Colonoscopy Schedule

pamela_preib
pamela_preib Member Posts: 55
in Anal Cancer #1

Ugh. I thought I was done with doctors for a bit. I had my colonoscopy which found my cancer a year ago November. Their office wants me back for a follow up. I feel like it's too soon with all my scar tissue. I've left a message with my colorectal surgeons office questioning this. It was my understanding two years is protocol. Any thoughts?

Comments

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #2
    Pam
    I have a scope every 6 months. Almost 3 yrs. post treatment. It is not a colonoscopy, but an endoscope. The prep is less, it is done without anesthesia, and does not go up as far.

    I am not sure what the protocol is, but I agree with you that it seems unnecessary to have another colonoscopy.
  • pamela_preib
    pamela_preib Member Posts: 55
    #3
    Marynb said:

    Pam
    I have a scope every 6 months. Almost 3 yrs. post treatment. It is not a colonoscopy, but an endoscope. The prep is less, it is done without anesthesia, and does not go up as far.

    I am not sure what the protocol is, but I agree with you that it seems unnecessary to have another colonoscopy.

    mary

    I too have a scope every three months but it is basically just checking the tumor site. Still haven't heard back from my surgeon on her thoughts.

  • horsepad
    horsepad Member Posts: 146 Member
    #4
    I have a colonoscopy every

    I have a colonoscopy every year and I am going on 3 years since diagnosed.  It makes me feel more secure in my remission.  I recently had a sigmoidoscopy and polyps were removed.  I feel better knowing they have been removed.  Although I do hate the prep!  :)

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #5
    schedule

    I've had two anoscopies with biopsies since my treatment ended about 1 1/2 yrs. ago.  Biopsies were ordered because of questionable PET scan results.  No prep was required for the anoscopy and that is my understanding for whether it's done in the office or in the surgery center.  I've been told to keep to my previous colonoscopy schedule which was every 5 years (I'm on that schedule because of a sibling who had colon cancer)  I wouldn't think a colonoscopy would be a standard follow-up for us.  Anoscopy or sigmoidoscopy makes more sense to me.

    I'm on an every 3 months schedule with 2 of my doctors and every 6 months with one.  I am so tired of all these appointments.  I want to be done with doctors just for a little while.  Oh well.

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #6
    jcruz said:

    schedule

    I've had two anoscopies with biopsies since my treatment ended about 1 1/2 yrs. ago.  Biopsies were ordered because of questionable PET scan results.  No prep was required for the anoscopy and that is my understanding for whether it's done in the office or in the surgery center.  I've been told to keep to my previous colonoscopy schedule which was every 5 years (I'm on that schedule because of a sibling who had colon cancer)  I wouldn't think a colonoscopy would be a standard follow-up for us.  Anoscopy or sigmoidoscopy makes more sense to me.

    I'm on an every 3 months schedule with 2 of my doctors and every 6 months with one.  I am so tired of all these appointments.  I want to be done with doctors just for a little while.  Oh well.

    Jcruz
    I totally understand the feeling of wanting to be done with doctors for awhile. Although I am grateful to them for saving my life, it is tiring to be scanned, prodded, poked. Ugh
  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #7
    Marynb said:

    Jcruz
    I totally understand the feeling of wanting to be done with doctors for awhile. Although I am grateful to them for saving my life, it is tiring to be scanned, prodded, poked. Ugh

    Marynb

    I too am grateful, so grateful even for the one doctor I don't like so much.  They saved my life and took care of me so well even as the treatment they ordered wore me down to nothing.  I'll keep going to see them.  I'm certainly not going to stop but yeah, I wish it was over.

  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #8
    jcruz said:

    Marynb

    I too am grateful, so grateful even for the one doctor I don't like so much.  They saved my life and took care of me so well even as the treatment they ordered wore me down to nothing.  I'll keep going to see them.  I'm certainly not going to stop but yeah, I wish it was over.

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb,

    I remember feeling the same way. At first it seemed as though there was either an appointment or some kind of test almost every week. Seemed like we lived at the hospital and everything revolved around the schedule. Then it went to every month. Then every three months, to every six months. Now, over five years out, I've been discharged by my oncologist and only see colo-rectal every other year. No tests scheduled anywhere in the near future. YAY!

     It will happen for you guys too. Seems like such a l-o-o-o-n-g time when you're going through it, but then one day you wake up and realize you haven't been near the hospital in months.

    All my best,
    Rose

     

     

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    #9
    RoseC said:

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb,

    I remember feeling the same way. At first it seemed as though there was either an appointment or some kind of test almost every week. Seemed like we lived at the hospital and everything revolved around the schedule. Then it went to every month. Then every three months, to every six months. Now, over five years out, I've been discharged by my oncologist and only see colo-rectal every other year. No tests scheduled anywhere in the near future. YAY!

     It will happen for you guys too. Seems like such a l-o-o-o-n-g time when you're going through it, but then one day you wake up and realize you haven't been near the hospital in months.

    All my best,
    Rose

     

     

    Rose

    You describe it so well.  I'm almost a year post treatment and am inspired to see your five year mark. 

    I look forward to the days when this is a DISTANT memory with few doctor appointments and tests.

  • TraceyUSA
    TraceyUSA Member Posts: 316
    #10
    Pamela_preib

    From what I've seen on this board, it does not seem like there is an exact protocol of follow-up for us.  Everyone has similar but different tests.  I finished up treatment in March 2013 and not long after my surgeon wanted me to do a coloscopy which I fought because I didn't feel I was healed enough from the radiation/chemo yet.  In August, he backed me into a corner about it because they wouldn't remove my port until I had the colonoscopy and I wanted rid that port in the worst way.  Needless to say, I had the colonoscopy (the prep was not that bad) and it was clear.  He said 3-5 years until I need another one.

  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #11
    TraceyUSA said:

    Rose

    You describe it so well.  I'm almost a year post treatment and am inspired to see your five year mark. 

    I look forward to the days when this is a DISTANT memory with few doctor appointments and tests.

    Hi Tracey

    Hi - I look forward to it for you too, and for everyone else as well (does that make sense? - hope you know what I mean). :)

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #12
    RoseC said:

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb,

    I remember feeling the same way. At first it seemed as though there was either an appointment or some kind of test almost every week. Seemed like we lived at the hospital and everything revolved around the schedule. Then it went to every month. Then every three months, to every six months. Now, over five years out, I've been discharged by my oncologist and only see colo-rectal every other year. No tests scheduled anywhere in the near future. YAY!

     It will happen for you guys too. Seems like such a l-o-o-o-n-g time when you're going through it, but then one day you wake up and realize you haven't been near the hospital in months.

    All my best,
    Rose

     

     

    thank you

    Rose

    Thank you for your words of encouragement.  And I am so pleased for you getting past the five year mark.

    Janet

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #13
    RoseC said:

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb

    Hi Jcruz and Marynb,

    I remember feeling the same way. At first it seemed as though there was either an appointment or some kind of test almost every week. Seemed like we lived at the hospital and everything revolved around the schedule. Then it went to every month. Then every three months, to every six months. Now, over five years out, I've been discharged by my oncologist and only see colo-rectal every other year. No tests scheduled anywhere in the near future. YAY!

     It will happen for you guys too. Seems like such a l-o-o-o-n-g time when you're going through it, but then one day you wake up and realize you haven't been near the hospital in months.

    All my best,
    Rose

     

     

    Rose
    So glad you are done with surveillance! That must be a great feeling. For me, it may nver end because I have a second cancer, for which there is no cure other than to keeo cutting out tumors as long as they can. i am tired, but I will keep going as long as I can!

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