Colonoscopy Report - Cancer: Colon Message Board

Ed1944 · 10-31-2003, 08:41 PM

The three words were "focal hyperplastic change". This was used to describe the three small polyps removed during my first colonoscopy.

The doctor recommended a follow up exam in 5 years. I thought I could get away with 10. This to me is one step up the ladder from not finding anything at all. Do all agree?

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sir-tainly · 11-07-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed1944

The three words were "focal hyperplastic change". This was used to describe the three small polyps removed during my first colonoscopy.

The doctor recommended a follow up exam in 5 years. I thought I could get away with 10. This to me is one step up the ladder from not finding anything at all. Do all agree?

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My dad died from colon cancer at 66. I started screening at 40, where they found three 'diminutive benign polyps' which were removed. I was told to screen every five years. I think the duration depends a lot on the GI / Endoscopist's opinion of the appropriate screening window. Colon cancer does apparently take a long time to develop from nothing to a polyp to a precancerous polyp to cancer - sometimes 10 years or more, from what I've read.

jaydees · 11-08-2003, 11:26 PM

3 to 5 years seems to be the common recommendation. I did have colon cancer and was told to have anthoer colonoscopy in 2 years(that will be this spring). If nothing is found at that time I don't need another one for 5 years, if on the other hand something is found I go back in 2 years again.

A "focal hyperplastic change" sounds like something that may have developed into a polyp. You can ask your doctor what it means.

rubindj · 11-08-2003, 11:56 PM

Medicare and many ins. cos. will only pay for one every 10 years, but most of the literature now recommends every 5-7 years. Some recommends as little as every 3 years.

That being said, there is a real argument over the danger of increasing the screening frequency vs. doing fecal occult blood tests and a sigmoid since the colonoscopy is a much more dangerous procedure, and the combination of annual FBOT's and a sigmoidoscopy picks up about 90% of problems....