1) no polyps
2) non-bleeding internal -hemorrhoids (moderate and grade 1)
3) localized area of mildly vascular-pattern decreased mucosa was found in sigmoid colon (biopsy taken but was told nothing there)
4) asked to come back in 5 years for surveillance.
What do I make of # 3? Can anyone tell me the issue?
Hi DavidANY,
Thank you for posting with us. I'm glad to see you had a colonoscopy and your results looked to be nothing sinister. I don't know what ability you have to interact with that doctor's office. If your records are kept online and you can go out and view them at any time, there may be a means for you to ask a question directly to the doctor or the doctor's office and receive an answer that way. You could always call and ask to speak with somebody as well. I have a thing called “MyChart” that all my doctors in my network are a part of. I can ask questions or even ask them to refill a prescription if necessary.
You have been placed on a five-year surveillance path. That's a good thing to know and it was good you got that colonoscopy done. As far as #3 is concerned, we can only speculate what that means. They (your doctor or nurse) wrote it as a part of your diagnosis so they should know why they wrote it. You should have been made clear on it when it was presented to you. I realized that a lot of doctors take things for granted that the patient may know exactly what they're talking about. Believe me, I always had to ask for a lot of clarity. Ahhh, really. What does that mean.🤔😂
Breaking down #3 looks to be a small area of concern as they use the term “localized area”. A vascular pattern would be referring to blood vessels. Mucosa lines the walls of the digestive tract and other organs as well. This looks to be an area that can be watched and determine certain levels of colitis or give a degree or extent of inflammation or disease. This looks to be why you are on the five-year pattern of surveillance as they want to keep checking on it. However, if I were you, I would pursue a conversation with somebody in that department either online or a phone call to get their definitive answer.
Bottom line, I would get in touch with your doctor's office and get their interpretation so you don't have to rely on speculation and guessing what it could mean. I think a five-year surveillance pattern is pretty good. Just knowing that puts you in a good spot and values the colonoscopy. My situation involves an annual colonoscopy, an annual CT scan, annual blood work, and an endoscopy every three years. It is what it is and it's what it takes to stay in front of things that may affect me. We are all on our own course. It’s good we know that we need to be watched as well.
Maybe someone else on this site has had a similar diagnosis and can give us their input as well.
Thank you,
~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.
Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.
I would seek clarification on this so its clear what's happening. I cant say ive come across this term. whats being done to help symptoms?
As everyone said, speaking to your doctor is the best course. They can tell what is going on in layman’s terms. They can put some perspective on things as well. Example; I have a cyst on my right kidney. It alarmed me as, despite giving me measurements of the cyst, I didn’t know how big it was. I’ve real head for measurements. The doctor I “finally” saw actuwkky drew a diagram of both kidney and cyst and with them both combined. I was taken a back see that it’s a tiny thing. Smaller than a pea!
It’s hard getting to doctors these days, especially if you live in Britain. Don’t give up. Pester for that appointment, phone call even. Any contact so you can ask questions and they can give you straight answers.
Good luck, and bothering them until some tslks to you 😉
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