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Is It Necessary To Repeat Colonoscopy Every 2 Years?
Question: My big fear for the past years has been colon cancer. It started when my uncle died from it and because an anal fissure caused blood in my stool once.
However I was calmed down when I had a colonoscopy with NO polyp or cancer findings exactly one year ago.
But one thing about the colonoscopy still worries me:
The doctor performing my colonoscopy said that I would now be safe for 1-2 years.
The reason this worries me is that everywhere I read about this subject it says that a clean colonoscopy means you are safe for 5-10 years - and not just for 1-2 years.
So what I'm thinking is this: is it possible that the doctor found the state of my colon to somehow look "fragile" or likely in any way to develop cancer...?? Would that be why he said 1-2 years and not 5 or 10 years?
OR - could he simply just have been over-realistic...?
(He didn't mention that anything looked wrong - my journal said findings were "normal").
I am healthy and with no family history of the disease (except my uncle who died from it at 57). So on paper there'd be no reason why I should worry about a colonoscopy for the next 20 years...
I guess my real concern - and question - is whether a doctor could somehow see danger signs that I'd be more likely to develop colon cancer than others - even though an actual polyp or cancer was not found...? (And even though he didn't mention anything to look wrong).
But is it possible that my colon just looked less healthy to him and that this is why he said 1-2 years of guaranteed safety and not 5-10 years? Or is a colonoscopy more like an "either or" scenario where no polyps = no problems with 100% certainty?
I don't know how the colon works or how this disease looks. But can a doctor have a "general feeling" that a colon is likely to develop cancer. Or is it only a risk if someone actually has a polyp?
I didn't have a polyp or cancer of course... I'm just worried that the doctor thought I was in the risk group due to his findings and that this is why he only said 1-2 years of safety.
However I was calmed down when I had a colonoscopy with NO polyp or cancer findings exactly one year ago.
But one thing about the colonoscopy still worries me:
The doctor performing my colonoscopy said that I would now be safe for 1-2 years.
The reason this worries me is that everywhere I read about this subject it says that a clean colonoscopy means you are safe for 5-10 years - and not just for 1-2 years.
So what I'm thinking is this: is it possible that the doctor found the state of my colon to somehow look "fragile" or likely in any way to develop cancer...?? Would that be why he said 1-2 years and not 5 or 10 years?
OR - could he simply just have been over-realistic...?
(He didn't mention that anything looked wrong - my journal said findings were "normal").
I am healthy and with no family history of the disease (except my uncle who died from it at 57). So on paper there'd be no reason why I should worry about a colonoscopy for the next 20 years...
I guess my real concern - and question - is whether a doctor could somehow see danger signs that I'd be more likely to develop colon cancer than others - even though an actual polyp or cancer was not found...? (And even though he didn't mention anything to look wrong).
But is it possible that my colon just looked less healthy to him and that this is why he said 1-2 years of guaranteed safety and not 5-10 years? Or is a colonoscopy more like an "either or" scenario where no polyps = no problems with 100% certainty?
I don't know how the colon works or how this disease looks. But can a doctor have a "general feeling" that a colon is likely to develop cancer. Or is it only a risk if someone actually has a polyp?
I didn't have a polyp or cancer of course... I'm just worried that the doctor thought I was in the risk group due to his findings and that this is why he only said 1-2 years of safety.
Brief Answer:
1. Get a copy of the colonoscopy report. 2. Then contact the GI dr.
Detailed Answer:
Based on your family history (no primary relative with colon cancer) and what you were verbally told about the results of the colonoscopy, the guidelines would be for you to not need another colonoscopy any more frequently than the general population. It's possible that the gastroenterologist who told you 1-2 years made a mistake in saying this.
I have a primary relative (sister) who was diagnosed young (43 yrs old) with colon cancer, plus I am in my 50s, and even with both of these risk factors, guidelines for me are not as frequently as every 1-2 years! It takes years for colon cancer to develop.
I would recommend doing the following:
1. First contact the hospital where the colonoscopy was done and ask for a release of records form to fill out to request your colonoscopy report.
2. Read the report to see
- if there was something else noted that you were not informed about (I really doubt this)
- if the doctor indicated why he wanted to repeat this in 1-2 years.
3. If he doesn't justify in the report why you need to come back so soon, I would call the gastroenterologist's office and ask why he feels this period of time is indicated.
4. If he doesn't clarify, and if you are quite concerned, I would then get a second opinion from a different gastroenterologist. Because that recommendation for 1-2 year interval for a 33 yr old with a normal colonoscopy and no primary relative with colon cancer or predisposing genetic disorder (Familial Polyposis), no personal history of colon cancer, and no inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis) is certainly not in line with standard of care guidelines.
I hope this info helps. Please let me know if I can provide further clarification or information.
1. Get a copy of the colonoscopy report. 2. Then contact the GI dr.
Detailed Answer:
Based on your family history (no primary relative with colon cancer) and what you were verbally told about the results of the colonoscopy, the guidelines would be for you to not need another colonoscopy any more frequently than the general population. It's possible that the gastroenterologist who told you 1-2 years made a mistake in saying this.
I have a primary relative (sister) who was diagnosed young (43 yrs old) with colon cancer, plus I am in my 50s, and even with both of these risk factors, guidelines for me are not as frequently as every 1-2 years! It takes years for colon cancer to develop.
I would recommend doing the following:
1. First contact the hospital where the colonoscopy was done and ask for a release of records form to fill out to request your colonoscopy report.
2. Read the report to see
- if there was something else noted that you were not informed about (I really doubt this)
- if the doctor indicated why he wanted to repeat this in 1-2 years.
3. If he doesn't justify in the report why you need to come back so soon, I would call the gastroenterologist's office and ask why he feels this period of time is indicated.
4. If he doesn't clarify, and if you are quite concerned, I would then get a second opinion from a different gastroenterologist. Because that recommendation for 1-2 year interval for a 33 yr old with a normal colonoscopy and no primary relative with colon cancer or predisposing genetic disorder (Familial Polyposis), no personal history of colon cancer, and no inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis) is certainly not in line with standard of care guidelines.
I hope this info helps. Please let me know if I can provide further clarification or information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the quick reply. I should clarify the following:
* The doctor didn't actually ask to see me again in 1-2 years - or suggest I repeat my colonoscopy every 1-2 years.
What he said was something along the lines of this: "now there's definitely not a risk of anything developing in at least 1-2 years for sure". I don't remember the exact wording.
- He said this while he was actually performing the colonoscopy and I recall his tone of voice to be sound like an attempt to "calm me down" as a result of him not finding any polyps or cancer.
Afterwards the more formal conclusion was more something like: "well, nothing was found, as we expected - have a good life".
The journal just indicates "normal" - that's all.
So I'm pretty sure it's just me over-reacting because I do have anxiety about this disease.
But from a medical point of view I'm just wondering if the doctor could have gotten an "impression" about a likelihood to develop cancer from what was seen in the colonoscopy that would have prompted him to make the 1-2 year remark?
Or to be more precise: is there any visible signs in the colon that appear pre-polyp and pre-cancer that would make a doctor say 1-2 years rather than 5-10? I guess not, since he didn't mention anything - so I'm supposing this is just a misunderstanding altogether.
Brief Answer:
Can you talk with or meet with this doctor?
Detailed Answer:
I do not know about in Denmark, but in the US, doctors are quick to point out any pathology or risk of pathology to cover themselves legally. From an XXXXXXX perspective, I doubt that if there were any pre-polyp/pre-cancer appearance that he would not mention this concern.
It would not be unreasonable for you to have either a follow up phone conversation or office visit to clarify what was seen and his mention of 1-2 years. It might put your mind at ease. It is hard to remember what might have been said off hand during or immediately following the procedure after all.
Can you talk with or meet with this doctor?
Detailed Answer:
I do not know about in Denmark, but in the US, doctors are quick to point out any pathology or risk of pathology to cover themselves legally. From an XXXXXXX perspective, I doubt that if there were any pre-polyp/pre-cancer appearance that he would not mention this concern.
It would not be unreasonable for you to have either a follow up phone conversation or office visit to clarify what was seen and his mention of 1-2 years. It might put your mind at ease. It is hard to remember what might have been said off hand during or immediately following the procedure after all.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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