Personally I am hesitant to do colonoscopy after a relative had a botched procedure. Just this month two celebrities revealed botched colonoscopies. I hope they figure out ways to make this procedure safer.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/kathy...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/202...

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matthewdgreen 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Those articles don't really say what the "botch" is. Was it the anesthesia? The actual endoscopic examination? Removal of polyps?

If its the polyp removal, I can certainly see how that could lead to problems. But you're a little stuck: even if you use another technique to do the scan, you still have to remove any polyps you find, don't you?

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no_no_no_yes 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

yes I've had both a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy (less invasive colonoscopy).

I'm not sure what the botches are here. In the sigmoidoscopy they took out a couple of polyps, in the colonoscopy (more recently than the sigmoidoscopy) they just did a cancer check-up given family history.

I wish those articles discusses the "botches", I'd like to know since from my understanding these are pretty safe procedures

	▲	relaxing 21 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Maybe just don’t worry yourself with anecdata.

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thinkloop 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I did mine without anesthesia/sedatives. There were moments of discomfort when they pump gas to expand the area - feels like a big fart is stuck in your gut - but otherwise no big deal, especially knowing that the pain is not dangerous. Recommend. It eliminates recovery time afterwards (you can drive yourself home) and increases safety.

	▲	jkestner 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Might try that this time. OTOH, I get the greatest nap of my life shaking off the sedative (get the lighter, cheaper option like Versed instead of anesthesiologist-administered propofol) and my spouse makes me a milkshake.

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scherlock an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

As someone with colon cancer, I'd rather the complications than what I'm going through. 8" of colon removed, 6 weeks of recovery then 7 months of chemo treatments. If I could go back in time and get my colonoscopy at 35 instead of 46 and get only do a night in the hospital, I would in a heartbeat. Colon resection and chemo suuuuuuuuuuuuck.

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1shooner 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Healthy skepticism of procedure over-prescription is reasonable and maybe even wise, but I wouldn't really take the celebrities section of USA Today as a data point, maybe not even as a reliable anecdote.

Based on your concern, the question is whether 'botched' procedures are more or less of a risk (both in incidence and consequence) than non-screening.

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jkestner an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I had to start getting colonoscopies ahead of schedule because my dad never did, until it was too late. He was scared of doctors after he associated them with family members' unpleasant deaths.

Read the safety statistics and let it override the anecdotes. Colon cancer is easy to prevent and a horrible way to die.

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malfist 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Nothing you do is risk free.

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etempleton 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It is one of the most common procedures and is generally very safe. Even a botched procedure probably just means some temp discomfort after the procedure. Much better than the alternative.

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pkaye 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You can do a FIT test instead which can be done at home.

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jedberg 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

My doctor actually doesn't recommend colonoscopy until age 50. But starting at age 40 they have you do the "poop in a box" test instead, and then only have you come in if that shows anything.

The complication rate for colonoscopy is about 3 in 1000, and that is skewed towards people who have polyps, which in and of themselves could be dangerous if not removed.

So it's always a risk tradeoff. You can skip the procedure and risk the effects of the disease it's supposed to detect instead. But if you do the math, you're statistically better off doing the procedure.