Colonoscopy while in treatment?

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debb
Posts: 191
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:03 pm
Location: NJ

Colonoscopy while in treatment?

Postby debb » Mon Jul 03, 2017 3:56 pm

Hi friends...Do those of us with active disease need to have a colonoscopy? I have mets in and outside of my lung and also on some ribs. I am currently on a chemo break. I had been in Folfiri & Avastin for 6 months, to which I was very responsive to and had shrinkage. So my doc gave me 3 months off, and rescan in August. I've been using this glorious time off to catch up on my life. I've gone to the dentis and dermo, etc., and thought maybe I should plan a colonoscopy.

But then I thought..do I really need one? Obviously, I already have cancer...this we know! So even if they found something, my option would be chemo, and I'm probably going to start chemo again in August anyway. Why waste 2 days of my lovely time off (for prep and procedure), for a test that won't make a difference? I've been in this cancer business for 9+ years and the times that I've had colonoscopies (all were clear!) have been between recurrences, when I was NED. I'm not eligible for any surgery because I have cancer in too many areas, so wouldn't have a resection if something showed up in my colon.

I know I should call my oncologist about this, but thought I'd ask you guys too. Thanks, and enjoy the 4th!
2008, Stage 3C, age 42, mom of 4
Folfox 9/08-2/09
Met to right ovary, both removed 7/10
HIPEC 8/10
VATS 7/12, right lung
10/14 Stivarga clinical trial
3/15-7/15 Folfiri & avastin
8/16 Folfiri & avastin
Break! 10 months of freedom
1/18 - 4/23 many Folfiri & Avastin
6/23 Clinical trial REGN7075. Progression
8/23 radiation to femurs and L4
9/23 rechallenged Folfox. Allergic reaction at 4th infusion
11/23 will start Bot/Bal

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Colonoscopy while in treatment?

Postby Lee » Mon Jul 03, 2017 6:38 pm

When was your last scope? Over a year ago, three years? The reason for doing scopes is so that new tumors can not start to grow. When I was first diagnosed, a scope every year for the first 4 yrs. They now bump it out to every 3 years. Because my body likes to produce those nasty polyp, I don't see myself going beyond 3 years. Some people go every 5 yrs.

Yes do as ask your Onc or your surgeon. My surgeon does mine.

Enjoy your break from chemo,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

KElizabeth
Posts: 400
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 12:41 pm
Facebook Username: KElizabeth
Location: Omaha

Re: Colonoscopy while in treatment?

Postby KElizabeth » Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:01 am

Is Dr an appointment for a colonoscopy with my GI. She called my oncologists for more information and cancelled it. She called be and told me that she would not scope while I was on chemo. That it was too risky and pointless because she wouldn't remove anything during treatment anyway.
I guess it's something that needs to be planned with a chemo break to mitigate the risk.
Female age 39- ,2 teens.
Colon Cancer - DX March 2013
Age 34 at DX - Stage III B
Resection surgery -May 2013
FOLFOX - June, 2013 to Sept, 2013
5FU plus leukavorin Sept, 2013 to Dec, 2013
METs liver and lungs discovered Sept, 2015
KRAS - MSS
FOLFIRI plus Avastin - Sept, 2015 - July 2017
Durvalumab and Cediranib Sept 2017 Dec 17
FOLFOX with desensitization protocol - current

Steph20021
Posts: 553
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:58 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Colonoscopy while in treatment?

Postby Steph20021 » Thu Jul 06, 2017 12:11 am

KElizabeth wrote: She called be and told me that she would not scope while I was on chemo. That it was too risky and pointless because she wouldn't remove anything during treatment anyway.
I guess it's something that needs to be planned with a chemo break to mitigate the risk.


This is essentially my oncologists position too. The scope is not worth the risk of perforation while on chemo which would jeopardize my chemo if I had to break for healing etc. She said we would have to have a really good reason or concern to do a scope.
DX 1/31/14 @ 33- SPS-T4a(invades visceral peri), N2a(6/106 LN), M1a(ovary) (Stage 4a) MSS; BRAF V600E
2/1/14-subtotal col, lost R ovary, temp ileo
3/14-9/14- folfox; sepsis
11/14-CT/PET: L ovary met, pelvic met, (?)ghost liver met(?)
12/14-folfiri -13 rds kept me stable from 3/15-6/15
8/15-HIPEC, NED
09/15- cea 0.9
05/16- recurrence in abdo wall and lymph nodes
01/17- pulmonary embolism
02/17- 1 wk radiation to abdo wall
08/16- on folfiri
01/18-folfox
11/18- Beacon trial-encorafenib & cetuximab

Ron50
Posts: 699
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:04 pm

Re: Colonoscopy while in treatment?

Postby Ron50 » Thu Jul 06, 2017 1:19 am

I had another scope four months into chemo. My GI had been unable to get the scope past the cancer in the first one . The second one was to find anything of interest in the remainder of my colon. It was clear but it was a horror prep two days after a chemo session. Ron.
dx 1/98
st 3 c 6 nodes
48 sessions 5Fu/levamisole
no recurrence cea <.5
numerous l/t side effects of chemo

User avatar
betsydoglover
Posts: 978
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:31 pm
Facebook Username: Betsy Lindh Williams
Location: Maryland - outside DC

Re: Colonoscopy while in treatment?

Postby betsydoglover » Thu Jul 06, 2017 12:09 pm

Like Ron I had another scope after 4 treatments. But, the reason, like his, was because the doc had not been able to get the scope past my sigmoid tumor. Assuming that's not the case with you, you should be able to wait.
Betsy
diag. Stage IV, 5/05, liver met
lap sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
6 cycles Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin (NED after 2)
11/08 9x13mm right lower lobe lung nodule; removed via VATS 4/09
NED
6 cycles Xeloda + Avastin
Avastin only 10/09-5/11
Still NED 06/18


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