Pushing me to have a colonoscopy.

zoomer
zoomer Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have metastatic breast cancer-bone+ lung, but am quite functional. I am 60 yrs. old and my doctors are pushing me to have a colonoscopy. I do not have symptoms and am deathly afraid of what they may find. I have had no good reports from tests in a long time and hate to risk another let-down. I have had surgery, radiation and chemo. for my breast cancer. Does anyone have any thoughts on my predicament? Also, is it true that the colonoscopy is easy?

Comments

  • Kaye2003
    Kaye2003 Member Posts: 86
    #2
    My husband just had his third colonoscopy today. Have it done. Not knowing will drive you crazy. You sound like a fighter, don't stop now.
    God Bless
  • Galliano
    Galliano Member Posts: 46
    #3
    Too late to be afraid! Have the colonoscopy. The hardest part is the prep they give you a very strong laxative. The actual colonoscopy is simple and they will most likely give you something to relax you and you won't even realize it's being done. I've had 2 colonoscopies and a sigmoidoscopy and there's nothing to it.

    Best of luck in your treatmeant and recovery.
    Mike
  • livin
    livin Member Posts: 318 Member
    #4
    I understand your fear but get the colonoscopy as your Doctor suggest, Did the Doctor say why he or she wanted the test done, The procedure is easy painless just the laxative taste horrible. Livin
  • rbeckler
    rbeckler Member Posts: 2
    #5
    Zoomer, take it from me, the scopes are easy. The prep's no picnic, I won't try to minimize that but the scope itself is easy. Afraid of what they might find? Well, that's a valid fear expressed by many.

    Are scopes without risk? No, there is always the very rare possibility of perforation and post op bleeding. These procedures are routine and most have no after effects. The "light sedation" is so effective that heck, they could park my car up there and I wouldn't care!

    I had my 4th scope two weeks ago, this one was perfectly normal.

    Just make sure it's a full colonoscopy and not a flexible sigmoidoscope. The flex sig only examines the rectum and sigmoid colon, the prep was the same for me and there is no sedation. You know you've been invaded by the garden hose! For me, it was a wasted procedure, the flex sig stopped just a few cm short of where my tumor was found three years later.

    Bottoms up! (well actually bottom's on the side)

    Ray
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #6
    rbeckler said:

    Zoomer, take it from me, the scopes are easy. The prep's no picnic, I won't try to minimize that but the scope itself is easy. Afraid of what they might find? Well, that's a valid fear expressed by many.

    Are scopes without risk? No, there is always the very rare possibility of perforation and post op bleeding. These procedures are routine and most have no after effects. The "light sedation" is so effective that heck, they could park my car up there and I wouldn't care!

    I had my 4th scope two weeks ago, this one was perfectly normal.

    Just make sure it's a full colonoscopy and not a flexible sigmoidoscope. The flex sig only examines the rectum and sigmoid colon, the prep was the same for me and there is no sedation. You know you've been invaded by the garden hose! For me, it was a wasted procedure, the flex sig stopped just a few cm short of where my tumor was found three years later.

    Bottoms up! (well actually bottom's on the side)

    Ray

    Hiya Zoomer--hey--with the sedative they give you, you will remember almost nothing. The level of sedation is to still allow you to be able to talk to the specialist doing the colonoscopy, then remember nothing of the procedure--wierd but true. I am guessing that due to your age and the fact you have cancer in other areas it is a wise move to have the colonoscopy. Just don't get too concerned, prevention is the best medicine. It really is worthwhile making sure you are ok.
    The guys here aren't telling lies--the prep. is no fun but necessary--I have had 5 colonoscopies and only the prep. part sucks!
    Do the test and we wish you tha best--kanga n Jen
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #7
    I appreciate your apprehension after having a run of bad health and bad luck with test results. However it is vital to address these fears and move on- not having the test will let the fear sit and eat away at you. In truth you are lucky to be offered the test- ideally all people over 60 would have one as a screening tool (like smear tests are used these days) as the biggest predictor of a goood outcome iwth bowel cancer os catching it early. So get in there and have it and most likely it will be negative and reassure you. If they find anything then you are lucky to catch it early.
    Best of luck, steve.
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #8
    steved said:

    I appreciate your apprehension after having a run of bad health and bad luck with test results. However it is vital to address these fears and move on- not having the test will let the fear sit and eat away at you. In truth you are lucky to be offered the test- ideally all people over 60 would have one as a screening tool (like smear tests are used these days) as the biggest predictor of a goood outcome iwth bowel cancer os catching it early. So get in there and have it and most likely it will be negative and reassure you. If they find anything then you are lucky to catch it early.
    Best of luck, steve.

    Yes, I agree, you should get the test done. Esp. at your age (no offense, but I was diagnosed at 31). The earlier you find these things the better, as you know from your experiences w/ breast cancer. You do not want to just let it go and besides you are probably fine.
    Best of luck, Susan
  • zoomer
    zoomer Member Posts: 8
    #9
    shmurciakova said:

    Yes, I agree, you should get the test done. Esp. at your age (no offense, but I was diagnosed at 31). The earlier you find these things the better, as you know from your experiences w/ breast cancer. You do not want to just let it go and besides you are probably fine.
    Best of luck, Susan

    Thanks for your encouragement-Best of health to you.
  • zoomer
    zoomer Member Posts: 8
    #10
    Kaye2003 said:

    My husband just had his third colonoscopy today. Have it done. Not knowing will drive you crazy. You sound like a fighter, don't stop now.
    God Bless

    Thanks for your words of encouragement.
  • zoomer
    zoomer Member Posts: 8
    #11
    livin said:

    I understand your fear but get the colonoscopy as your Doctor suggest, Did the Doctor say why he or she wanted the test done, The procedure is easy painless just the laxative taste horrible. Livin

    The doc. wants to do it as a screening measure. Women with breast cancer are at greater risk for colon cancer. Thank you for replying to my question.
  • zoomer
    zoomer Member Posts: 8
    #12
    rbeckler said:

    Zoomer, take it from me, the scopes are easy. The prep's no picnic, I won't try to minimize that but the scope itself is easy. Afraid of what they might find? Well, that's a valid fear expressed by many.

    Are scopes without risk? No, there is always the very rare possibility of perforation and post op bleeding. These procedures are routine and most have no after effects. The "light sedation" is so effective that heck, they could park my car up there and I wouldn't care!

    I had my 4th scope two weeks ago, this one was perfectly normal.

    Just make sure it's a full colonoscopy and not a flexible sigmoidoscope. The flex sig only examines the rectum and sigmoid colon, the prep was the same for me and there is no sedation. You know you've been invaded by the garden hose! For me, it was a wasted procedure, the flex sig stopped just a few cm short of where my tumor was found three years later.

    Bottoms up! (well actually bottom's on the side)

    Ray

    Thank you for your reply. May you have continued good health.
  • zoomer
    zoomer Member Posts: 8
    #13
    steved said:

    I appreciate your apprehension after having a run of bad health and bad luck with test results. However it is vital to address these fears and move on- not having the test will let the fear sit and eat away at you. In truth you are lucky to be offered the test- ideally all people over 60 would have one as a screening tool (like smear tests are used these days) as the biggest predictor of a goood outcome iwth bowel cancer os catching it early. So get in there and have it and most likely it will be negative and reassure you. If they find anything then you are lucky to catch it early.
    Best of luck, steve.

    Thanks for your words of encouragement.
  • zoomer
    zoomer Member Posts: 8
    #14
    shmurciakova said:

    Yes, I agree, you should get the test done. Esp. at your age (no offense, but I was diagnosed at 31). The earlier you find these things the better, as you know from your experiences w/ breast cancer. You do not want to just let it go and besides you are probably fine.
    Best of luck, Susan

    Thanks Susan-and best of health.

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