy, no endo if all is ok.....Onc protocol was one year after diagnosis, then 3 year. I said that didn't sound good to me. Going with gastro one year, especially after my experience. Wondered if anyone else has been told what protocol is and if they feel like I do, every year. FYI I had moviprep last year, hated it, but got thru it. Had ducolux 4 tablets and gatorade lemon with miralax, got sicker than a dog, threw up most of it after one hour and threw up after procedure, it tasted much better and I love vodka gimlets, but scared of that stuff now. Appreciate any comments on time frame for colonoscopies. Pat
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #5
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    Lifeisajourney said:

    Colonoscopy protocol
    Diagnosed Stage IIIB 12/08 and that was after a routine 3 year and after about 4 routine 1 year ones because of polyps. I had a colonoscopy 10/09 and just had one yesterday, one year. All ok. I also had a endo with a biopsy which he believes is ok, just had irritation. So he said one year colonospy, no endo if all is ok.....Onc protocol was one year after diagnosis, then 3 year. I said that didn't sound good to me. Going with gastro one year, especially after my experience. Wondered if anyone else has been told what protocol is and if they feel like I do, every year. FYI I had moviprep last year, hated it, but got thru it. Had ducolux 4 tablets and gatorade lemon with miralax, got sicker than a dog, threw up most of it after one hour and threw up after procedure, it tasted much better and I love vodka gimlets, but scared of that stuff now. Appreciate any comments on time frame for colonoscopies. Pat

    yearly then found nothing last time so we went to a 2 year ..
    if nothing the next time we will go for a 3 year then stay there for a couple of times then if nothing we are done.....
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #6
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    Sorry
    Joy,

    As a fellow Stage 1 survivor, I always read your posts with great interest. I'm so sorry about your disappointment, and I know I would feel the same if it happened to me. Praying it IS benign, and life can continue in the NED zone.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #7
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    tootsie1 said:

    Sorry
    Joy,

    As a fellow Stage 1 survivor, I always read your posts with great interest. I'm so sorry about your disappointment, and I know I would feel the same if it happened to me. Praying it IS benign, and life can continue in the NED zone.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    It's going to be okay
    You will be fine. I had my 1 year follow up a couple months back, they found 2 small polyps and biopsyed them, all clear, yours will be too.

    Don
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #8
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    UGH
    Don't you just hate the waiting game? 10 days to 2 weeks is the pits. Thank goodness that the polyp was found and removed. I wish you the very best outcome from the biopsy.
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #9
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    Lifeisajourney said:

    Colonoscopy protocol
    Diagnosed Stage IIIB 12/08 and that was after a routine 3 year and after about 4 routine 1 year ones because of polyps. I had a colonoscopy 10/09 and just had one yesterday, one year. All ok. I also had a endo with a biopsy which he believes is ok, just had irritation. So he said one year colonospy, no endo if all is ok.....Onc protocol was one year after diagnosis, then 3 year. I said that didn't sound good to me. Going with gastro one year, especially after my experience. Wondered if anyone else has been told what protocol is and if they feel like I do, every year. FYI I had moviprep last year, hated it, but got thru it. Had ducolux 4 tablets and gatorade lemon with miralax, got sicker than a dog, threw up most of it after one hour and threw up after procedure, it tasted much better and I love vodka gimlets, but scared of that stuff now. Appreciate any comments on time frame for colonoscopies. Pat

    Hi Pat
    I am coming up for scope number 13 the week after next. I have had one every year since dx. They don't muck around with me since they found new polyps as small as 2 mm with pre cancerous changes. I am also having an endoscopy at the same time. I have quite a few health issues some related to long term effects of chemo ,so now they put me in hospital to do the prep as well. I have had fleet preps for ten years but now they have found my kidneys have serious damage and the fleet is the prime suspect. I don't worry about them finding polyps ,it is when they don't find one that I worry they may have missed something. My brother has serious ulcerative colitis and proctitis and he's has been enduring colonoscopies and endoscopies for the last thirty years. To my family it is just one big pain in the butt..:) Ron.
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #10
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    ron50 said:

    Hi Pat
    I am coming up for scope number 13 the week after next. I have had one every year since dx. They don't muck around with me since they found new polyps as small as 2 mm with pre cancerous changes. I am also having an endoscopy at the same time. I have quite a few health issues some related to long term effects of chemo ,so now they put me in hospital to do the prep as well. I have had fleet preps for ten years but now they have found my kidneys have serious damage and the fleet is the prime suspect. I don't worry about them finding polyps ,it is when they don't find one that I worry they may have missed something. My brother has serious ulcerative colitis and proctitis and he's has been enduring colonoscopies and endoscopies for the last thirty years. To my family it is just one big pain in the butt..:) Ron.

    Ron
    It's a good thing you've kept your sense of humour. I really like your posts; you have lots of smart things to say + of course your story is very inspiring. Thanks!
  • Lifeisajourney
    Lifeisajourney Member Posts: 216
    #11
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    ron50 said:

    Hi Pat
    I am coming up for scope number 13 the week after next. I have had one every year since dx. They don't muck around with me since they found new polyps as small as 2 mm with pre cancerous changes. I am also having an endoscopy at the same time. I have quite a few health issues some related to long term effects of chemo ,so now they put me in hospital to do the prep as well. I have had fleet preps for ten years but now they have found my kidneys have serious damage and the fleet is the prime suspect. I don't worry about them finding polyps ,it is when they don't find one that I worry they may have missed something. My brother has serious ulcerative colitis and proctitis and he's has been enduring colonoscopies and endoscopies for the last thirty years. To my family it is just one big pain in the butt..:) Ron.

    Thanks Ron
    for your comments. I didn't mean to steal Joys thoughts, but I felt for her sake maybe 5 years was too long for next colonosp. Everyone seems to be ok with long time between colonsp and from my experience, it worries me that if not done yearly something will get going that could be prevented. 17 years ago I had fleets as a prep for my first lower gi and it was my first trip to ER, nothing came out, thought I would die from pain. My gastro no longer gives fleets because of ingredients in it-way too hard on kidneys. We have had colon/ulcer issues in our family and as much as I hate colonosp and endosp because of preps, I feel they are the way to go, especially after cancer diagnois. The c scan and mri brain contrasts are bad on kidneys as are dyes for angiograms,so it all scares me, my brother in law even had kidney failure from a couple, but not having them is a worry too. Thanks for your comments, I think I will stick to the yearly per gastro, I feel more comfortable considering my experience of waiting 3 years and getting dx 3B. Pat

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