Posted on 05/15/2012 8:11:10 PM PDT by nickcarraway
People getting checked for signs of colon cancer may not need to take a laxative if they choose a CT scan for their cancer screening over a tradition colonoscopy, according to a new study.
The findings suggest a so-called CT colonography is almost as good at identifying certain polyps as a traditional colonoscopy, and researchers said eliminating the need for laxatives may encourage more people to get screened.
"The results of this study open the door to a more patient-friendly screening," said Dr. Michael Zalis, the study's lead author and director of CT colonography in the department of imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Zalis added, however, that CT colonography is not yet covered by government insurance programs -- like Medicare and Medicaid -- and more research is needed before people switch to a laxative-free method of screening.
In traditional colonoscopy, a doctor uses a camera called an endoscope to look for signs of cancer within the colon and rectum. The procedure usually requires sedation.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
So THIS is what Obamacare looks like. First of all, a CT Scan CANNOT detect Colon Cancer, if anything IS detected in a CT Scan they send you immediately for a colonoscopy anyway so a colonoscopy is the best bet to find anything. As far as not having to take laxatives, you have to otherwise they won’t be able to see anything and they will send you home, trust me, from experience I know the drill
CT scans don’t pick up s**t.
BTDT. I think the prep might have saved me the potential cost of a future appendectomy.
LOL..if a CT Scan could see the colon without requiring laxatives, sign me up!! I would have done it a long time ago(I have had colon issues my whole life so this matter I am VERY familiar with) So basically they want you to expose yourself to radiation, then after your exposed and they find something, they send you to colonoscopy WOW what a colossal waste of time, but hey in Obamacare, colonoscopies are too expensive, CT Scans are cheaper
LOL!
I hear ya. I gotta go in for my second one next Tuesday.
Good luck!! The prep is the worst part of it, the rest is smooth sailing :-)
Yep.
At least you get to sleep during the procedure.
Very true. Sedation is awesome
Actually, several companies—including GE, who is a major manufacturer of body-scanning machines used in medicine—are working on highly-advanced scanners that may completely eliminate the need for any invasive procedures to check for colonrectal, prostate and cervical cancers. And they’re almost there, too.
They may be, but you cant beat the real deal, if they find anything they automatically send you to do a colonoscopy so basically your getting two procedures for no reason
The cost of a CT scan vs. the cost of a colonoscopy has nothing to do with Obamacare. I had a CT scan this morning and it involved one nurse and one technologist. I had a colonoscopy three months ago and it involved a gastroenterologist and several nurses. I have G.I. issues that require somewhat frequent screenings and both procedures have their place. If the new method of being able to check the colon with CT as described in the article gets more people in the door, it could save some lives.
Where is my old colonoscopy thread ? how can i find it ?
“Virtual colonoscopies” which I believe involved some sort of CT scan were advertised heavily in the Philly area a few years back but I haven’t heard anything about them lately - apparently they were missing a lot of pathology when they started to study the results......
Oh, please let it be true. I’m due for my second one and procrastinating cuz of anticipating drinking the yellow slime again.
Ya....well...a CAT scan wouldn’t have caught my serrated adenoma, even at 1 cm.
It’s too flat and doesn’t stand out as a typical polyp.
Definitely pre-cancerous, so I’m glad it’s gone.
Get the scope and quit screwin around!
I put my “slime” in a ice bucket, drank 7oz. at a pop instead of the recommended 8oz. Being cold and having jusssst that little bit less to drink helped A LOT! It worked every bit as effectively too. Believe me.
Downside is the radiation exposure with the CT scan.
Upside is no perforation risk - my great-grandfather died of that.
perforation risk from colonoscopy is so rare its worth the risk. My Dad had symptoms of colon cancer in 1998, but the doctor told him that a colonoscopy is so invasive and dangerous he didn’t do it, by the time he had one it was too late, spread to his liver, died within a year, at age 50..so the risks are definitely worth it especially if your having symptoms.
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