I tell everyone, do it, don't put it off. As I said in another post, I watched my dad go through hell with colon cancer after he missed a few of them and then he had a colostomy. Fought cancer for 12 years before it beat him.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

The drugs during/after are great.

Tell me more

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by WingedMedic:

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
Anyone do Cologuard instead of the colonoscopy?

Cologuard only detects advanced polyps and cancer... and if it does detect something you need to go in for a colonoscopy anyways.

Also, it's better to catch and remove the polyps when they are small, than wait for them to become large and/or cancerous. Large polyps are more difficult to remove, and have higher risks associated with their removal including perforation.

There's a reason insurance companies are willing to pony up the extra couple thousand dollars for a colonoscopy versus cologuard tests.

Cologuard disagrees with your contention that it only detects advanced polyps and cancer.

https://www.cologuard.com/effe...9PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Cologuard® finds colon cancer even in early stages when it is more treatable1,2
92%
Cologuard finds 92% of colon cancers overall1
94%
Cologuard finds 94% of Stage I & Stage II colon cancers3
Cologuard sensitivity, per stage of cancer: I: 90% (n=29); II: 100% (n=21); III: 90% (n=10); IV: 75% (n=4).1

Cologuard performance in adults ages 45-49 is estimated based on a large clinical study of patients 50 and older. False positives and false negatives may occur. In this clinical study, 13% of people without cancer received a positive result (false positive) and 8% of people with cancer received a negative result (false negative).1,3

Post a link to some evidence to the contrary as I'd like to see it and I'm sure others would also.

Your very post explains it. Cologuard detects cancer, which means AFTER polyps have turned to cancer. Colonoscopy finds precancerous polyps and removes them. I did the research too, and went with colonoscopy instead of cologuard for that very reason. Cologuard finds cancer, I want to find it before then.

I scheduled my consult for two weeks out and likely procedure in February.

Should I aim for a Monday or Friday for the procedure?

I had one yesterday. No sweat.
The prep liquid was not objectionable; it had a lemon-lime hint of flavor.

No pain or discomfort afterward. Fine today as well.

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

The drugs during/after are great.

Tell me more

. My Doctor uses the Micheal Jackson “milk”drug propophal.But your not sleeping,just out.

The prep is worse than the procedure. Don’t hesitate to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by WingedMedic:

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
Anyone do Cologuard instead of the colonoscopy?

Cologuard only detects advanced polyps and cancer... and if it does detect something you need to go in for a colonoscopy anyways.

Also, it's better to catch and remove the polyps when they are small, than wait for them to become large and/or cancerous. Large polyps are more difficult to remove, and have higher risks associated with their removal including perforation.

There's a reason insurance companies are willing to pony up the extra couple thousand dollars for a colonoscopy versus cologuard tests.

Cologuard disagrees with your contention that it only detects advanced polyps and cancer.

https://www.cologuard.com/effe...9PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Cologuard® finds colon cancer even in early stages when it is more treatable1,2
92%
Cologuard finds 92% of colon cancers overall1
94%
Cologuard finds 94% of Stage I & Stage II colon cancers

Post a link to some evidence to the contrary as I'd like to see it and I'm sure others would also.

There is no need for me to post any links... Your "evidence" completely supports what I stated:

"Cologuard only detects advanced polyps AND cancer."

It appears you misinterpreted what I said as "advanced polyps and advanced cancer," if that is the case, you don't have a clear understanding of what polyps are. Let me try to help clarify:

- Virtually all colon cancer develops from colon polyps.
- Polyps are abnormal growths of tissue on the mucosa (lining) of the colon.
- Polyps start out small, but can grow..
- Approximately 99% of polyps under 1 centimeter in diameter are non-cancerous, but some have the potential to become cancerous as they continue to grow.
- As they continue to grow in size (advanced polyps), their risk of turning into cancer increases.
- These substantially-sized, advanced polyps, are the only polyps Cologuard can detect.
(sidenote: some types of polyps are more likely to become cancerous than others. But we'll keep it simple)
- If these advanced polyps become cancerous, the cancer would initially be staged as "stage 1 cancer."

Therefore, if I state "Cologuard only catches advanced polyps and cancer," i am stating that it has the ability to catch advanced polyps before they turn into stage 1 cancer (advanced polyps precede cancer). Understanding that, one can clearly deduce "advanced polyps and cancer" does not mean "advanced polyps and advanced cancer.

A colonoscopy is mandatory if you have any history of colon cancer in your family. I watched both of my parents go thru colon surgery only to find that cancer had spread to other organs and there was nothing to do but sew them up and send them home to live out the rest of their lives, about 6 months for both of them. My mother watched my father go thru it and do you think she took the hint and got a colonoscopy? Nope! Didn’t go to the Dr. until she started having symptoms, and by then it was too late.

The prep the day before a colonoscopy is very unpleasant. Last time I could not sleep the night before cause I was so dang hungry and was up till the wee hours of the morning trying to watch TV and not think of the hunger, but all I could think of was link sausage, hash browns, eggs sunny side up and coffee.

50 is the age where doctors recommend a colonoscopy and if it is negative, then repeat in 5 years. Trust me. Colon cancer is one of those cancers that can be treated if caught early enough.

quote:

Originally posted by wingspar:
The prep the day before a colonoscopy is very unpleasant. Last time I could not sleep the night before cause I was so dang hungry and was up till the wee hours of the morning trying to watch TV and not think of the hunger, but all I could think of was link sausage, hash browns, eggs sunny side up and coffee.

"So dang hungry" sums it up pretty well!

I will be having my 5th colonoscopy on Monday at 8AM. It has been 7 years since the last one, the Covid Crisis has caused the delay in the every 5 years schedule.

The discomfort, to me, is far less than the peace of mind received. I know a former co-worker, under 40 years old, who developed colon cancer and now needs a coloscopy bag.

I don't always listen to Doctors, but I do on this one.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
I scheduled my consult for two weeks out and likely procedure in February.

Should I aim for a Monday or Friday for the procedure?

IIRC I was told not to drive the remainder of the day, don't operate heavy equipment...you know the usual. Other than that you should be good to go about your day as normal so it's up to you. I'd just take Friday off and make it a three day weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by WingedMedic:


There is no need for me to post any links... Your "evidence" completely supports what I stated:

"Cologuard only detects advanced polyps AND cancer."

Nope. The link doesn't say it "only" detects advanced polyps and cancer it says it does detect those though.

Here's some more input about what it does.

https://www.healthline.com/health/cologuard

Cologuard looks for changes in your DNA that could indicate the presence of colon cancer or precancerous polyps. Polyps are growths on the colon’s surface that may develop into cancer.

So it does detect polyps.

Still waiting for a link from you.

I've had 2 in past 8 years because of family history of IBD and my Celiac disease. I'm only 49. Worst part is results of the prep drink. Did it early in the morning. I think I was home in less than 4 hours.

If possible, don't delay on ordering the prep kit. I had to call the doc several times and reschedule screening because phamrs near me couldn't get it for at least a week.

My youngest called it "Super Bowl Prep". Just happed to be last week of Jan. Kit is called "Suprep Bowel Prep". He was like "Cool what is this?" Me: You read it too fast dude. I guess he was somewhat right. It is bowl prep.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
I scheduled my consult for two weeks out and likely procedure in February.

Should I aim for a Monday or Friday for the procedure?

Unless you tend to have busy weekends I'd suggest Monday. That gives you a "day off" to do the prep. If you have the procedure on Friday then you'll be spending Thursday being frequently distracted by bathroom trips and won't get much of anything done. Either way, by the next day you'll be fully recovered and functional.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
I scheduled my consult for two weeks out and likely procedure in February.

Should I aim for a Monday or Friday for the procedure?

Depends. How much of an issue do you have with potential wet farts??

quote:

don't operate heavy equipment

How much does a washing machine (Speed Queen) weigh?

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
Anyone do Cologuard instead of the colonoscopy?

The problem is that if they see something the will have to do the real version to address the issue.

It's not a big deal and I've had 4. Each time the prep has gotten better. By that I mean the stuff you drink was almost a gallon in total the first time, then maybe 2 quarts the next and now it's two small 8 oz. bottles you drink hours apart along with a few glasses of water.
You'll be unaware of anything although they say you are partially conscious.
Much better than learning you have colon cancer that has spread because it gives no early symptoms. If you're clear, and that's the most likely outcome, that's even better.

this..

my doc said if I did the colon guard FIRST the insurance would NOT pay for the colonoscopy after it, only if i did the CO first.

Just dropped off the package for Cologuard at the UPS Store.

There was quite a lineup in the store, I’m politely waiting my turn. Get to the next window the guy behind the counter is kind of a asshole and said “You could have just left that on the counter”.

It took all in me to not just reply “ I don’t s*** in a box and take it to UPS on a regular basis so how am I to know!”

Yep, I pat myself on the back for self control!

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:

It took all in me to not just reply “ I don’t s*** in a box and take it to UPS on a regular basis

You have more self control than I do.

V-Tail,

Thank you, it took all that I could muster not to say it. What probably helped was I had my four year old grandson with me, he’s like a little parrot at this stage of the game.