Disclaimer: I own some stock in this company, and I checked with the mods to see if it was okay to start this thread.
We start a lot of threads here on the Dope about the dreaded colonoscopy, since a lot of us are boomers and this is something our doctors are going to pressure us about. Once or twice in these threads, I’ve made a passing reference to the Cologuard test, which is a newly FDA-approved non-invasive stool test.
It’s not the FIT test, it’s a new thing. Cologuard is different in that it tests for DNA markers which indicate the presence of polyps, and it’s very effective and accurate. It’s not going to eliminate colonoscopies, but it takes the place of the initial screening. If the test is positive, you will still have to go in for a colonoscopy. If it’s negative, you’re done, without the nasty prep, without the invasive procedure, and without the risk of puncture.
Being an interested stockholder, I of course keep up with the progress of this new product, and more and more insurance companies are covering it, as well as Medicare. They should; it’s around $500, a bargain compared to a colonoscopy. More and more doctors are becoming aware of it and ordering it.
I know there are some of us who’ll avoid the conventional procedure at all costs, and I want you to know there’s another way.
That’s awesome news. It always seemed unreasonable to me that the only way to detect the beginnings of a potentially lethal tumor was one of the most humiliating common medical procedures anyone has to undergo.
As someone who recently turned 50 and had a colonoscopy, I’d like to say it wasn’t nearly as bad as its reputation. I did it without sedation, and it wasn’t even very painful. Just a little crampy at the start. So don’t avoid it because it’s horrible or anything.
But I know lots of people find it icky, and it’s nice there are options.
Interesting. I see my gastro some time this summer, and I’ll ask about it. I’m a “frequent flier” due to some worrisome polyps at my screening one 5 years ago. I probably wouldn’t be a good candidate for this one due to that history. Also, it seems like the false positive rate with, say, hemorrhoids, would disqualify a lot of people.
The big thing with a colonoscopy, that this would avoid, is the sheer amount of time. A day (or more) on a clear liquid diet. Nasty stuff that makes you crap out stuff you ate in the second grade. Hours on the toilet. A day off work to go for the procedure.
Compare that with 20 minutes in the bathroom collecting the sample and prepping it for shipping.
There are different preps. The part I disliked most was not eating fiber (or anything red) for a week. The actual “flush” wasn’t as bad as I expected. I pretty much spent 3-4 hours on the toilet with my laptop and a novel. No pain, just had to use that particular seat in the house.
Since you already know you have a tendency towards polyps, this test will likely just tell you, “yes, you need a colonoscopy”. The op says it tests for genetic markers of polyps.
I’m 61, so I’ve had 2 colonoscopies so far, with the next one due in 9 years. While it’s not my idea of a fun time, it’s just not that big a deal for something you typically have done once a decade. My opinion might be different if I had to have them more frequently, but as a routine screening, I don’t get the fuss.
Actually, in my case, prep took two of my sick days: one day to prep, and one day for the procedure.
Another negative aspect of colonoscopies is the finding of someone who will give you a ride there and back. It’s no problem for some of us, but a big problem for the rest.
In my case, my husband had to take the day off for the chauffeuring, and since he was a contract worker (like so many people are nowadays), he lost that day’s pay.
I had this problem, and put it off for a year or so because of this. Then, I had a sudden bout of constipation that lasted for two weeks, whereupon I got alarmed enough to get serious about it. I had to get my brother, who lives a 3-hour drive away, to be my chauffeur.
Can you give us a bit of TMI on that? Not that I want to know or pry, but maybe I would want to try it this way myself, next time? In particular, do you have the option to cry Uncle and start the sedation at any time during the procedure?
The flush wasn’t as bad the second time. The first time I had it done at 40 was horrible. They made me drink far too many bottles of that citric magnesium shit and it was making me violently ill.
Had a polyp on the last one (3 years ago), so I get to have another one in two years.
Although geez, seeing a medical report on me with the spinal doctor and it says “benign tumor of colon” for the very small polyp that was removed.
