Fifty Plus (50+) - March is colon cancer awareness month

No, it's not another colonoscopy thread, though we can't get enough of those. As your designated colonoscopy evangelist, I'm not going to tell you again about the necessity of getting a regular colonscopy to prevent colon cancer. But in honor of colon cancer awareness month, I thought I bring you a few of the most useful links from around the internets regarding colon cancer.

For general information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, go here (http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Colorectal+Cancer?sectionTitle=Overview).

This is a great colon cancer risk calculator (http://www.cancer.gov/colorectalcancerrisk/#) from the National Cancer institute.

For a PDF with all the colon cancer facts and stats you could ever want, go here (http://www.cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/ColorectalCancerFactsFigures/colorectal-cancer-facts--figures-2008-2010).

This is a Garmin Connect track (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/5881753)of me struggling through a ride having suffered through 11 of 12 sessions of chemo for stage IV colon cancer.

Colon cancer is an especially worthless way to die. Make sure it doesn't happen to you or any of your friends. Spread the word.

Thanks for the reminder.

AND, prayers for a good outcome on the chemo. Playing with poison is a rough task. Sounds like you are up to it though.

On a related note

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N0w2rORwSc

A man in our bike club is dying of colon cancer and of course that was the impetus for a lot of us to get checked. I am glad I had mine done. The peace of mind is worth it.

Thanks for the reminder, we've both been checked already this year and both passed with flying colors!!

Now that's behind us :o for another ten years.

On a related note

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N0w2rORwSc

Thanks for that link, Steve. My colorectal surgeon is a great guy. Fortunately, I've not needed to see him for a few years. When I was in the hospital after my second surgery, one of his interns came in to see me on the weekend. We talked for about 45 minutes, and I learned a lot from that guy (or kid, actually). He said he was going into colorectal surgery because when he was in college he had hemerrhoids, and a surgeon fixed for him. He realized how much a good surgeon could help folks. Doctors who muck around in the colon don't get much respect, but we need them.

What's the official consensus? How often should one have a colonoscopy?

What's the official consensus? How often should one have a colonoscopy?

My doc recommends either:
a) Colonoscopy - 10 year intervals
b) Sigmoidoscopy - 5 year intervals

"b" can be done w/o anesthetic, "a" generally means total anesthesia.
Also, the doc told me some insurance will only pay for "b".

Once you hit fifty, it's my understanding it's every 5 years. I was diagnosed at 47. I think that for anyone over 40, you should invent some symptoms to get tested. Insurance won't pay if you're under 50 unless you have symptoms.

My doc recommends either:
a) Colonoscopy - 10 year intervals
b) Sigmoidoscopy - 5 year intervals

"b" can be done w/o anesthetic, "a" generally means total anesthesia.
Also, the doc told me some insurance will only pay for "b".

Colonoscopies are generally done under conscious sedation, not general anesthesia.
No sedation usually required for a signmoidoscopy.

Colonoscopies are generally done under conscious sedation, not general anesthesia..

Not the one I had.

Not the one I had.

Most of the time patients undergoing endoscopy are sedated and not anesthetized.
I was sedated with the combo of midazolam and meperidine for my colonoscopy a year ago. Those are two commonly-used meds for sedation required for colonoscopy. Moderate sedation is a more current term than conscious sedation. In my case, I was able to see some of the images on the monitor and be be (sorta) engaged in conversation.

Had my colonoscopy (third one) about two weeks ago. Dr. removed two tiny polyps. He wants me to see him in three years. I have family history of colon cancer. After seeing my dad die I decided I did not want to go that way.

What's the official consensus? How often should one have a colonoscopy?

It depends on your family history and what they find in the colonoscopy

This is an individual decision, not a consensus. One size does NOT fit all. For me, at my last (and only) colonoscopy, at about 68, it is 10 years. For my wife, at her last (and only) colonoscopy, at 70, it is 5 years. Her history is different than mine.

Most of the time patients undergoing endoscopy are sedated and not anesthetized.
I was sedated with the combo of midazolam and meperidine for my colonoscopy a year ago. Those are two commonly-used meds for sedation required for colonoscopy. Moderate sedation is a more current term than conscious sedation. In my case, I was able to see some of the images on the monitor and be be (sorta) engaged in conversation.

Midazolam
I think this is what I had when I had surgery on my foot, and again when I had a colonoscopy.
It caused amnesia so I have no memory of the procedures, and swear I was totally knocked out.
But they tell me I was responsive throughout the procedures.
Funny part is when they came around to talk to me afterward, and I could see they were trying to figure out if my memory was really working again.

Midazolam=Versed
Working in a hospital, I've cared for lots of post-colonoscopy patients over the years and very, very few remembered anything unpleasant about the procedure. In my case, I don't remember a speck of discomfort of any sort.

After the colonoscopy, the really weird thing was "waking up", (from my perspective), sitting upright in a chair.:eek:

Funny part of the foot surgery was when the surgeon came around to see how I was doing in the recovery room, getting a funny look on her face, and asking:
"You don't remember the *first* time I talked to you after surgery, do you?":lol: