MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'colonoscopy'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:53:04 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096208&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fan-alternative-to-a-colonoscopy%2F2011.08.03 Most of us born several decades ago, recall the futuristic book Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov, where a miniaturized crew traveled through a human body to cure a scientist who has a blot clot lodged in his brain. Ironically, miniaturized medical care is now upon us while books are at risk of becoming obsolete. I hope that gastroenterologists won’t become obsolete, at least until my last kid graduates from college. I perform an amazing diagnostic procedure called wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE), when patients swallow a camera. Once swallowed, this miniaturized camera takes its own fantastic voyage through the alimentary canal. The test is used primarily to identify sources of internal bleeding within the 20 feet of small intestine, which are beyond the reach of gastroenterologists’ c... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096208 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:30:00 +0100 5096208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872242&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D2102 Old Yeller’s Sniffing the Feller A study shows that dogs can be trained to detect Prostate Cancer by smelling urine! Prostate Cancer gives an odor quite distinct from other bodily perfumes, which is pretty cool.  Rumor is the White House Press Corp are training the dogs based on their expertise in having their noses in President Obama’s backside these past two years. Royal Arse News – Pippa Mania Before the Royal Wedding took place, Palace security had bomb sniffing dogs everywhere making sure things were safe.  During the ceremony there was some commotion and apparently it took three “Bobby’s” to get one of the dogs away from Pippa’s backside. Apparently the powder sniffing dog had been cross-trained to smell for heavy metals too, and since Pi... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872242 Thu, 26 May 2011 06:51:35 +0100 4872242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862549&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-to-tell-if-your-doctor-is-talented-at-endoscopy%2F2011.05.24 I have noticed that we all think we are the best endoscopist around (in my case, that is indeed true!). However, we really never measured colonoscopy skill as a “patient-centered” metric and instead often use speed, efficiency, sedation needs, etc. when judging our colleagues. What is more important than these measures, however, is whether we find and remove adenomas, thereby preventing colon cancer downstream in our patients. A number of surrogate markers for quality colonoscopy and polyp detection have been used in the past, including scope-withdrawal time from the cecum. But the one measure that has been the best predictor of quality is an endoscopist’s ADR (adenoma detection rate). In fact, this is the most reliable quality measure yet determined, and it may become the basis f... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862549 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:00:27 +0100 4862549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820851&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgastroenterologists-need-more-training-to-be-competent-with-colonoscopies%2F2011.05.13 Much more practice is needed than gastroenterological professional societies currently recommend, concluded Mayo Clinic researchers in Rochester, Minn. Current recommendations are that 140 procedures should be done before attempting to assess competency, but with no set recommendations on how to assess it, wrote the author of the research. But it takes an average of 275 procedures for a gastroenterology fellow to reach minimal cognitive and motor competency. Now, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is rewriting its colonoscopy training guidelines to reflect the need for more procedures and emphasize the use of objective, measurable tests in assessing the competency of trainees. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Bette... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820851 Fri, 13 May 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4820851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742388&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthings-you-can-learn-from-a-bad-nurse%2F2011.04.21 My husband had a screening colonoscopy last Friday.  His nurse in the recovery is the only one I had issues with.  I, not my husband. All went well, but let me tell you he is not an ePatient Dave.  He did not read his instructions about when to quit eating and the prep.  I did.  I then reminded him along the way:  “Only clear liquids today.”  “You must take the Ducolax at 3 pm.  Do you want me to text you a reminder?” Sometimes the instructions we give patients are clear, but not always read. The staff at the front desk were very kind and organized.  Calls had been made the day before and I had insured the insurance information they had was correct.   I did not tell anyone I was a doctor.  I’m not sure if my husband did later or not. ….. When I was called back by th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742388 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4742388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684315&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-primary-care-physicians-keep-specialists-from-ordering-too-many-tests%2F2011.04.07 There are many tips to saving money on medical costs like asking your doctor only for generic medications, choosing an insurance plan with a high deductible and lower monthly premiums, going to an urgent care or retail clinic rather than the emergency room, and getting prescriptions mailed rather than go to a pharmacy. How about getting your old medical records and having them reviewed by a primary care doctor?  It might save you from having an unnecessary test or procedure performed. Research shows that there is tremendous variability in what doctors do.  Shannon Brownlee’s excellent book, Overtreated – Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer, provides great background on this as well as work done by the Dr. Jack Wennberg and colleagues on the Dartmouth Atlas. S... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684315 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:00:00 +0100 4684315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658387&cid=t_104822_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Fci8HdOae1us%2F Gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond takes medicine seriously . . . and herself lightly. The founder of Your Health Choice and Rx For Sanity, known nationally as The Divine Ms. Butt Meddler for her efforts to reduce the stigma often associated with screening colonoscopy. Great to see another physician broadcasting humorously to help see the lighter side of medicine [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658387 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:54:07 +0100 4658387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600538&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-guideline-truths-and-myths%2F2011.03.16 Colon cancer screening has a particular personal interest for me — one of my colleagues in residency training had her father die of colon cancer when she was a teenager. No one should lose a loved one to a disease that, when caught early, is often treatable. But for both men and women, colon cancer is the third most common cancer behind lung cancer and prostate cancer in men, and behind lung cancer and breast cancer in women, it’s the second most lethal. The problem is that patients are often confused about which test is the right one. Is it simply a stool test? Flexible sigmoidoscopy? Colonoscopy? Virtual colonoscopy? Isn’t there just a blood test that can be done? (No.) In simple terms, this is what you need to know: All men and women age 50 and older should be scr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600538 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4600538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305063&cid=t_104822_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcelebrate-the-new-year-by-prioritizing-your-health%2F For the past few years, I have started out each January with a visit to my oncologist. From there I review the tests that I need for the year. This year I need a colonoscopy, and my oncologist usually wants an annual chest x-ray. I think I should get a bone density test and I will get a Pap smear and the usual blood tests. I personally don’t need a mammogram because I have reconstructed breasts, but I urge my friends and of course Sister to get one each year. All of these tests and doctor visits are a necessity for breast cancer survivors anyway. In addition, I should get a cardio stress test; I last had one of those two years ago. Another thing I need to get on top of is the dentist; I tend to let too much time lapse between appointments since I think I take such good personal care of m... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305063 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:39:29 +0100 4305063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190412&cid=t_104822_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2Fh_xFEYlQq0I%2Fcolonoscopy.php (I'm writing this in the hopes that someone who's been putting this off may be encouraged to get it done. I'm not going to be intentionally gross, but it's not a delicate subject.)A colonoscopy is a test that's used for a number of reasons, but most of us encounter it as a screen for colon cancer. I turned 50 this summer, and my doctor recently told me that I should have one done.Beyond the logistics, I had four basic concerns about this test going in:1) The preparation procedure, designed to completely clean out the gastrointestinal tract so that the doctor can get a good look, is said to be really unpleasant.2) I haven't been under more than a local anesthetic for three decades, and I was worried about the recovery, and how weird I'd feel and for how long.3) I couldn't believe that havin... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190412 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:11:55 +0100 4190412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133713&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fscreen-everyone-for-pancreatic-cancer-what-about-evidence-and-harm%2F2010.11.03 Continuing this week’s spontaneous theme (we didn’t make the claims and write the stories) of runaway enthusiasm for various screening tests by some researchers and journalists, HealthDay news service has reported on a study published in the Oct. 28 issue of the journal Nature that they say “provides new insight into the genetics of pancreatic cancer.” In the story, they let one of the researchers get away with saying, almost unchallenged: “What’s important about this study is that it’s objective data in support of why everyone should be screened for pancreatic cancer.” Mind you, this was a study that looked at tissue from just seven patients. The story continued with its breathless enthusiasm for the pancreatic cancer screening idea: &#822... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133713 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:00:41 +0100 4133713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086232&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fi-survived-my-first-colonoscopy-at-age-27%2F photo: Thinkstock When my gastroenterologist recommended that I undergo a colonoscopy, the first thing I asked was how common it was for women like me — 27 years old and otherwise healthy — to have such an invasive procedure. She assured me that it was, in fact, very common, but it’s not something that any of my friends have ever experienced. But maybe it’s just not something that comes up in everyday conversation. Of course my doctor was going to assure me that it was a commonplace; after all, colonoscopies are a dime a dozen to a gastroenterologist, and it’s the most effective way to find out what’s really going on down there. I had ended up in the gastroenterologist’s office in the first place because I had noticed some weirdness going on with t... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086232 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:30:07 +0100 4086232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965374&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fhealth-risks-inside-dr-ozs-cancer-scare%2F photo: Getty Images Our partners at AOL Health give us some insight into the news of Dr. Oz’s recent cancer scare. Health guru Dr. Mehmet Oz is now at high risk for developing cancer. During the season premiere of his show Tuesday, he took his TV audience behind the scenes of his recent scare, from his colonoscopy to the daunting results. Last week, Dr. Oz revealed that he has a precancerous polyp on his colon, which was caught early enough so that it won’t likely turn into something more serious –  for now. “This was a shake-up for me,” he told People magazine. “I have done everything right. I don’t have any family history, and yet I’m ‘high-risk’ now.” Read the full story at AOL Health. Post from: BlissTree Health Risks... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965374 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:12:47 +0100 3965374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933088&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-ozs-first-colonoscopy-finds-pre-cancerous-polyp-what-can-this-teach-us%2F2010.09.03 By Dr. Jon LaPook, CBS Doc Dot Com (CBS) Dr. Mehmet Oz just might be the last person on earth people would expect to get a colon polyp. He’s physically fit (he left me in the dust the last time we ran together), he eats a healthy diet, he doesn’t smoke, and he has no family history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps. But several weeks ago, when Mehmet had his first screening colonoscopy at age 50, I removed a small adenomatous polyp that had the potential to turn into cancer over time. Statistically, most small polyps like his don’t become cancer. But almost all colon cancers begin as benign polyps that gradually become malignant over about 10 to 15 years. Since there’s no way of knowing which polyps will turn bad, we take them all out. The good news is there&#8... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933088 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:00:50 +0100 3933088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3382768&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fscreening-for-colon-cancer.html We looked a few days ago at the most cringe-making video ever produced by the NHS. Now, from the USA (thanks to KevinMD),take a look the Colonoscopy Song.I rather like it. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3382768 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:21:00 +0100 3382768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362545&cid=t_104822_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F03%2F12%2Fdesperation-news-network%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily. Desperation News Network. Filed under: Music - TV - Film, Politics Daily Tagged: angelina jolie, cbs, chaos theory, cnn, colonoscopy, mainstream media, political cartoon (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362545 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:55:47 +0100 3362545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302396&cid=t_104822_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FFs5n-F6Sz34%2F If you go for a colonoscopy to check out the health of your bowels (colon), it may be in your best interest to ensure the doctor who is performing the test is a gastroenterologist, a GI doctor. While general practitioners can and do perform some colonoscopies, they don’t have the formal training of the GI doctors and can easily miss something that may otherwise have been noted. According to a study published in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, GI doctors who performed colonoscopies had a higher colorectal cancer detection rate than did other doctors. Researchers looked at 110,402 residents who lived in the province of Ontario, Canada, and who were 50 to 80 years old at the time of their colonoscopy. All had been told that their colonoscopy was negative, meaning nothing u... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302396 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:55:39 +0100 3302396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243758&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftake-home-a-personal-colonoscopy-video%2F We may be entering a whole new world of home videos if researchers from Indiana University Hospital in the United States have their way. If you were offered the chance to take home a video of your very own colonoscopy, would you? Would you go as far as to pay for one? The researchers conducted a survey of patients who underwent colonoscopies to see if they would like a video and if they would be willing to pay for one. Currently, videos are done if a procedure is going to be used as a teaching tool, but otherwise, recording is not done. However, since the effectiveness of colonoscopies are one of the tests that depend on the skill of the practitioner, a number of suspicious lesions may be missed during the procedure if it is not recorded. It turned out that a majority of the respondents sa... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243758 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:52:20 +0100 3243758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015350&cid=t_104822_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FJDJIS71p_bc%2F While we can’t always prevent cancer, we can do things to help reduce the risk of developing it. Of course, we always hear: eat healthy foods, exercise, don’t smoke. But the message doesn’t seem to be getting through because people still eat junk or high fat foods, still don’t exercise and still smoke. The Mayo Clinic published 10 tips to reduce cancer risk in their most recent issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. Here are the tips and below there’s more explanation: Stop smoking Limit alcohol intake – some alcohol is okay, too much is not Follow recommended intake of fruits and vegetable (daily!) Decrease the amount of fat in your daily diet Lose weight if you’re too heavy, try to gain weight if you’re too thin Move! Get active ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015350 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:12:35 +0100 3015350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2737945&cid=t_104822_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fhow-is-your-crohn%25e2%2580%2599s-today%2F We haven’t had a “How is your Crohn’s today” blog in a while and I think we are past due. I want to know how you are doing and how you are handling your disease. Since I am writing the post that means that I get to go first:) I have been doing pretty well lately.  I had my colonoscopy a few weeks ago with very good results.  He said that I had no active Crohn’s in my colon and that was the best news that I have heard in about 10 years - or more.   Since I had such good results, I decided to try lowering my prednisone (the Doctor concurred), and so I have gone from 8mg everyday to 8mg, 8mg, 7mg, 8mg, 8mg 7mg, ect… After I am sure that my body can adjust to this level I will go to 8mg, 7mg, 8mg, 7mg, etc… Doing my tapering this way keeps my body confused as ... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2737945 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:32:31 +0100 2737945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695541&cid=t_104822_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fa-firsthand-account-of-a-colonoscopy-prep%2F Conclusion to Colonoscopy Prep: Moral to the story: Don’t NOT follow the instructions.  I usually follow them to the ‘T’ but this time decided to see if I could not stay up all night.  Next time, I will just have to take the two pills earlier so that I can start the drinking process earlier so I can go to bed earlier.  This time, I didn’t have a choice on starting earlier since I was coming back from a business trip from Florida and arrived just in time to start the prep (lucky me). Good luck with your next prep! Kelly (Source: Life with Crohn's) Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695541 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:01:43 +0100 2695541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513359&cid=t_104822_155_f&fid=36522&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpathtalk%2F%7E3%2FLrCpoRDRkMk%2F1137 Shocking and tragic and you wonder how systems break down within a hospital to lead to these types of problems. Having both worked and received care at VA hospitals in the past I have always found decent health care once you obtain access to the system and waited for an appointment.  Our veterans deserve better.    The CBS Evening News (6/16, story 5, 2:35, Glor) reported, “Capitol Hill is famous for holding hearings, but rarely have members of Congress been as shocked as they were” Tuesday, when “they got the results of a new report with this startling headline: More than 10,000 veterans who went in for checkups at several Southeast VA hospitals may have been exposed to HIV or other blood diseases.” According to CBS, over “10,000 veterans have now recei... pathtalk.org blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513359 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:45:25 +0100 2513359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2463078&cid=t_104822_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FxuV4wyW1fBo%2F Young adults in the United States are being diagnosed with more colorectal cancer today than years ago despite a decline that started in the mid-1980s. Screening played a large role in colorectal cancer prevention and detection, which helped lower the numbers. Colonoscopies can detect polyps, overgrowth of tissue, that can become cancerous. If they’re detected and removed through colonoscopy, that’s one less chance of developing the cancer. And, if colorectal cancer does occur, if it’s detected early enough, colorectal cancer has 90% cure rate. But, this is really only for people over 50 years old as regular colon screenings aren’t usually suggested for younger people who aren’t considered to be high risk. Now, however, according to an article published in the... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2463078 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:29:08 +0100 2463078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447733&cid=t_104822_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FCZHE1Q_cJ8w%2F Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States . It’s also one of the most detectable and treatable of all, with up to a 90% cure rate if caught in the early stages. Most often, once a cancer starts showing symptoms, it’s advanced quite a bit. So, the best way to find early cancers is through proper screening. The way to find - and prevent - colorectal cancer is through screening colonoscopies. X-ray showing polyps A long tube (endoscope) with a camera on one end is inserted into your rectum and then advanced slowly into your bowel, checking for anything unusual. The images are sent to a screen where the doctor can see the bowel lining. If something is seen, using the scope, the doctor can usually remove a piece of tissue to have it examined. Colonoscop... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447733 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:18:59 +0100 2447733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2295066&cid=t_104822_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fmanaging-crohns-disease-and-your-fear%2F There are so many things in this world to fear: the economy, terrorism, loss of job, house, or possessions, asteroids hitting the Earth!  It seems that every day there is something new reported in the news for us to panic about.  If you live with Crohn’s disease, the fear is compounded since the fear of the disease can be added to the already seemingly overwhelming list of fears.  Living with a chronic disease like Crohn’s disease means that fear is an unwanted companion that we are always trying to get rid of. For me, dealing with fear is a constant battle.  I made a decision long ago that I don’t want to live in fear and I am constantly reminding myself of this.  We all have fear and I think that’s normal.  I think what really matters is how you handle your fear.  It can e... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2295066 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:03:30 +0100 2295066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290614&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpreventing-and-detecting-colon-cancer%2F March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and as it’s such an important issue I’d like to bring it up today.  I’ve written on this topic several times before but according to the American Cancer Society it is the third most common cancer found in men and women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States so I think it warrants attention. If you are over the age of 50 (or over 40 with risk factors), you should be screened for colon cancer on a regular basis. The schedule for the various screening methods is shown here (discuss this with your physician and decide which one is best for you): Tests that find pre-cancer and cancer: • Colonoscopy every 10 years • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years • Virtual colonoscopy every 5 years • Double-contra... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290614 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:57:27 +0100 2290614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2110873&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcolon-cleansing-is-a-waste-of-time-money-and-effort%2F A friend of mine recently asked what I thought of Evercleanse, the colon cleansing product-du-jour that’s being aggressively marketed to help you: “Lose the Waste. Lose the Weight.” I told him that all colon cleansing products are basically the same; namely, scams. The reason is that colon cleansing is wholly unnecessary and a complete waste of time, money and effort. Regardless of marketing hype, regardless of ingredients, regardless of method, regardless of testimonials, colon cleansing is quite purely and simply medical quackery. The one exception to this is when it’s prescribed medically as in preparation for an examination such as colonoscopy. It is quite amazing how many websites there are devoted to colon cleansing and how many such products are being offered... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2110873 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:37:19 +0100 2110873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2065314&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5692 from the Malaysian Medical Resources Stress-Induced Behavior Increases Cardiovascular Risk, Sleep Apnea Increases Resting Energy Expenditure, Colonoscopy Not Effective For Detecting Right-Side Tumors (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2065314 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2065314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052881&cid=t_104822_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metastaticlivercancer.org%2F2008-12-19-cancer-treatment%2Fsymptoms-of-advanced-colon-cancer%2F Conclusion: I don’t talk about "a quick fix" like colon cleanse, colon cleansing or a calcium diet supplement, I do talk about a change in lifestyle and recognizing the needs of our body.   Colon cancer treatment   We already mentioned 2 of our readers and their colon cancer treatments:   Colon cancer spread to liverJim’s son who just recently started his colon cancer chemotherapy and is in good spirits.  Lisa’s father’s colon cancer spread to his liverLisa’s father still not in remission after 130 counts of colon cancer chemo for stage iv colon cancer.   An third example how a secondary liver cancer - colon cancer treatment looks like illustrated by Melanie’s cancer story (commented at Colon cancer spread to liver) : &nbsp... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052881 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:10:25 +0100 2052881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1940915&cid=t_104822_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F11%2Ftimesaver-stat-vii%2F The innovators over at USB fever have produced a USB powered ‘timesaving’ device that will have its users on the edge of their seats - the USB Digital Endoscope . As the manufacturers state: You can use this USB Endoscope to reach the place that you cannot reach but still need to see So why wait 6 months [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1940915 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:00:29 +0100 1940915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809779&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4571 I have my reservations about Virtual colonoscopy though. Firstly, Virtual colonoscopy still requires a bowel prep which is often the most uncomfortable bit of regular colonoscopy - not the scope procedure itself. Secondly, even if a polyp is found, one needs a tissue diagnosis, so a regular scope is needed anyway. a CT Colonography Equally Effective as Colonoscopy, Antibiotics During Preterm Labor Raise Cerebral Palsy Risk, Sun Tanning Leads to DNA Damage (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809779 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1809779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806604&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvirtual-colonoscopy-ready-for-prime-time%2F Virtual colonoscopy is an x-ray examination of the colon used to screen for cancer. It is also called CT colonography because the x-ray test used is a CT scan (also called computed tomography or CAT scan for computed axial tomography). Virtual colonoscopy is in the news because of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that compared the x-ray test to traditional colonoscopy and found comparable results in terms of identifying abnormal growths. But while the headlines will tout the positive findings, there are a few things you should know before undergoing one of these procedures. First off let me say that screening for colon cancer is an extremely important and life-saving yet underutilized undertaking that I’ve written about before, and which you should unde... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806604 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:29:44 +0100 1806604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779892&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fmany-colon-cancer-patients-dont-get-proper-follow-up%2F After surgery for colon cancer, you are still at risk, both for cancer recurrence and for development of another new colon cancer. Because of this it’s important for colon cancer survivors to be followed closely and monitored carefully. But new research has found that many such survivors aren’t getting the proper follow-up care. And it looks as though the fault lies more with the doctors than it does with the patients. If you or someone you love is a colon cancer survivor, it’s important to know the guidelines for follow-up in order to ensure you’re getting the right tests. In the study, published online in the journal Cancer on September 8, 2008 - only 40 percent of colon cancer survivors who were followed for three years had all the right doctor visits and tests. But since 92 per... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779892 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:05:55 +0100 1779892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1704786&cid=t_104822_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metastaticlivercancer.org%2F2008-08-14-cancer-treatment%2Fcolonoscopy-cant-always-prevent-metastatic-liver-cancer%2F     Laura’s mother (75) has cancer of the small intestine that spread to her liver. Her mom started having colonoscopy’s at the age of 50 and nothing showed up ever…   Unfortunately a colonoscopy test only looks into the rectum and colon through a long, flexible, narrow tube - the colonoscope. It doesn’t detect anything in the small intestine because it never looks there. (The small intestine starts where the colon or large intestine stops, see picture below)     So there you are : well informed, doing what you have learned to prevent cancer and yet again you end up with metastatic liver cancer?   Again modern medicine focuses way to little on cancer prevention. How many times have you seen Dr. Oz and Dr. Drew promoting colonoscopy, D... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1704786 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:34:14 +0100 1704786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625856&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ftony-snow-colon-cancer-and-you%2F Former White House press secretary Tony Snow died of colon cancer this past weekend at the age of 53. He was first diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 50. Current guidelines recommend that screening for colon cancer for people with average risk should begin at age 50 (and be repeated every 10 years) but that people with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with colon cancer should begin screening at age 40 (or 10 years younger than the earliest diagnosis in their family). Mr. Snow’s mother died of colon cancer at age 38 when he was just 17 years old, which would mean that he should have begun screening at age 28 and have had it repeated every 5 years. Had he followed those guidelines he might still be alive and cancer-free today. Have you been screened for colon cancer? Not count... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625856 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:15:42 +0100 1625856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561377&cid=t_104822_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Ftreatment-or-torture%2F As all of you who read this blog on a regular basis know, I just went through an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Because of the many years of pain in my sacroiliac joints, I said I would never have a colonoscopy. It seems James Bond was right: “Never say never again.” With the many problems that have plagued me for the last few months, I didn’t really have a choice. Confidentially, I was petrified. I wasn’t worried about the outcome; I was worried about the process. There aren’t many things that frighten this intrepid blogger, but the thought of the prep and the procedure for the lower and upper scopes had me frightened. It’s the same irrational fear I have when walking on ice or any slippery surface: I knew it would give my already sore behind a beating; I knew the two-hour drive w... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561377 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:41:31 +0100 1561377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497335&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F06%2Fget-your-colonoscopy.html Bad news and good news--first the bad: A very close friend's mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. But the very good news is that her disease was caught so early she won't even need chemotherapy.Why? She had a colonoscopy! Had she not taken this life saving step, a few years down the road she would have found herself in very serious--perhaps lethal--trouble.Readers of SHS may recall that I became a big believer in colonoscopies after mine last summer disclosed a small benign tumor that was excised during the procedure. While it was not the kind that becomes cancerous, it could have grown to the point that I too might have been in for some serious trouble.Colon cancer killed my father and I have seen the difficulties it can cause. But colon cancer is readily preventable--by removing pre-c... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497335 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:38:00 +0100 1497335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329095&cid=t_104822_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F258594981%2Fcolonoscopy_prep_solution_may.html New research at Scott & White Clinic at in Temple, Texas suggests that the solution used in preparation for a patient to undergo a colonoscopy can cause acute kidney failure and long-term kidney damage.The research suggests that while the risks of oral sodium phosphate solution are rare, they do exist especially for older patients."People should be very cautious in the use of these agents because of their potential of causing kidney damage," said study author Dr. Anand Khurana.The oral sodium phosphate solution already has a U.S. Food and Drug Administration black box warning. The FDA recommended that the solution be used cautiously among patients with impaired kidney function. The new study shows that the solution can affect even those with no previous kidney problems.The co... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329095 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:00:19 +0100 1329095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1325547&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Frevisiting-colon-cancer-myths%2F March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so I thought I’d republish a posting from last year that helps dispel a few myths about this disease: 1- Colon cancer is primarily a disease of men. This is false. Colon cancer affects men and women equally, both in terms of diagnosis and death. Everyone must be aware of the risks of colon cancer. 2- Colon cancer will show signs or symptoms, so I don’t need to be screened. This is false. Most cases of colon cancer will not show any symptoms at all. And by the time colon cancer becomes symptomatic (change in stool, weight loss, pain, bleeding), the cancer is at an advanced stage. To avoid advanced colon cancer, you must undergo screening prior to the development of symptoms. 3- Colon cancer is a disease of the elderly, so I don&#8... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1325547 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:54:32 +0100 1325547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1213373&cid=t_104822_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fis-it-a-kidney-stone-or-is-my-pain-crohns-related%2F Now I am really confused and frustrated. I still have this terrible pain in my right side, and it feels exactly like a kidney stone, but the urologist said today that my kidneys looked good and that the pain was not coming from there. Two weekends ago, I went to the urgent care facility because of this pain and they did a CT scan. The doctor there was a bit wishy-washy and told me that there was a stone in the kidney but there shouldn’t be any pain. He diagnosed me with a kidney stone, gave me a prescription for the pain and sent me on my way. And as usual, I left and then thought of all the questions that I should have asked, for example, how big was the stone? They said that there was blood in my urine and thought that one might have already passed. But the pain kept up, so on Friday I... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1213373 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:47:18 +0100 1213373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1091575&cid=t_104822_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-important-yet-underutilized%2F Colorectal cancer, which is a cancer of the large intestine (also called the colon or bowel) or the rectum, is, unfortunately, both common and deadly. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. The good news is that most colon cancers develop slowly over many years and there are a variety of screening tests that allow early detection, before symptoms are present, and when the cancer is at an early, treatable stage. The bad news, however, is that screening for colon cancer is underperformed. A recently published study found the shocking fact that the vast majority of Americans in Medicare aren’t getting proper screening, even though it is a covere... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1091575 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:14:50 +0100 1091575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1088767&cid=t_104822_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmetastaticlivercancer.org%2F2007-12-12-cancer-treatment%2Fcolon-cancer-story-from-kristen%2F Comment from Kristen at Liver cancer is a killer, with answer from Metastatic Liver Cancer. My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer on Feb.14th, 2007. The doctor gave him 2 days to 2 weeks to live. He died on Feb. 16th, 2007. The cancer had spread and was inoperable. Nothing prepared my family for the shock of his death and we are still trying to deal with it. The ironic thing is my father was scheduled for a colonoscopy the day after we took him to the ER. The stuff he was supposed to drink for the colonoscopy made him ill, which is why we went to the ER where we found out why. People say it gets easier, but for my family, it hasn’t yet. Metastatic liver cancer reactions Dear Kristen, Accept our condolences and a big hug. Like you say: it just doesn’t get any easier emotional... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1088767 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:21:25 +0100 1088767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1081783&cid=t_104822_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F197489864%2F 14-year-old Jack Piper endured multiple organ failure, including kidney and liver problems, a a swollen brain and neurological problems, after a colonoscopy procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in 1998. He also developed epilepsy and suffered stomach ulcers. The December 9th Daily Mail reports that the procedure was not “”not clinically indicated or justified’”; his parents claim that the procedure was carried out to “establish links between his condition and bowel problems” rather than for Jack’s clinical needs. Jack’s family has won a £500,000 payout from the hospital, which “admitted the operation itself was negligent and gave Jack and his family a public apology.” The documents also claimed that Jack’s parents were n... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1081783 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:31:27 +0100 1081783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=811871&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F21%2Flist-of-cancer-worries-yields-good-news%2F Filed under: Cancer SurvivorsYesterday, I saw my oncologist for one of my every-three-month follow-up visits. As always, I went armed with my list of questions -- which is really my list of worries -- and one by one, I rattled them off. On a little sticky note, I had written: Lymph node Digital mammogram Next MRI Heart Colonoscopy And this is what my doctor had to say about my concerns of the day: The occasionally-swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck is nothing to worry about. It wasn't even palpable today. When it is, it's normal. He promises. It's time for my next digital mammogram and ultrasound too. I will be contacted soon with my appointment. After consulting with another oncologist, it was determined I will continue receiving breast MRI scans. Not a... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=811871 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 811871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=727289&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F11%2Fsex-age-and-location-increase-likelihood-of-incomplete-colonos%2F Filed under: Colon and Rectal CancerA report in Gastroenterology advises that if you need a repeat colonoscopy due to an incomplete colonoscopy, you should find a specialized medical center for the procedure.An incomplete colonoscopy occurs when the full length of the colon, up to the point where it joins the small intestine, cannot be examined. Being a woman and being elderly increases the chance of having an incomplete colonoscopy. Having the procedure done in a private office also increases this likelihood.Dr. Hemant A. Shah and a research team from the University of Toronto found that out of more than 331,000 colonoscopies, 13.1 percent were incomplete.Individuals who underwent colonoscopy in a private office were more than 3 times as likely to have an incomplete procedure as those hav... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=727289 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 727289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=694180&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F25%2Fproper-screening-leads-to-a-decrease-in-colorectal-cancer%2F Filed under: Colon and Rectal Cancer, Daily newsIt seems like the rates of many cancers are skyrocketing lately, so it's refreshing and inspiring to hear that all our medical advances have paid off -- That's Fit recently reported that screening technology has lead to a significant drop in the rates of Colorectal Cancer. The screening process for colorectal cancer typically consists of a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy, and it's recommended that men and women over the age of 49 should get screened for Colorectal cancer regularly. Getting screened for cancer isn't always the most pleasant thing, but it's worth it to save your life.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments (Source: The Cancer Blog) The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=694180 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 694180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682737&cid=t_104822_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F19%2Fdiet-drug-xenical-renamed-alli-still-a-cancer-worry%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Drug, Colon and Rectal Cancer, Daily newsPrescription weight-loss drug Xenical hit drugstore shelves on Friday with a new name -- Alli (pronounced: "Al-eye") and with a new non-prescription strength. The newly-named drug is to be more effective with less unpleasureable side effects. Still, there's a problem surrounding this drug, regardless of its name. It's thought to cause colon cancer.The nonprofit group Public Citizen says Alli, made by GlaxoSmithKline, has been shown in mice studies to cause pre-cancerous lesions in the colon. Since there are no long-term studies on humans, this group believes the FDA should not have approved the drug for non-prescription use. It's not clear whether or not the pre-cancerous spots will lead to colon cancer but the mere sugge... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682737 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551297&cid=t_104822_140_f&fid=35479&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarhousewife.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Ffyi.html If you've never had a colonoscopy, let me tell you a bit about what goes on. Just a little heads-up from Your's Truly.The day before the procedure, you don't get to eat--the entire day! That is, you DON'T EAT AT ALL the day before the procedure. Whew. That was a tough one to chew, no pun intended. Then you basically overdose on laxatives and spend the rest of the afternoon wearing a path in the carpet toward the bathroom. No food or water the morning of the procedure, and you get an IV line (which hurts because you're dehydrated), warm blankets, and a faded hospital gown. The doc says hi and then you get sleepy, then you wake up in the recovery room feeling like you were abducted by aliens. Memory gets fuzzy after that. Lots of sleeping, and voracious eating to follow, which may continue t... The Bipolar Housewife Experiment blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551297 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 06:19:00 +0100 551297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486515&cid=t_104822_131_f&fid=34996&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.genesanddrugs.com%2F2006%2F12%2F15%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-in-a-conservative-town%2F Many years ago Uncle Sam sent me to Rockford Illinois to repay my National Health Service Corps scholarship by providing medical services to the medically indigent population of Winnebago County. Rockford population about 150,000 was the second largest city in Illinois and, to this California boy, rather provincial. At the time I arrived, the HIV epidemic was raging. In Rockford, most of the victims were iv drug users, their partners, and their children. HIV wasn’t really a gay thing in Rockford because when a gay Rockfordian was old enough to leave town, he did—usually for Chicago. Faced with the epidemic, I asked my Rockford colleagues why no one had started a needle exchange program. “Oh,” I was told, “we can’t do that here. Rockford is a conservative town…” But I digres... Genes & Drugs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486515 Sat, 16 Dec 2006 01:55:26 +0100 486515