Maybe your GP is being thorough ? A surgeon would certainly as for one prior to resection depending on your symptoms I’m unsure why anyone with suspected colon cancer would refuse a colonoscopy ? Maybe I’m not understanding the reason for your Q?
Hi . Yes your doctor is just being thorough. In fact my doctor once referred me for a blood test then said ‘oh you haven’t had one for a while so I’ll refer you for a full blood count - we like to do them every so often’. Decline a colonoscopy? Absolutely not! Only 1 out of 10 colonoscopies results in a cancer diagnosis but it’s needed to identify why you’re having the problems that you are. Can you tell us why you would think about doing this so we can help you? I had one 3 months ago and can assure you that they’re totally painless. Surely a 10 minute colonoscopy is worth going through for your own peace of mind?
If you've been referred for a Colonoscopy by your GP, it is usually rudimentary to determine other necessary facts - & a full blood count test would be the normal process prior to any procedure. It's just another way of gathering vital information - so, nothing to worry about.
Presumably you have some problems that need investigating - hence the reason you have been advised to have a Colonoscopy? I don't know of anyone that has declined one. Though I have to admit that I was terrified when I was advised to in April '19. So much so, that I asked for a Colonography instead. Unfortunately, this wasn't successful & so, I still had to undergo a Colonoscopy - but I opted to have sedation....& found it very doable.
My second Colonoscopy was sometime last year....& that time, I decided I wanted to drive the 30 mile round trip - so obviously, I could not have sedation. & yes, without sedation, a Colonoscopy can be very uncomfortable at times...especially going round the 'bends' in the Colon. However, that pain is very momentary & you have control of gas & air to alleviate the procedure. I remember swearing a lot, but I think I made all the staff laugh. If I ever need another, I would opt for without sedation again - but I would advise sedation always for the first time.
If you've been advised to have one, for whatever reason.....I would definitely have it done.
I was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer from a ct scan . But the ct scan was wrong. I didn’t have cancer. This was confirmed by a colonoscopy. I’m so glad I had it. Although I have regular ones especially at my age . they are painless and fairly quick . It’s really worth it
I had been diagnosed hiatus hernia, I had a routine bowel screening about 2 months ago which was clear, the doctor asked for stool sample/fit test for the hernia which came back raised, still waiting for blood test, the reason for my question was i went through all this with prostate cancer 5 years ago, I am now 71 and can't face the endless trips to the hospital, waiting for results etc, thankyou all for taking the time to reply, if I reply to one person does everybody else see it? best wishes farfar
Hi . Yes everyone on the board can see your replies and people that have answered usually get a notification that the post has been updated. After having a colonoscopy they are usually able to tell you whether they think there is anything to worry about. Biopsies are usually sent off for testing but they told me on the day that they were 99% sure it was cancer. Someone I know had one a couple of weeks ago (as the bloods had flagged something up) and was told there was nothing sinister but probably colitis or diverticulitis causing the problem.
Thanks Karen, the people on these sites are so caring and it makes it a lot easier to go through these situations, when I had prostate cancer after the OP I had no bladder control at all, it really got me down, I said to my wife, I can't live like this, I got chatting with a guy on the prostate cancer forum, he really helped me, he had been through it all, he said it takes time but it will get better, it took a long time but it did get better, thankyou John, that is why I am finding it so hard, thinking I might have to go through it all again, I just think, I feel OK, so I think just get on with it, it is probably the Hernia, which can could have caused the blood before, my head is all over the place at the moment, best wishes to you all, Paul
Colonoscopies are nothing to be worried about. It's a great way of putting your mind at rest. I definitely wouldn't decline it, it could save your life.
