Due for a Colonoscopy? Make Yours a Good One
Reader Comments
Thanks!!
Not to be negative.. but if something can go wrong.. it WILL with me! My Hubby has had colon cancer.. caught in early stage, so surgery was all that was needed !! Praise God!
But.. I am past 70 years old.. and never had such an exam!!
I have read the dangers of procedure..
But must tell you, now I feel so much safer.. will definately call and find someone that does the virtual colonscopy !!
Thanks so much for such useful information..
God Bless and keep up the great work!
your provider
It is a comfortable fiction that you should rely upon the advice of medical providers for the decision whether or not they should provide. Put more simply, these people are human and exist in a competitive economy. You can't ask or expect them to render advice unaffected by their desire to perform services for a profit. The author here ignores recent data suggesting that colonoscopies should not be performed after the patient attains a certain age since the cost, risk and discomfort of the procedure at that point in life outweigh reasonably anticipated medical benefits.
Please don't shill for these guys.
virtual colonoscopy
This is Katherine Hobson, the author of the article. This story wasn't about virtual colonoscopy, but if you follow the link in the last paragraph to the "recommended screening schedule," you'll see a piece I wrote earlier this year when CT scanning was added to the list.
colonoscopy
You completely neglected to mention the alternative, virtual CT scan colonoscopy, recently reviewed in medical literature, as being equally, if not more accurate to Gi physician colonoscopy , particularly in light of these recent data. In addition to being less invasive, with almost zero complications (compared to "regular" colonoscopy) it sees the rest of abdominal and pelvic organs, blood vessels and lymph nodes-items completely blind to colonoscopist! The price is less, no sedation is required, no colon perforation complications. please ! provide readers with accurate, equally effective and safer alternatives when you "report" the news. The GI medicine literature has published the false accuracy rate of their exam @ 90% for years. Finally, the truth emerges.
As a radiologist, it is amusing to see GI physician's prediliction in pursuing patients who are private pay/insurance for colonoscopy,yet sending to barium enema the lower reimbursing, but more likely to have pathology, medicare population. Certainly these procedures could not be driven by money, could they?
A quick review of the current medical literature regarding the accuracy of virtual colonoscopy would be a wonderful public service by your editorial staff.
If you have symptoms...
I'm just 46 but a potentially malignant polyp was found - if you don't get a colonoscopy the embarassment will be the least of your problems. I'm Canadian so some of the issues regarding practitioners/facilities don't apply, but the risk is minimal compared to fighting full blown cancer.
colonoscopy
Yesterday I had a colonoscopy. It seems I have one every 30 years or so. The important thing is to ensure you get a very good doctor/ Being a heart patient and a diabesic extra precautions had to be taken to accommodate my particular health problems. The doctor took the time to amend my medications and explain the procedure in detail. She also answered all my questions and made me feel very much at ease.She gave me a sheet pull of instructions, which I followed to a tee. I must say that drinking that 4 litre of laxative even with orange crystal light it still tastes one notch only, above urine. Somebody has to come up with something less offensive to purge the bowel.It is most important to really clean the bowel since if it is not cleaned properly you are simply wasting everyone's time. I am happy to report that all went well and I am free of cancer and polyps.Don't wait 30 years between colonoscopies like I did. I can assure you that in 5 years from now I will be getting another one. There really is nothing to a colonoscopy. The hardest part is the preparation. Good luck to you with your colonoscopy.
further thoughts from Dr. Winawer...
This is Katherine Hobson, the article's author. I heard from Dr. Winawer, one of the story's sources, today, and he said that while 5 colonoscopies a week is a good minimum threshold for a doctor, higher volumes are preferable. Something more like 5 per day would be even better, he said. So take that into consideration.....
Safety is also a very important factor to consider
Here in Las Vegas, we unfortunately know that colonoscopies all too often turn deadly. Considering the appalling number of people who have contracted hepatitis C as a result of their procedure in Nevada, consumers across the country should demand hard answers from their health care providers about mortality rates BEFORE a procedure is performed on them and they are put at risk.
Check out the facility. Question how many cases the endoscopy center and the doctor scheduled on the day of your procedure. How many are scheduled to go before you? After you? How much time between? Demand to know if the center is reusing disposable equipment or failing (or refusing) to properly sterilize scopes between patients. Have them describe to your satisfaction their infection control procedures and quality controls. Ask them when they were last inspected, by whom, and what the results were, and how many hepatitis C and HIV cases have been diagnosed following a procedure at their facility. Check out what they say with state and county regulators. Do they seem annoyed or irritated by the question? Be alert!
Bottom line: If the center looks like they are rushing patients in and out, or if it all looks like a busy (and potentially lucrative) factory assembly line, just say NO to being the next victim!
http://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/outbreaks/index.htm
http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-08-01711-31.pdf
http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9451275
http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9445835
Colonoscopy
Regarding screening at age 50.This depends also on Family History for Colon Cancer onset and also on Race.If Family Hisotry of onset of Colon Cancer is at 50 years old then begin screening at age 40. African American are more prone to having Colon Cancer and screening should begin at age 40.If Polyps are found and then removed those that are adenomatous have a greater chance if not removed in becoming malignant. Hyperplastic Polyps do not become malignant.Thus recheck colonoscopy for adenomatous polyps should be 2 years later and for hyperplastic polyps 5 years later.Patients should also be getting yearly hemoccult test as a preliminary screen.Some gastroenterologist feel if the patient has no Family History for Colon Cancer,and are asyptomatic and had a normal Clonoscopy that there is no need to repeat for up to 10 years,provided pt is returning for yearly physical and Hemooccult Screen.
