Need a colonoscopy b4 RT?

[conchjoe]

I'm going to be undergoing proton RT w/in the next 3-4 months, and I've been reading the 'skinny book' from 2012, where the author mentioned that, prior to RT, he needed a colonoscopy. I'm wondering if, in this day and age of OAR gel and no rectal balloons, if the colonoscopy is still required? (If so I need to make an appointment pronto). I have had cologuard tesy in the recent past and all is okay.

[pd63]

Have you been referred for the colonoscopy as I'm not aware it's needed just because of having RT

[Scout4answers]

My understanding is that you will not be able to get a colonoscopy within the 12 months following Radiation. The reason they ask when your last one was taken. Mine was taken 7 years prior to radiation and my next one was due in 3 years so it was not an issue . If your next one is due in 12 months they may want you to get one prior to radiation.

[Tall_Allen]

I did for the simple reason that you can't have a colonoscopy after. It's also a good idea to take care of any internal hemorrhoids before radiation, otherwise they may break and bleed. SpaceOAR doesn't prevent that.

[SViking in reply to Tall_Allen]

What do you mean by we can’t have a colonoscopy after radiation? Is that forever or a certain time period? I had proton radiation to the prostate bed three years ago and I recently started bleeding fresh blood. My primary care doctor wants me to get a colonoscopy done.

[Tall_Allen in reply to SViking]

I’d wait a year or two after radiation.

[LongevityAT]

Dr Kishan told me to wait 18 months after radiation to have a colonoscopy to give the rectal wall time to heal. And to illustrate the difference between speaking to a Urologist (who loves surgery) and a RO, particularly one who stays current on the PC world, my Urologist said that no delay was required between finishing radiation and getting a colonoscopy. Told him I would stick with the RO's advice.

[wilcoxsaw]

Some proton doctors will require you to have a colonoscopy prior to proton treatment. I was required to do that. Several reasons for that, one of which is that they want to be sure that there are no other issues inside the colon that might need to be addressed prior to treating you with the radiation.

Yes, you can have a colonoscopy following radiation therapy. I have had numerous and am scheduled for one tomorrow. Colonoscopies are generally scheduled once every 5 to 10 years depending upon the individual and there is no reason why you cannot have follow-up colonoscopies after radiation therapy at normally recommended intervals.

One thing you need to always address with the gastroenterologist prior to your subsequent colonoscopies is that you have had radiation therapy and there might be a area of the rectum that may look abnormal and the MD needs to be aware that you had the therapy so that he does not attempt to treat it or biopsy it.

Hope this helps

[toyman79912 in reply to wilcoxsaw]

I had a colonoscopy a month before my RP at the beginning of this year. The colonoscopy found a pre-cancerous polyp and was removed. I was instructed to have a follow-up colonoscope one year later this December. Since then, I went through 39 sessions of radiation, and during the time, I read that colonoscopy was not recommended after radiation. I brought this up to my RO. He told me that he does not see any reasons why I cannot have a colonoscopy. He told me to just let my gastroenterologist know before the procedure so he can be more careful wile probing around

[wilcoxsaw in reply to toyman79912]

Your radiation oncologist is correct.

[JWPMP]

My husband's being treated at UCSF. RO would not do his HDR BT until Jim had a colonoscopy.

[j-o-h-n]

Issue about when to get circumcized?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 08/08/2023 6:10 PM DST