Colonoscopy after RT

[Jmr11820]

I’m 9 months out from finishing 35 rounds of RT. Does anyone know if there’s a minimum time one should wait after RT before colonoscopy?

[6357axbz]

Good question. My RO at MDAnderson told me 2 years. I had 28 sessions of IMRT to my prostate. I assume you had prostate radiation as well?

[Jmr11820 in reply to 6357axbz]

Yes, that’s right

[treedown]

I got different answers and decided on Cologuard for this year and a colonoscopy after 2 years

[Jmr11820 in reply to treedown]

Thanks. My RO says a year or “close to a year “ is ok. Sounds like a convenient answer to me.

[treedown in reply to Jmr11820]

My GP was more concerned than my RT but it wasn't like either one sounded real sure of their answer, hence the non-invasive option. It had also only been a few months at the time I asked. They said the Cologuard would not need to be repeated for 3 years but I will plan on getting a coloscopy next year.

[Jmr11820 in reply to treedown]

I no appreciate your response

[Jmr11820 in reply to treedown]

I do appreciate your response 🙂

[cesanon]

My Doc specifically wanted to have a talk with the proctologist before the colonoscopy. I think to make sure to warn him to be care of potentially weak and easily damaged colon walls.

I would specifically have the colonoscopy done at a real hospital and a major medical center of excellence to boot. I would avoid any common street clinic. They are likely to have more QA at a hospital. And can readily escalate things if something goes wrong.

And make sure to have a good talk with the proctologist first. And I personally think you can and should forgo the anesthesia.

[hwrjr in reply to cesanon]

My RO wrote a letter for me to show my GI doc who was to perform the colonoscopy. He cautioned the GI doc from performing any biopsies without first talking with the RO. Removing any polyps is okay. RT can cause small spider veins to form in the colon (telangiectasia) and a biopsy there can cause considerable, sometimes permanent damage.

[Jmr11820 in reply to hwrjr]

Thanks for your response

[Jmr11820 in reply to cesanon]

Interesting, thanks.

[Dont08759]

Interesting thread. I had rectal cancer 31 years ago. After my lower anterior resection, I was treated with 5x/week doses of radiation for a total of 25 treatments (5800 rads). Every 6 months following I had a sigmoidoscopy with a colonoscopy every 2nd year. Not sure this info is of any use...

[Jmr11820 in reply to Dont08759]

Do you recall how long you waited after treatment before your first colonoscopy? Was it only six months?

[Dont08759 in reply to Jmr11820]

Well the prep is the same for both. My sigmoidoscopy was 6 months later, I think they used a shorter scope. The procedure only makes one 90* turn and stops at the sigmoid so it is not as invasive as a colonoscopy. I had that 2 years later and every 2 years since then.

[Channelhomec]

Facing the same problem will be 2 years since rad this Oct for reccurant cancer ..,will seek advice from my doctor.. this June ...2 years past my due date colonoscopy every 7 years had 2 already.

[Hidden]

This is really a question for your Gastroenterologist. BTW, this specialist will take note of any colon scarring, if any and to what degree.....

GD

[Max225]

I had a month of RT in July 2020, followed by HDR in August 2020. My RO told me to wait 6 months before undergoing the colonoscopy. Double-checked with my MO and primary; they were fine with it. I am going forward with the procedure in mid-May 2021. I will have a detailed dialogue with the proctologist beforehand to mitigate any potential risks.

[MateoBeach]

Have to call tor your personal risk of colon cancer. If you have previously ever had a negative colonoscopy with no adenomatous polyps, then your risk of finding one is much lower. Also with a negative family history. That should bias the decision to waiting, such as for the two years especially if no occult blood in the stool. Cologuard sounds like a good plan of it is negative. Many false positives after radiation though.

[Jmr11820 in reply to MateoBeach]

Had a CT for what my doctor thought was a kidney stone. Turns out to be a pretty bad case of diverticulitis which I have a history of. The radiologist wrote in his report “consider colonoscopy after inflammation resolves to rule out any underlying neoplastic process“. So even though I’ve had regular screenings as recently as three years ago, my gastroenterologist office called wanting to schedule my colonoscopy. I said I’d like to speak to the doctor first and I still haven’t heard from him. The CT was 1 months ago.

[Hailwood]

I had a colonoscopy on the 12th April and had RP on November 16th 2020. Both my RO, urology surgeon and the GI specialist felt it was fine. There was minimal scarring from the 13 prostate biopsy points and there were no polyps or lesions seen. As of yet, I haven't started on radiotherapy. I'm glad to have had the procedure as well as having a thorough eye exam recently (my father had a brain tumour diagnosed from an eye examination)

[NecessarilySo]

From my experience, and in my opinion, RT can lead to cancerous polyps in the colon in rare cases. Good to do colonoscopy within 5 years of RT.

[OldChappy]

My radiation oncologist said one year. But he also gave me a letter for the doctor performing the colonoscopy about things to be careful with. There is a history of colon cancer in my family and I was just at the five year time frame from my previous colonoscopy. Glad I had it as they found some rather large polyps which were still benign but could have become cancerous if I’d waited another year.

[treedown in reply to OldChappy]

Was the letter about what to watch for a general letter related to RT or a specific letter about what to watch for you?

[OldChappy in reply to treedown]

In me.

[SooHwa99]

My RO, surgeon and PMD all stated to wait 6 months. With COVID-19 it turned into almost a year. All went well. No issues.

[Jmr11820 in reply to SooHwa99]

What prompted you to have the colonoscopy, was it time for regular screening?

[SooHwa99 in reply to Jmr11820]

Yes, I was due. I had two polyps on my last one and I was supposed to have one done in three years. It had to be delayed due to my salvage radiation, then covid-19 happened.

Only one 2mm polyp this time.

[j-o-h-n]

As far as I'm concerned "never is too early for me".

Now I'm talking like "Johnnie Cochran - O J's deceased attorney's TV ad" when he says "Preparation, Preparation, Preparation".

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 04/16/2021 2:46 PM DST

[Jmr11820 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Yeah, no shit. Zing!