You Probably Don’t Need A Colonoscopy

Health Tips / You Probably Don’t Need A Colonoscopy

Quite often the patient sitting before me helpfully finishes my sentence. “Yeah, yeah, I know, I need a colonoscopy.” This happens in person or during a Telemed visit when I remark how they’re approaching (or recently turned) 50, 60, or beyond.

Or they’re a few years beyond 50 or 60, and I genially ask, “Your colonoscopy current?”

I do not willfully induce the stricken look or the dead silence on the phone. In fact, I try to look, or at least sound, empathic.

Since nobody wants a colonoscopy, the two most common patient responses I hear when a colonoscopy is due are perfectly reasonable. It’s either “I’ve been meaning to get one” or “I had one once. The prep was so horrible I just keep putting off the next one.”

And so I enjoy the delighted smile or the surprised “Really?!” when I say they likely won’t need a colonoscopy, either as a first timer or as a repeater.

People at higher risk
In fact, the only people who really need a full colonoscopy are those with a higher- than-average risk for developing colon cancer.

You’re among this group if you have a:

–Significant family history of colon cancer, meaning you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) who had colon cancer.
–Previous abnormal colonoscopy (showing one or more intestinal polyps or inflammation).
–History of certain illnesses, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
–Genetic predisposition to developing cancer anywhere in the body (fortunately, this is rare).

Otherwise, you’re a candidate for a test called Cologuard. Many people have never heard of Cologuard, though the company advertises regularly on TV and in magazines. I suspect even if people saw the ad they’d ignore it, thinking if Cologuard were all that good their primary care doctor would have told them about it.

To be honest, doctors are slow to embrace new ideas, especially one as radical as discouraging colonoscopy in an average-risk patient.

Moreover, if a primary care doc were to ask the local gastroenterologist what he thought about Cologuard, he’d likely not hear the truth, which would be “It’s very reliable and I see it as a major threat to my income stream.”

Believe me when I say the major medical centers, like Northwestern and Rush, with dozens of gastroenterologists on the payroll, are not going feature Cologuard brochures in the lobby.

How easy is the Cologuard test?
If you don’t have any of the risks listed above, answer this one question.

“Can you move your bowels?”

If you answered yes, you’re a candidate for Cologuard.

Or, to make it a little more challenging, “Can you collect a small amount of fecal material in a special container, add a liquid preservative, screw the lid on tightly, and mail it back to the lab?”

There’s no special prep, no change in your diet, no missed workdays. You don’t even have to wear a hospital gown that opens in the rear.

Your physician can prescribe a Cologuard or you can contact Cologuard directly and they’ll supply a telemedicine provider (MD or nurse practitioner) to OK it.

Cologuard will then contact your insurer for approval, though virtually all insurers cover the test.

The Cologuard collection kit will then be mailed to you. If you need help with it, here’s a link.

Is it accurate?
Cologuard is as accurate as a colonoscopy for average-risk patients. It works by using DNA technology. Any abnormal growth (polyp, cancer) sheds cells containing abnormal DNA. If any are found, that’s a situation that requires further investigation.

And that “further investigation” will, of course, be a colonoscopy.

Among the couple of hundred Cologuards I have ordered, fewer than ten results were positive and all of them turned out to be due to small polyps that were removed during the follow-up colonoscopy.

Speaking of colonoscopies, I refer all my positive patients to Lotsu Digestive over in Greektown.

There are four reasons for this, the most important being that Dr. Lotsu is an excellent gastroenterologist who spends a lot of time discussing the procedure beforehand and his findings afterward.

Second, Lotsu Digestive is a small office, and the procedure is performed on-site. You don’t need to travel to a large hospital where colonoscopies are performed assembly-line style.

Third, since you’ll need to fast before a colonoscopy, you’ll be famished when it’s over and you can reward yourself with a nice Greek meal. Opa!

Lastly, Dr. Lotsu is my wife’s gastroenterologist and she told me I’d be crazy to send a patient to anyone else.

He’s not, however, my gastroenterologist. I use Cologuard.

Be well,
David Edelberg, MD

6 thoughts on “You Probably Don’t Need A Colonoscopy

    I started seeing Dr. Lotsu in November. Wendy referred me. He’s the best gastroenterologist I’ve ever seen. I had a colonoscopy in December and another minor procedure last month. He has great bedside manner.

    Christina Dezelan
    Posted February 2, 2021 at 6:07 am

    What if a colonscopy cannot be done on you? I, apparently have a narrow angular colon and two doctors have attempted the procedure but couldnot get the equipment to go up inside me, My father had colon cancer at the age of 90 but lived to 93 and died of somethihg else. Any suggestions?
    Colleen Jersild

    Colleen Jersild
    Posted July 28, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    Thanks for this super helpful explanation. As a regular reader of your blog, I’m grateful to have such a reliable and current source of medical information.

    Andrea McNaughton
    Posted July 28, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    I’ve done both Cologuard and an off-brand version of it, and it’s WAY better than a colonoscopy! Plus, you only need to do it every three years. So glad to know it’s a good substitute.

    Jo
    Posted July 28, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    A colonoscopy isn’t as bad as it is made out to be including the prep. In fact, if you take it without any sedative (which I always do),you can see a remarkable part of your body responsible not only for digestion but for immunity as well.

    david tenenbaum
    Posted July 28, 2020 at 11:37 am

    My experience with Dr Lotsu was wonderful. He is super attentive and his entire office staff make the colonoscopy experience a positive one!

    Kim Ohms
    Posted July 28, 2020 at 11:01 am

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