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How To Rule Out Cancer Without A Colonoscopy?
Question: having my first colonoscopy at age 69. No symptoms, but a friend (same age) who had no symptoms but was found to have cancer during a routine colonoscopy. It had broken through wall, was in his brain and lungs. I am so frightened (reason I have not done this earlier) and certain they will find cancer. Don't even want to go. Cancel it. I don't drink, smoke, exercise have no family history, but terrible diet of bad stuff. Is there another way I can without subjecting myself to a colonoscopy and the knowledge I am certain I will have cancer. This is ONE TIME question. I don't want top be billed each month.
Brief Answer:
You can choose other investigations if you just want to rule out cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I understand your fear and most individuals have a fear of hospitals and medical institutions just due to the anxiety of 'what if' something is diagnosed. But this is also the main reason why most patients who do in fact have something, result in allowing the condition to get worse resulting in a poor prognosis.
As you spoke about your friend who had colon cancer, and with the extensive nature you described I am sure there would have been numerous symptoms which were in fact ignored. You on the other hand have no other symptoms, and so you should not be worried at all. If we were looking for cancer or a tumor, investigations like a CT or MRI abdomen or even a PET scan can be used to diagnose/rule it out.
But a colonoscopy helps by helping us find small issues like ulcers, diverticulum, polyps, etc; which cannot be found through the above mentioned investigations. So if you wish to just rule out cancer, you can choose from any of the above listed investigations ma'am. But in my opinion, you should go ahead with the colonoscopy as it is a simple investigation and will also help rule out/confirm even the smallest abnormalities (even if they are completely harmless).
I am sure you will return a normal result especially because you are symptom free, so do not worry and try to gather the courage to go through with the investigation, and I am sure you will look back and laugh at how you were afraid before. Please also do not hesitate to write to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
You can choose other investigations if you just want to rule out cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I understand your fear and most individuals have a fear of hospitals and medical institutions just due to the anxiety of 'what if' something is diagnosed. But this is also the main reason why most patients who do in fact have something, result in allowing the condition to get worse resulting in a poor prognosis.
As you spoke about your friend who had colon cancer, and with the extensive nature you described I am sure there would have been numerous symptoms which were in fact ignored. You on the other hand have no other symptoms, and so you should not be worried at all. If we were looking for cancer or a tumor, investigations like a CT or MRI abdomen or even a PET scan can be used to diagnose/rule it out.
But a colonoscopy helps by helping us find small issues like ulcers, diverticulum, polyps, etc; which cannot be found through the above mentioned investigations. So if you wish to just rule out cancer, you can choose from any of the above listed investigations ma'am. But in my opinion, you should go ahead with the colonoscopy as it is a simple investigation and will also help rule out/confirm even the smallest abnormalities (even if they are completely harmless).
I am sure you will return a normal result especially because you are symptom free, so do not worry and try to gather the courage to go through with the investigation, and I am sure you will look back and laugh at how you were afraid before. Please also do not hesitate to write to me anytime, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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