The little-discussed risks and side effects of colonoscopy screening and why, in some cases, people would do best to avoid them. If you must have one, how to minimize the dangers as much as possible and a safe alternative to consider as a logical middle ground.
March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month each year. At that time, the usual health experts trot out on TV and print media to urge us all to get a colonoscopy. The inherent risks of this reviled procedure especially for those over age 50 are usually conveniently glossed over in favor of an aggressive push about the benefits.
That “kick in the butt” might initially sound like a good idea. However, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine, the rate of serious complications from colonoscopy screening is ten times higher than any other commonly used cancer-screening test.
According to Konstantin Monastyrky, author of Fiber Menace:
The odds of being killed or injured by the side effects of colonoscopy may exceed your odds of getting colorectal cancer in the first place.
He further points out that the procedure is far from infallible. It often fails to catch colorectal cancer in the first place. In addition, it can cause, contribute to or accelerate the growth of colorectal and other cancers.
Let’s go into each of these colonoscopy risks in detail.
Dysbiosis
Intestinal flora is disrupted by a colonoscopy because the procedure requires a thorough washing out of the large intestine with large doses of synthetic laxatives. This is followed by bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and hypertonic electrolytes.
These substances kill bacteria, both good and bad just like antibiotics. The gut dysbiosis that inevitably follows contributes to irregularity, constipation, colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, and other diseases known to increase colon cancer risk. Dysbiosis also contributes to a wide range of other autoimmune health problems.
Worsening of Stool Patterns
Those already affected by hemorrhoids, chronic constipation, IBS, or diverticulosis may find these conditions become worse after colonoscopy.
Complications
Serious complications, such as colon perforation, occur in five out of every one thousand colonoscopies.
The risks of delayed bleeding, infection, and ulceration are even higher. Unfortunately, reporting of these complications in connection with colonoscopy is rare.
Increased Risks of Stroke, Heart Attack, and Pulmonary Embolisms
Dangerous blood clotting is a side effect of anesthesia, particularly among patients with diabetes or heart disease.
Infections
Procedures performed under anesthesia are associated with an increased risk of serious infections. This includes pneumonia or pyelonephritis.
False Sense of Security
Doctors miss from 15-27 percent of polyps, including six percent of large tumors. The New England Journal of Medicine even reported that some doctors blast through the colonoscopy so fast they miss cancer in full bloom!
Indeed, the desire for speed is why most colonoscopies today are done under anesthesia. Might there be a profit motive? Some doctors do 60 colonoscopies per day at an average cost of $1,500 to $2000 each. You do the math.
Colonoscopy Alternative
Many people do not realize that you can order an at-home colorectal screening kit to avoid most colonoscopies. They are inexpensive, safe, and convenient. Blood, polyps, and other abnormalities are quickly detected by using a simple stool sample. Results are available fast with lab accurate results.
If you have a positive result from one of these home tests, then go get a colonoscopy. But, in most cases, you will get a negative result, saving you the discomfort and risks of the actual colorectal screening.
Ways to Manage Colonoscopy Risks
Here are a few suggestions about how to increase the level of safety and accuracy in the screening for colon cancer.
- Those with a family history of colon cancer or otherwise at high risk probably should do a colonoscopy. But it is best to request to have it done without general anesthesia. That’s where the majority of the risks are. Some doctors offer inhalation sedation as a safer alternative. Doctors who prefer knocking the patient out use this approach so they can ‘jam’ through the colon much faster. Billing for anesthesiology increases revenues for the hospital too.
- Doing radiography first is pointless. The reason? If they find some polyps, you will still need to have a colonoscopy. Besides, you don’t want all that huge exposure to ionizing radiation.
- If you do decide to go through with a colonoscopy, at least prepare with clear broth you make yourself. Commercial brands at the store are not nutritious and contain unhealthy additives and MSG. Exposure to these chemicals can potentially make digestive issues worse and recovery more difficult.
- After the colonoscopy, follow this protocol to rebuild gut flora. It is the same process recommended by experts after a round of antibiotics.
What made me decide that I’d take a pass at this procedure is that the instruments were not being properly cleaned between patients. There is a particular cleaning substance –the name escapes me–but they often use the one that is NOT effective.
This kind of goes along with their use of gadolinium as a contrast agent during MRIs. It’s a heavy metal but they always insisted it was safe and excreted by the kidneys. Well, it wasn’t. Some people retained more than others but it seems that some always remained in the body. Many have ongoing and SERIOUS issues with the retained gadolinium. Unfortunately, the history of the medical industry is replete with horrific things done to people in the name of “treatments”. I’ve read a fair amount of that history…………….I steer clear of interactions with them unless I am absolutely cannot function.
If you’re suffering with unexplained chronic gut issues and you have a family history of bowel cancer then a colonoscopy could save your life.
After reading all the reviews i think a healthy person need not go for a Colonoscopy test, unless it is needed. There are more risks involved in this procedure
My husband is 69, has had Parkinson’s for at least 9 years, has had a minor stroke, had an embolism after an arteriogram that required surgical removal, and nearly died from many clots in his heart and lungs. He definitely has dangerous clotting issues. He does well on a small dose of warfarin, mostly staying within normal levels on his INR test. His doctor pushed for a colonoscopy. He put him temporarily on Xarelto because you only have to be off it half as long. But on Xarelto, his INR tests have been showing dangerously thick levels, 1.1 instead of 2 to 3. His blood is only a hair thinner than a person not on thinners. He was to have started being on no thinners tomorrow for three, maybe four days. We just felt it was pure crazy to do an invasive screening test on someone with clotting issues, cause them to have a dangerous reading, then give them no blood thinner at all for four days. We cancelled the procedure and he went back on warfarin tonight. It makes me wonder if his current doctor actually read his history when he took him as a patient. I know for a fact that if this test were really necessary, it could be done in hospital with heparin via IV used as a bridge drug, and he would only be unprotected for a few hours before the test. I feel so much of the testing today is done to create a revenue stream and puts us older people under so much stress. Just worrying about being able to get to the bathroom on time over and over during the prep with his Parkinson’s movement issues was very stressful to my husband.
I just had the colonoscopy done and one polyp was removed I’m so thankful I had it done, just do your research and you should be fine, with anything you do in life there is a possibility of something going wrong , I would rather catch a problem in the early stage than later I had no complications do your research people
My mother would still be here if the stupid primary care doctor had not missed her liver cancer in the first place, and if they had just started her radiation treatment right away, or at the very least done an alternative to the colonoscopy. Explanation: She threw up during the colonoscopy, it got into her lungs and she got pneumonia . She had to be put on a ventilator, but she didn’t get better fast enough and the decision was made, not by me, to remove life support . I miss her every day and I am going to have trust issues with doctors for the rest of my life. Thanks for letting me share this with other people besides family and friends.
I opted for the Fit Test…it came back positive. At first I was worried then I read the statistics…25% come back false positive, also do not take the test while constipated (which I was). Also says if you have internal and external hemorrhoids, diverticula, IBS, anal fissures and/or bowel diseases..these could all cause bleeding into the stool and present a false reading on the Fit Test. So, with that being said, I was still nervous about the colonoscopy so I am opting for the sigmoidoscopy. It’s not as invasive, has fewer side effects as you are not given anesthesia and the prep is not so destructive to your colon. Anyone else have thoughts on my comments??
At my routine doctors visit today I reluctantly signed up for this procedure. I am 71 and never had it done. My visit showed perfect vitals given consideration for pills for high blood pressure, borderline diabetis and conjestive heart failure (defibulator). I was even advised my heart beat was that of an athlete. I advised I dropped 14 lbs to 174, exercised more, and eliminated sweets/sugar. I asked why do I need this procedure. The answer is it is recommended especially at my age . . and why not? But it’s my call.
The 4 prescriptions I take have the normal side effects, so I am reluctant to follow thru now with this procedure and the added risk of complications your article provided (Along with other research), so I am canceling the procedure.
My Grandfather went in for a “routine” colonoscopy for no other reason other than just because he was “due” for one. My Mom took him for the procedure. He was completely normal in every way. She drove him home afterwards and when they pulled in his driveway where he had lived for at least 65 years, he asked when she was taking him home. So sad, he was never the same after that. He had to have 24/7 care from that point on. Whatever happened during the colonoscopy ruined his mind. I am 50 and had a routine colonoscopy. Mind you I am one of the lucky people who never even had heartburn my entire life. I am assuming I just had a very healthy microbiome. After the colonoscopy I have had severe bloating and nausea after eating and drinking so many things. The only time my stomach isn’t bloated is first thing in the morning. It has been a year of suffering. I believe the bowel prep killed all of my good gut bacteria and unfortunately just taking high quality probiotics has not helped. I have tried lots of things to heal my gut and am still suffering. The worst part is I never had a weight problem and in the year since using that bowel prep, I have gained 30lbs very quickly and its still climbing. Whatever bacteria I had that were keeping my weight stable are long gone. Unless I am bleeding non stop for months out of my anus, I will NEVER have another colonoscopy.
I agree 100%… my father died of colon cancer and if he had gotten checked at the appropriate age.. he would probably still be alive today. I think you just need to do your DOCTOR research, one that has a good history, and will TAKE THEIR TIME etc…