Surveillance Coolnoscopy.

John - had you had a colonoscopy ever before the discovery of your cancer and if so how long before? I ask because bowel cancer is usually a very slow process beginning with a polyp which eventually turns nasty. If you had never had a colonoscopy before the discovery of the cancer then statistically it is highly likely yours too was a slow process. If on the other hand you had been given one say 5 years before the discovery then maybe your cancer was  faster in appearing. Either way, it is very unlikely that one (fast or slow) would be up and running on your timescale particularly given the scan result so although anyone would be worried having gone through what you went through I think objectively you will be fine. If there is any sign of a polyp they can zap it there and then. They choose the time gaps very carefully and in fact err on the side of caution. Trouble with statistics is that they represent the mean average and many illnesses have wide variations such that the average is a bit meaningless. I know quite a few gastro enterologists and they pick the time periods between tests very conservatively not just using the statistics but also their experience and the specifics of what they found in you before. So, it’s pointless saying don’t worry because we all would, but you don’t need to get panicky. Good luck! David.

Thanks for your reply David, ?much appreciated. The tumour was shown ?with a CT scan and they operated that afternoon. A follow up scan the next day was ok. My first colonoscopy was a year later and now waiting for this one. I didn't have any chemo and my CEA tests are 6 monthly. ?I see the nurse yearly now. So yes, the outlook seems positive, but the anxiety is always present. 

I had a lot of trouble posting this with copying and pasting needed every half line or so. I'll try sending it now. Thanks again. 

Colonoscopy.. Just correcting my splelling. 

Hi John. I appreciate we all go down the “you don’t need to worry route” when objectively you don’t. But when it’s ourselves it’s a different story - I have a triple whammy next week of gastroscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy - what a fun day! In my case it is “unexplained” anaemia. So naturally I have gone on-line and come up with the worst possible scenario both mechanically and diagnostically so I am wearing both hats at the moment. I have a very pessimistic friend who when I explained the risk of serious trouble in one of the three procedures is 1%; said “that’s good; mind you, if you got on a plane with 99 other people and you were told before take-off that one of you won’t make it to the destination, it would be dreadful.” I thanked him and said how much better that made me feel...So, you will worry, but I would think the chance of anything being there at all and certainly anything they can’t easily deal with is v. v. low. Really good luck mate! David.