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Gifted article.
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This is a good article about when you should get your first colonoscopy and comparing the success rate of less invasive tests:
That page mentions the usual recommendation to start colorectal cancer screening at age 45, even though Van Der Beek’s diagnosis was apparently at age 45 (but too late to prevent him dying from it).
I’ve had a couple of colonoscopy tests and am on the 10-year plan. It sort of dawned on me recently…..why only every 10 years - could something not develop (like a mammogram for instance) a year later and be silent? 10 years is a long time between tests!
Seems like someone using colonoscopy as primary screening and concerned about the potential of a missed polyp or cancer becoming dangerous in the 10 year interval may want to do FIT every year in between the colonoscopies, where any positive FIT result indicates getting a colonoscopy then instead of waiting until 10 years from the last one.
The 10 year interval for those without any high risk indication was probably set because colorectal cancer develops slowly, and colonoscopy has enough medical risks that doing it more frequent intervals when not indicated by high risk indications does not give a good enough value versus risk added. Colonoscopy is also relatively expensive, so doing it at more frequent intervals for non high risk people would contribute another cost to the already high cost of US health care.
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Totally understand and get all that. 10 years is just a long time! Even if you don’t have any reason to think you need it more often.
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What happened to Van Der Beek could have happened to me had I had my first colonoscopy at 50 (for the previous recommendation). Luckily, my doctor did not like what she saw in my stool sample and ordered a colonoscopy for me when I was 32 years old.
A few pre-cancerous polyps were found. The next colonoscopy was done in 6 months. No polyps was found, then a year, then 3 years and it has been every 5 years for the last 3-4 times. I think they have found a polyp or two during those procedures but they were non-cancerous. My last one was 3 years ago and no polyps was found.
With my history, I don’t feel comfortable if I have to wait longer than 5 years for the next procedure. I don’t have a family history of colon cancer, however.
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PSA, Get your colonoscopy if indicated/ or you’re at the age.
Had my first one this week bc of family history. All normal results. Had had clean Cologuard previously.
Thanks to all for sharing tips. Quite humbling doing the prep.
Peace be with you all.
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To remind us of how old this thread is, I had my colonoscopy about 18 months ago, so it’s T-3.5 years until my next one. (I’m on the 5-year plan because I had one polyp and a grandpa had colorectal cancer)
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Dear friend, so glad the polyp was 6 mm, not 6 inches.
To quote Barbie, math is hard!
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I’d like to be on the 5 year plan. I go every 3 years. But… each time they say that I’m relieved that they don’t instead say “next year”.
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I’m in a 5 year plan because of polyps. I honestly don’t mind the prep but now my doc likes a whole week of an altered diet. Low fiber, no raw fruits or veggies and no broccoli or cauliflower cooked or not. No nuts and absolutely no seeds. I can eat chocolate though. lol. Just did the colonoscopy yesterday and doc said my prep was “perfect”
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The diet is so hard for me, because everything I eat is forbidden. If my doctor decides to make it a week instead of a couple days, I’ll go nuts trying to figure out what to eat.
And boy, do I detest the night before. The prep really takes a toll on me, and I have to sleep on the bathroom floor. Not my favorite place to sleep!
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I think it’s almost impossible for vegetarians. For me it was far from my usual diet. But with eggs, chicken, fish and things I like but don’t usually eat on the menu( sourdough bread and butter, pasta with olive oil and cheese, mashed potatoes, ice cream) it was tolerable. I have those flat polyps that are pre cancerous but hard to see. He was able to visualize and remove 2 tiny ones this time. He told me the excellent prep helped so very worth it.
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This is what I heard… GLP-1s are partially responsible for the new dietary restrictions pre-colonoscopy. Because these drugs make gut emptying slower… and the doctors do not want to have several separate sheets of instructions for folks on different medications, so a common denominator it is. Plus these guidelines are quite effective.
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That’s crazy. The majority of people are not on GLP-1s.
I am on a 5 year recall plan, so still remembered what I was told 5 years ago and was surprised at the new restrictions. Definitely make vegans suffer more than omnivores. I was almost OK with eating just chicken and fish and eggs and yogurt for a week. But when it was over… I ate the biggest salad I could fit in my stomach! 
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I’ve had diet restrictions full week prior before for my last few colonoscopies. It definitely can be a challenge since my normal diet has about 30g/day fiber.
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