[Cog]

Yeah there are studies on both sides of this. But the point I was trying to get across to seagypsy is that a vegan diet doesn't take your risk of Colorectal cancer to zero. No study shows that.

[Newfie]

About 15 years ago I got an email with the same title. It was from a friend who had avoided same and when he eventually did get one he was found to have an inoperable tumor.

Needless to say I read this thread with some trepidation.

Cog, I presume your results were positive?

[rockdoc123]

In discussions with my physician his comment is above all risks, heredity is the main culprit. As a consequence, because 2 members of my fathers family had colorectal cancer I am considered higher risk and end up having a colonoscopy every 5 years. I suspect if you have a family history of CRC it doesn't matter if you eat nothing but vegetables, you still are at risk.
The more I read medical research the less I am inclined to believe any one result. There were a host of medical articles yanked back a couple of years ago due to questions regarding statistical inference. There is still a lot of published research that doesn't involve double-blind testing, and still, a lot where the statistical inference is a best sketchy. This isn't because the researcher is a poor scientist or somehow trying to game the system it is simply because trying to run a controlled experiment on the human body is nearly impossible. There are so many factors that can come into play (many that are probably not even identified at this point as being important) trying to pinpoint one variable in terms of its influence is pretty much futile as far as I can tell. Add to that the fact results and recommendations tend to be all over the place and often contradictory and you are generally left shaking your head. As an example, if you have high triglycerides a popular suggestion by some doctors is to pursue something akin to the Atkins diet...high fat, including cheese, eggs, meat etc and low carbohydrates. On the other hand, if you suffer from prostate issues the exact opposite seems to be recommended...avoid meat, cheese eggs etc. Seems like there is no all-encompassing solution. As a consequence, I try to stick with moderation....mostly out of not knowing what else to do given nothing is foolproof.
BTW even with a colonoscopy every 5 years you can still get a nasty surprise in that time period. This is why they recommend FIT test once a year which is quite good at picking up any sign of blood in fecal matter. Some doctors are suggesting FIT as being the main screening tool rather than colonoscopy. Also there is an option that is less invasive than colonscopy...MRI. Some clinics in Canada provide MRI for colon cancer screeing at a cost of a few hundred dollars. Apparently not as reliable as a colonoscopy but a lot less of a pain in the arse (pun intended).

[Cog]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'A')bout 15 years ago I got an email with the same title. It was from a friend who had avoided same and when he eventually did get one he was found to have an inoperable tumor.

Needless to say I read this thread with some trepidation.

Cog, I presume your results were positive?

[jedrider]

Colorectal Cancer Risk by Age:

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/statistics/age.htm

At 60 years old is about 1 percent (1.22%) for men and breast cancer rates for women is about 3 1/2 percent (3.465) .

The two leading causes of death according to the CDC:

Heart disease: 633,842
Cancer: 595,930

I've already made it to 60 yo. Let me think about how afraid I am that I won't live to 70 or 80 yo

[Ibon]

I have entertained many guests and friends with my colonoscopy story while living in Thailand years ago. On the day I arrived at the hospital there were 5 of us, 3 foreigners and two Thai's. The night before we had to drink a whole liter of this green fluid that induced diarrhea to clean out our guts.

Upon arrival at my appointment I was directed into a room where the other 4 patients were also present. We were all told to change into our hospital gowns and to each drink another liter of green fluid and continue to poop but not flush the toilet. We were told that after each bowel movement to call the nurse so she could inspect our poop. So there were 5 of us in this waiting room each wearing a robe, a rambo movie was playing on the TV and there were 4 open stall toilets. At the beginning as each of us felt this welling up of diarrhea we went sheepishly into the open stall and let it rip. Then we called the nurse and she would inspect our poop and if there was any solids still in there she would shake her finger and say "no good yet".

After two or three rounds of diarreah all 5 of us patients were bonded and laughing as we fell into the routine of pooping, calling the nurse and having her reject or accept our bowel movement.

When the poop came out clear with no more solids we were ready.

I have very fond memories of this colonoscopy in Thailand, the whole cultural difference around squeamishness around bowel movements. The doctor wanted to make sure that when he inserted the endoscope to inspect our colon that there was absolutely no more solids to obstruct his view. I was actually very grateful for this whole procedure since I assumed that he was getting the clearest resolution image with my immaculately cleaned colon after the nurse had approved my last clear poop.

I wonder how much in the US were we have this privacy around caca and get all squeamish about pooping if the colonoscopy isn't less accurate.

How clean do you think your colon was Cog when you had this procedure? Do you think the doctor still saw some solid poopy pieces in your colon? Did this subject even come up?

When I tell my colonoscopy story to guests here in Panama it is always a source of high entertainment.

[Newfie]

No one asked or even asked me to look.

[Cog]

Actually given the preparation I did, I'm pretty certain there was nothing solid left in my colon. After I took the second dose at 8:00 pm there was nothing solid in the bowel movements following, only liquid.

[KaiserJeep]

Thank you guys for the trip down memory lane. Only five more years until my next test.

[jedrider]

My experience of the colonoscopy was very boring by contrast with Ibon. I hardly had time to get to know the female nurses before they put me under anesthesia. Maybe, that's why I don't want to go back.

[KaiserJeep]

Think about it. The perfect alien disguise would be as a colonoscopy nurse. Then they could probe humans all day long.

[Newfie]

Cog,
Thanks for sharing.
No good dwelling on it, hope you have a decent distraction.
Here’s hoping all turns out well.

[Cog]

I called their office today. The polyp was benign. They said come back in five years.

[Newfie]

Interesting. I think it’s been 10 for mine. Dr. Mentions it but says I’m not due yet.

I hate Drs.

[Cog]

He said that if had not found any polyps, then ten years would have been his guidance on the next one instead of five years. People either have a tendency to develop polyps or they don't.

[Shaved Monkey]

In Australia when you hit 50 you get a fecal sample kit mailed to you.
2 stool samples get sent off and they notify you if theres anything wrong.
you get them every 2 years for the rest of your life.
Its all free
So far so good I havent been called for a colonoscopy
I do eat meat but also lots of veg and virtually no processed food

[jedrider]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shaved Monkey', 'I')n Australia when you hit 50 you get a fecal sample kit mailed to you.
2 stool samples get sent off and they notify you if theres anything wrong.
you get them every 2 years for the rest of your life.
Its all free
So far so good I havent been called for a colonoscopy
I do eat meat but also lots of veg and virtually no processed food

[Shaved Monkey]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jedrider', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shaved Monkey', 'I')n Australia when you hit 50 you get a fecal sample kit mailed to you.
2 stool samples get sent off and they notify you if theres anything wrong.
you get them every 2 years for the rest of your life.
Its all free
So far so good I havent been called for a colonoscopy
I do eat meat but also lots of veg and virtually no processed food

[Cog]

A colonoscopy can detect things that a fecal blood test can not. Namely polyps that are not bleeding, diverticulitis, internal hemorrhoids, and cancer that has not yet reached the bleeding stage. If I were betting my life on it, I would do the colonoscopy even with the risks associated with it. Especially if you are in the 50+ age category. If they find nothing then, then do the fecal blood test from there on.

[rockdoc123]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') colonoscopy can detect things that a fecal blood test can not. Namely polyps that are not bleeding, diverticulitis, internal hemorrhoids, and cancer that has not yet reached the bleeding stage. If I were betting my life on it, I would do the colonoscopy even with the risks associated with it. Especially if you are in the 50+ age category. If they find nothing then, then do the fecal blood test from there on.