The Colon Club

I had a screening colonoscopy in Dec. 2016-A 30 mm sessile polyp in the rectum whose pathology showed a tubulovillous adenoma with extensive, high grade dysplasia. Returned 3 months later for another colonoscopy which resulted in removal of a 10 mm polyp in the rectum; pathology - tubulovillous adenoma w/high grade dysplasia. 3rd colonoscopy performed 2 months later (at my insistence) and there were 2 polyps ( 1 was 6 mm in the rectum and the 2nd was 5 mm in the ascending colon. The one in the colon was sessile serrated and the rectal polyp was tubular adenoma. I saw a colorectal surgeon who just removed the rectal tissue which had been marked with india ink by the colonoscopist. Has anyone dealt with this type of scenario? I wish the colonoscopy physician had left the 30 mm polyp alone and referred me to a surgeon. I am 56 years old. Paternal great-grandmother died from colon cancer. Father had polyps but died from other disease shortly after colonoscopy.

Hi gbt60,
I am a stage3c colon cancer survivor. My original cancer was believed to have come from a polyp. This is my 20th year of survival. Over those years I have had at least thirteen scopes done.. On average every second scope finds polyps. Some were as small as 2 mm with displaysia. I had my most recent scope in april this year. It was supposed to be done last November at three years. I had to do a lot of ranting and raving to get it done in april. They could not get it thru their heads that my original cancer , in the words of my surgeon, was so frightfully aggressive he said he could almost see it growing while he watched . The gi who did this one told me not to worry , he would not find anything. When I woke up he was somewhat changed . He had removed four polyps the largest 11mm. He said it was unusual for them to get that large in three years. They all had mild displaysia. He has told me I will not be going beyond two years again for a scope. Now that you know you have problems with polyps , tell your docs you want twelve monthly scopes, two years at the most. Best wishes Ron.

All I have heard is that polyps are usually slow growing, so I won't say that I am happy to hear about these aggressive polyps, but it puts my situation in perspective. I'm wondering why you said that you wished your polyp would have been left to a surgeon?
I'm now waiting to have a 30 mm polyp by my iliocecal valve removed via colonoscopy on 10/9, which is the soonest available date. The idea of yearly colonoscopys is not appealing, but I guess is the way to go as long as there is any colon left!

When the first polyp's picture was given to me I was told it didn't look bad. My untrained eye looked at an ugly mass and thought "you're kidding but then, you're the experts." Then I received the call to return for a follow up 3 months later. I wonder if removing the thing in pieces actually unleashed these wretched polyp cells which seem to love my guts. I have to admit I am not happy with the people in the colonoscopy center. I felt like a head of cattle, even though they have good reviews. I think the difference is I have been there 3 times in 6 months so I'm more aware of how low the bedside manner of all concerned in patient care has been. The surgeon said she would be able to do future colonoscopies.

I was recently advised to have a GI MD rather than surgeon do a colonoscopy since they have more expertise. I had been having my surgeon do them since my cancer dx, and I think he missed this polyp.
Who knows? I'm happy that I switched MD, since this polyp was hopefully found in time.Good luck.

I had two colonoscopies done with a GI doctor - he does several of them a day, two times a week at the hospital I went to. I think that he does these at a few other hospitals as well. He explained what he was going to do, and the nurses and anesthesiologist did as well and I felt pretty comfortable both times. I don't know what makes the staff at one place good and at another bad but it could be people, process, procedures, etc.

Pathology report from surgery was good! Surgeon removed residual polyp material plus tissue underneath and around the site. The underlying tissue was clear. Return in one year for a, hopefully, polyp-free colonoscopy!

Excellent results!