topic Re: Colonoscopy in Wellness

Colonoscopy

SeaMaiden — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:54:26 GMT

DH had his colonoscopy yesterday. Three years ago he had 12 polyps removed...yesterday 8 more.... thank goodness for this life saving procedure! I go next year for my next procedure. I had one polyp removed in 2014. So they recommended 10 years.

I hope everyone here takes advantage of this procedure and has it done as recommended. It is not "fun"....but just another inconvenience in life that may just SAVE YOUR LIFE. ❤️

List of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer

This article lists notable people who died from or were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Adele Roberts (born 1979), English broadcaster, radio personality and DJ.[1]
Alto Reed (1948–2020; aged 72), American saxophonist best known as a long-time member of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.[2]
Angela Scoular (1945–2011; aged 65), British actress (On Her Majesty's Secret Service).[3]
Antonin Artaud (1896–1948; aged 51), French dramatist, poet, essayist, actor,and theatre director; died from an overdose of chloral hydrate his doctor prescribed to control the pain from a very advanced and inoperable rectal cancer.
Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993; aged 63), British actress and humanitarian.[4]
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911–1956; aged 45), American athlete.[5]
Billy Kametz (1987–2022; aged 35), American voice actor.[6]

Bob Jenkins (1947–2021; aged 73), American television and radio sports announcer.[7]
Bobby Moore (1941–1993; aged 51), England football captain and 1966 World Cup winner; the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK is committed to beating bowel cancer in his memory.[8]
Brion Gysin (1916–1986; aged 70), British-Canadian writer and painter, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1974 and underwent a colostomy; died from lung cancer in 1986.
Carmen Marc Valvo (born 1963), American fashion designer.[9]
Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020; aged 43), American actor (Black Panther); died 3–4 years after diagnosis.[10]
Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000; aged 77), creator of Peanuts; died 60 days after diagnosis.[11]
Claude Debussy (1862–1918; aged 55), French composer.[12]
Corazon Aquino (1933–2009; aged 76), 11th President of the Philippines (1986–1992); died after a 16-month battle with colon cancer.[13]
Dame Deborah James (1981–2022; aged 40), English journalist and podcast presenter (You, Me and the Big C).[14]
Eartha Kitt (1927–2008; aged 81), American singer and actress.[15]
Sir Edward Elgar (1857–1934; aged 76), English composer; died four months after diagnosis.[16]
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900–2002; aged 101), British Queen Consort of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1966 at the age of 66 and surgery removed a tumour; she survived and died 35 years later in 2002, aged 101, from natural causes.[17]
Elizabeth Montgomery (1933–1995; aged 62), American actress; eight weeks after diagnosis.[18]
Harold Wilson (1916–1995; aged 79), British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1964–1970, 1974–1976).[19]
Howard Marks (1945–2016; aged 70), Welsh drug smuggler and author.[20]
Hugo Pratt (1927–1995; aged 68), Italian cartoonist (Corto Maltese).[21][22]
Jackie Gleason (1916–1987; aged 71), American actor and entertainer, best-known for portraying "Ralph Kramden" in The Honeymooners.[23]
Jay Monahan (1956–1998; aged 42), American attorney. His widow, Katie Couric, raised awareness of colorectal cancers after his death, encouraged people to get tested, and The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health was established in his memory at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell.[24]
Dame Joan Bakewell (born 1933), English broadcaster, journalist, television presenter and Labour Party peer.[25]
Joel Siegel (1943–2007; aged 63), Emmy award-winning film critic and Entertainment Editor of ABC's Good Morning America.[26]
John Foster Dulles (1888–1959; aged 71), United States Secretary of State under Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[27]
John Wetton (1949–2017; aged 67), British singer-songwriter.[28]
José Ferrer (1912–1992; aged 80), Puerto Rican actor, director and film director.[29]
John Bain (1984–2018; aged 33), English video gaming commentator and game critic, known as "TotalBiscuit".[30][31]
Dame Julie Walters (born 1950), English actress (Harry Potter, Mamma Mia!, Wood and Walters, National Treasure).[32]
Kevin Conroy (1955–2022; aged 66), American actor, known for voicing Batman in various DC Comics related properties for three decades.[33]
Kevin Corcoran (1949–2015; aged 66), American director, and producer who took part in various Disney films as a child actor.
Kirstie Alley (1951–2022; aged 71), American actress (Cheers, Look Who's Talking, Celebrity Big Brother 22).[34]
Kornbread Jeté (born 1992), American drag queen and star of RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 14). Diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in 2022 aged 30.[35]
Lois Maxwell (1927–2007; aged 80), Canadian actress best-known for playing Miss Moneypenny in the first 14 James Bondfilms.
Lynn Faulds Wood (1948–2020; aged 72), Scottish television presenter and journalist (BBC Watchdog). Survived advanced bowel cancer and founded the charities Beating Bowel Cancer and Lynn's Bowel Cancer Campaign. She later died from a stroke in 2020.[36]
Malcolm Marshall (1958–1999; aged 41), West Indian-British cricket player.[37]
Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940; aged 71), British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1937–1940).[38]
Pelé (1940–2022; aged 82), former Brazilian footballer for Santos FC, New York Cosmos and Brazil. He was diagnosed in 2021 at age 81.
Robin Gibb (1949–2012; aged 62), Manx singer, musician and producer, member of the Bee Gees.[39]
Rod Roddy (1937–2003; aged 66), American radio and television announcer (The Price is Right); died two years after being diagnosed with colon cancer.[40]
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004; aged 93), American politician who served as the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989). In 1985, Reagan underwent surgery at Bethesda Naval Hospital, he had a right Hemicolectomy, he had two foot of colon removed. This was found to be a Dukes' Stage B colorectal cancer.[41]
Russi Taylor (1944–2019; aged 75), American voice actress best known as the voice of Minnie Mouse.[42]
Sam Simon (1955–2015; aged 59), American director, producer, writer, philanthropist and co-creator of The Simpsons.[43]
Sam Taylor-Johnson (born 1967), English filmmaker, director and photographer.[44]
Sara Murray Jordan (1884–1959; aged 75), American gastroenterologist; diagnosed herself with colon cancer and died in 1959.[45]
Sharon Osbourne (born 1952), British-American television personality and music manager (The X Factor, The Osbournes, America's Got Talent).[46]
Sid Waddell (1940–2012; aged 72), English sports commentator and television personality, known as the "Voice of Darts"; died 11 months after diagnosis.[47]
Simon MacCorkindale (1952–2010; aged 58), British actor and film director; first diagnosed in 2006.[48]
Sonya Biddle (1957–2022; aged 64), Canadian actress and politician in Montreal, Quebec. She served on the Montreal City Council from 1998 to 2001 as a Member of Vision Montreal.[49]
Tina Turner (born 1939), American singer and actress ("Proud Mary", "Nutbush City Limits", "What's Love Got to Do with It", "The Best").[50]
Tony Snow (1955–2008; aged 53), American journalist and politician who served as the 25th White House Press Secretaryunder President George W. Bush.[51]
Vince Lombardi (1913–1970; aged 57), American football coach of Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins. The Super Bowl trophy was renamed in his honor shortly after his death, as his Packers won the first two Super Bowls.[52]

Re: Colonoscopy

Flying Dove — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:32:27 GMT

Thanks for the update. Good news for sure! As you stated, it's so very important to have this procedure done. The preparation (drinking all the necessary liquid to clean out the colon so the doctor can clearly locate the polyps) is not really all that bad. They have improved the taste of the liquid, compared to what it used to be. Just have to keep remembering that the procedure is very possibly preveenting cancer.

Re: Colonoscopy

lgfan — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:38:30 GMT

I had a colonoscopy this past October. Everything was fine and I don't need to have another one for ten years. The inconvenience is minor considering all the possible problems that can occur if you don't have one.

Re: Colonoscopy

granddi — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:55:19 GMT

Ask your doc for an upper GI at same time you do your colonoscopy. If you have any reflux related symptoms this can be medically justified and if coded properly insurance covered.

Re: Colonoscopy

Mombo1 — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:33:31 GMT

I have had my colonoscopy done about every five years. As uncomfortable as the prep was for me...the peace of mind afterwards is worth it.

Re: Colonoscopy

LindaSal — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:42:08 GMT

I just had both done late December. Endoscopy and Colonoscopy. I hate the prep as it makes me feel awful to go a day without any food intake (Blah!) and then to drink all that stuff until you literally want to puke.......however I would never NOT have one because I wouldn't want to deal with the other option. Breast cancer survivor's risk goes up a small percentage too for colon cancer.

Re: Colonoscopy

qvcaddition — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:32:46 GMT

I had both done five years ago. They don't want to do another at my advanced age, so sent me a cologuard kit and mailed back yesterday. It's suppose to be 93% accurate.

I was OK five years ago.

Re: Colonoscopy

AuntG — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:49:42 GMT

Just think of what one polyp removed ten years ago could have become if not removed. I know the process can be difficult for some people, but the inconvenience is well worth the peace of mind.

Re: Colonoscopy

FastDogWalker2 — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:58:28 GMT

Yes - a very necessary exam. My mother had colon cancer so I have been going since I was quite young.

Re: Colonoscopy

vsm — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 18:11:15 GMT

@AuntG wrote:
Just think of what one polyp removed ten years ago could have become if not removed. I know the process can be difficult for some people, but the inconvenience is well worth the peace of mind.

That's why the medical gold standard is a 5-year (not 10-year) interval for anyone who has had even a single polyp.

Re: Colonoscopy

SeaMaiden — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 18:27:07 GMT

@vsm wrote:
@AuntG wrote:
Just think of what one polyp removed ten years ago could have become if not removed. I know the process can be difficult for some people, but the inconvenience is well worth the peace of mind.
That's why the medical gold standard is a 5-year (not 10-year) interval for anyone who has had even a single polyp.

@vsm I do not know if the insurance will cover it more often unless the doctor says 5 years. I agree that every 5 years would be better. The insurance companies would probably be against that though. Just like the insurance companies would rather stop paying for them after a certain age....there's no upper age limit for colon cancer screening. But most medical organizations in the United States agree that the benefits of screening decline after age 75 for most people and there's little evidence to support continuing screening after age 85. I guess the medical system has decided we have one foot in the grave already.....

Re: Colonoscopy

vsm — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 18:41:33 GMT

I hope you'll ask your doctor, @SeaMaiden , if you can do it in 5 years, given your polyp history (which is the same as mine -- my next two were clean, but my doctor still has me on the 5-year interval). If he says no, you can at least ask him why. He just might say yes, because you requested it. Even if your insurance company ends up refusing to cover the procedure, it's worh a try. I wish you the best!

Re: Colonoscopy

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 19:04:28 GMT

DH and I had our last ones done in 2022. No problems so we're on the 10 yr. plan now.

Re: Colonoscopy

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 20:56:27 GMT

@SeaMaiden

Wow .... very surprising list!

Re: Colonoscopy

BirkiLady — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 21:59:38 GMT

@SeaMaiden

I know a couple of people on the "three year plan".

I've been on the five year plan since my first colonoscopy many years ago. The GI physician found out my dad had colon cancer at a young age, many surgeries and chemo, and passed away from it anyway in his early 60's. It was a horrible illness, fight for life over many years, and an awful death.

ETA: Had the latest test about two years ago; the next one is scheduled when I will be 77. Confident they will schedule another for five years in the future when I'm 83 and I'm sure there will be many others that age there, too. I've never been anywhere near the oldest entering their clinic yet - nor have I heard of a cut-off age for those life-saving tests!

Re: Colonoscopy

granddi — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:23:12 GMT

@BirkiLady I want all my parts to work and be healthy for as long as I need them. I'm just going to carry on with preventive care regardless of statistics and age expectancy. If I ever have a doc that implies that "at my age" I don't need preventive care, I'll find one that cares about me and not what an insurance company says.

Re: Colonoscopy

Shelbelle — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:27:24 GMT

I had 2 with benign polyps, once cancer that is usually preventable.

Re: Colonoscopy

azgal — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:58:35 GMT

I want to add my friend, Claire to that list. She never had a colonoscopy even though she was 73 years old. By the time she was diagnosed, it was too late. She only lived a few months. That was about 1 1/2 years ago and I really miss her as do her children and grandchildren.

She was a very healthy person. Rarely sick, not even a cold.

I encourage everyone to get a colonoscopy. I know it's no fun but it could save your life!

Re: Colonoscopy

BirkiLady — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:41:12 GMT

@granddi

Make sure you have the best health care providers & insurance NOW!!!

Don't wait until you're in that position and need to change physicians and/or insurance providers. By then, it will be too late. (Lesson #1 we learned as children following my dad's ordeal. Followed by many other life lessons that have been much easier to absorb. )

Re: Colonoscopy

mac116 — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:12:39 GMT

I have the recommended colonoscopies, even though it wreaks havoc on my system. I do not mind drinking the prep, and following all of the guidelines. I RUN at least 30 times, and have been hospitalized with extreme dehydration and afib as a result. My husband RUNS about 8 times. I hope to use Cologuard next time.