I do a colonoscopy every 5 years. I just did an MRI for abdomen and pelvis. My question is: is the MRI I just had enough and I might skip the colonoscopy for a year or two?. I mean, can the MRI pick up colon cancer?. I did a blood test called CEA and it was high, around 8 and it should be no more than 5 and I read that this test is related to colon cancer.
Thanks for your thoughts.
That's a good question for your gastroenterologist. They also biopsy suspicious lesions with a colonoscopy. I would think that if they took out stuff last time, an MRI alone isn't good enough.
Thanks, TA. I will call the dr and ask. Yes, they took out something last time and it wasn’t cancerous.
I go in tomorrow - start bowel prep today (ugh!).
:-). Lots of luck. I will keep you in my prayers.
Good luck Allen. As you may remember, I get a colonoscopy every year, or two, because of ulcerative colitis. The prep is worse than the procedure. Lots of GI's are encouraging a split prep, with half the day before, and half the morning of. Worked well for me.
An MRI does not substitute for a through scoping, unfortunately.
That's what I'm doing. Dulcolax and Miralax. I'm glad they aren't making me drink a gallon of that stuff the way they used to. Propofol tomorrow - which is nice.
Don't worry. Everything will come out fine.
Every gastro seems to have their own special sauce. My first used Fleet's phospho soda which was easy and effective, but a few months later found out it was frying some kidneys. Second one was Miralax and Gatorade. There are some new ones out there--don't remember what my wife used. The old gallons were GoLYTELY, then they had Half LYTELY. Uggh.
Much luck
I think an MRI does not take the place of a colonoscopy, especially if there is no colon prep beforehand. Even the virtual colonoscopy procedure requires a prep.
And for Tall Allen, I had a prep using Clenpiq- which is relatively new Rx. A small volume bottle, which tastes like soda (cranberry I think was the flavor), no nausea. But even with Medicare part D coverage, the cost to me is $75. My gastro dr gave me a free sample. I would pay full price if I had to - much easier prep vs any other I ever had.
MRI of abdomen does not replace a colonoscopy. The main reason to do colonoscopies is to prevent colon cancer by doing biopsies and taking away polyps which could become cancerous (precancerous lesions, particularly adenomatous polyps).
Hey Ahk1!
Good question. T_A is right about the snipping.
I had my first colonoscopy on a Monday morning. I was the doctor's first patient. It was drizzling rain a bit, the storm having moved down from New Hampshire. The nurse asked the doctor how his weekend had been. He said weather had been overcast with occasional showers and had ruined his stay in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I looked at him with a deadpan expression and asked if he meant that he had a "shitty" weekend? He just stared at me and I said, "Hey!! It is just a joke!" I passed out soon afterwards and woke up in one piece! Glad he has a sense of humor!
Well j_o_h_n? Top that one!
Currumpaw
If you start pooping through your penis, your doctor may have the last laugh 
Hey garyi!
To use the punch line from the joke in the remake of "The Magnificent Seven"-----"So far, so good"!
Well gary1--not bad--but where the hell is j_o_h_n?
Currumpaw
No. MRI is a poor test for polyps. Direct vision is necessary to see pre-cancerous polyps and to biopsy them.
Absolutely not! If you have polyps how will they know if they’re not cancerous!
PSA 2.5 and MRI and pain. 
Fit testing after pelvic RT
MRI fusion biopsy
MRI 3T results
