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colonoscopy

laso
laso CSN Member Posts: 2 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

I was treated successfully for anal cancer 6 years ago. Today I received a message from my colorectal surgeon's office asking me to schedule a colonoscopy. My last one was 6 years ago and led to my diagnosis. I couldn't find anything in the guidelines about anal cancer survivors requiring colonoscopies more often than every ten years like the general population. I did have regular anoscopes for 5 years. I'm interested in hearing what other anal cancer survivors have been doing in regards to colonoscopies. 

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  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 CSN Member Posts: 496 Member
    #2
    Colonoscopy

    I have been cancer free from anal cancer since January 2009.  My colonrectal surgeon sees me every three years now.  He finds both regular polyps and precancerous polyps in my colon most every time.  I am scheduled to have one in December.

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  • mp327
    mp327 CSN Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #3
    laso

    I had yearly colonoscopies for the first 5 years after treatment.  It's now been 5 years since my last and I will be scheduling it for next month.

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  • Wisteria83
    Wisteria83 CSN Member Posts: 160
    #4
    mp327 said:

    laso

    I had yearly colonoscopies for the first 5 years after treatment.  It's now been 5 years since my last and I will be scheduling it for next month.

    Colonoscopy

    Colonoscopies aren't in the nccn guidlines for follow up care after anal cancer, and my new GI doc has been pushing for that since I moved to FL in May.

    He said I'm a year past due for one?  I'm going to call the Cancer Center today and ask them about it.  I haven't had a DRE since April, my last anoscopy was January, but I had a chest/abdomen/pelvis PET scan in June that was clear. 

    I don't want the colonoscopy...partly because I'm chicken about the whole prep thing, and the one and only time I had one, the doc totally missed the cancer that I had.

     

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  • mp327
    mp327 CSN Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited October 2018 #5
    Wisteria83 said:

    Colonoscopy

    Colonoscopies aren't in the nccn guidlines for follow up care after anal cancer, and my new GI doc has been pushing for that since I moved to FL in May.

    He said I'm a year past due for one?  I'm going to call the Cancer Center today and ask them about it.  I haven't had a DRE since April, my last anoscopy was January, but I had a chest/abdomen/pelvis PET scan in June that was clear. 

    I don't want the colonoscopy...partly because I'm chicken about the whole prep thing, and the one and only time I had one, the doc totally missed the cancer that I had.

     

    Wis

    Yes, you are right, colonoscopies are not part of the followup protocol for anal cancer.  I am not looking forward to having this one, but if nothing of concern is found on this one, I'm done for 10 years. 

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  • Amanda2511
    Amanda2511 CSN Member Posts: 3
    #6
    I am 7 months out and my

    I am 7 months out and my doctor has said that I will always be on the 5 year track for colonoscopies.  I "failed" the first one, but passed the anascopy in July, and have to get another colonoscopy this summer.  After that, it goes to 5 years.  I hate the prep, but it's a good little nap.

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