Hello
everyone,
1
week until Christmas Day, I hope everyone is feeling festive.
Bowel
cancer runs in the paternal side of my family. My dad has regular
colonoscopies to check that he is ok and I am fast approaching the
age where I will start having them too.
I
have decided to try and break down some of the stigma attached to
colonoscopies by researching them. A colonoscopy isn't appropriate
for everyone but I hope this blog post persuades people to have them
should they need to as it is the most effective way of diagnosing
bowel cancer, as well as the presence of any bowel polyps, and as I
like to drum into your heads, EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS KEY!
A
colonoscopy is usually performed in the outpatients department of a
hospital and the procedure itself usually lasts around an
hour. The bowel needs to be completely empty for the colonoscopy so
the patient will need to follow a very careful diet for a few days
before the test. Laxatives may also be needed and may be prescribed.
The department carrying out the procedure will give you careful
instructions regarding your diet and laxatives.
It
may be possible for you to have a sedative to relax you a little
before the procedure. You will be told to lie on your side whilst the
nurse or doctor passes a thin flexible tube called a colonoscope into
your back passage. There are flexible fibres in the tube which pass
around the bowel easily. There is a light and camera on the end of
the tube and these show any abnormal areas of the bowel.
It
may be that photographs and biopsies of the cells in the large bowel
are taken during the colonoscopy. Usually any polyps can be removed
using a wire loop that is passed through the colonoscope. This can be
done painlessly normally.
Sometimes
the whole bowel can’t be seen during the colonoscopy. This may be
due to the bowel not being completely empty or because the
colonoscopy can’t get round a bend in the bowel or reach the end of
t. You may be asked to have a repeat or a CT colonoscopy in this
situation.
A
COLONOSCOPY CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT A SEDATIVE WILL HELP YOU RELAX.
Most
patients are ready to go home within a few hours of the test but
someone will need to come and collect you, especially if you have had
a sedative. Someone should be around to keep an eye on you for around
twelve hours after the procedure.
Potential
Complications:
Usually
a colonscopy is a fairly straightforward procedure and patients do
not have any side effects. However, very rare side effects do
include:
*Fluid
Loss – Taking laxatives may cause you to lose lots of fluids as you
are visiting the toilet frequently. It is important to let the people
carrying out your colonoscopy know if you have any heart problems
before taking laxatives as this can worsen your condition.
*Breathing
or Heart Problems – You may have a reaction to the laxatives which
may cause you to have temporary problems breathing or temporary
problems with your heart.
*Heavy
Bleeding – Around 1/150 people having a colonoscopy suffer from
heavy bleeding after the procedure. If biopsies are taken or polyps
are removed then there is a chance of bleeding. If you do notice
heavy bleeding then you should seek medical advice immediately.
*Perforated
Bowel – The colonoscopy can VERY RARELY make a hole in the bowel
wall. This happens about 1/1000 but an operation may need needed to
mend the hole.
*Death
– Around 1/10,000 people having a colonscopy die as a result. A
very very small percentage of those having the procedure.
Results:
The
specialist performing your colonoscopy will let you know if they take
any biopsies or remove any polyps during your procedure. The results
of these can take up to three weeks, which can be a very anxious time
for you.
Possible
results include:
*A
Normal Result– this means no polyps or cancerous cells were
found in your bowel. About 50% of colonoscopies have a normal result
and it is rare that a colonoscopy will miss cancer. If your result is
normal then you will probably be offered screening every two years.
*Benign
Polyps– If one or more polyps are found during the procedure
then they are usually all removed at the same time in a procedure
known as a polypectomy. This can help prevent bowel cancer
developing. Around 40% of people having colonoscopies following an
abnormal FOB test have polyps The removed polyps are
studied in a lab and the next steps are determined by the results.
Polyps can sometimes reoccur after being removed.
*Cancer –
Around 10% of people having colonoscopies after an abnormal FOB test
are diagnosed with bowel cancer. That is 1/10. If the cancer is found
at an early stage then there is a very good chance of survival as
around 90% of early stage bowel cancer cases are successfully
treated.
*Other
Benign Causes – Colonoscopies can also indicate other
conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and you
are usually referred to a gastroenterologist.
I
hope this post has been informative for you and I hope it persuades
at least one person to go and get a colonoscopy. Surely a few hours
of discomfort is fair better then a potential battle with cancer?
xxx
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