Question about rectal bleeding and Sigmoid

[marc]

My GI physician said that typically, continuous bleeding is more apt to be something serious,
although like any physician, he said there are exceptions. I have been to the GI physician many
times and have asked many questions. Most polyps are called metaplastic polyps, which usually don't turn to
cancer. Adenomas, which can be a more serious type of polyp, are more likely to turn to cancer, but the
likelihood is still low. He also said colon and rectal cancer takes 5 or more years to grow, but again there are
exceptions. People with a family history, crohns disease or colitis need to be screened earlier and more
often. My opinion only, if I was in your situation, I would go for the colonoscopy, to at least put your mind at ease
once and for all.

[dancer67]

What do u mean by continuous? Every day? Everytime you go?

I have had rectal bleeding for at least 10 years.

GI DR says colonoscopy when I am I do not bleed all the time it is itermittent and no change over the eyars

[dancer67]

What do u mean by continuous? Every day? Everytime you go?

I have had rectal bleeding for at least 10 years.

GI DR says colonoscopy when I am I do not bleed all the time it is itermittent and no change over the eyars

Sorry, I was in the car when I typed this.

I really do not want a colonoscopy. I have had two Dr's tell me I do not need one.

Marc, you say continuous. I would assume you mean every single time you go?? Mine is not continuous. It is intermittent. Could be once a month, once every two weeks, once every 6 months. I believe I have had this for about 10 years. Definitely 6 without a doubt.

I hate tests. Any kind of tests. I was only asking about this because I was curious to see how long it took for polyps to grow. Since I had my sigmoid 4 years ago, and no polyps were found then, and my bleeding has not changed, I will assume I am fine.

[Elephant]

Not all Polyps are cancerous. I wouldn't worry too much, go to the doctor and put your mind to rest.

[marc]

If it were me, I would get a colonoscopy to put my mind at rest. I have had 5 of them and they
are a piece of cake. I hate tests also, but as we age, we need to get them. I think even though the
odds are in your favor that it is nothing, especially since it has persisted for a long time, I would still
get the colonoscopy to be on the safe side.

[dancer67]

Thanks Marc. If it gets worse, I will ask about it. But I am not up for that at this time. And I know if I even mentioned it, my husband would hit the ceiling. Especially since both my GI dr. and my Hematologist have told me it is not needed. He will think I am putting myself through undue stress again, and I need to give myself a break.

Since I have had this for about 6 years at least, probably even longer and nothing has changed, I am going to leave it alone.

I am glad to hear that polyps take a long time to grow, and if nothing was there 4 years ago, and they take at least 5 years to grow and another 8-10 years to turn to ca, I am going to let myself take a break from this one. The growth of the polyps is really what I wanted to know.

If it does get worse, or I start bleeding every day, then I will make sure I get one done.

I just can't put myself through anything more at this point unless it is absolutely necessary.

Thank you

[crazygirl1]

hmmm...5 yrs to grow & another 8-10 to turn to ca...?? really? so thats like 13-15 yrs you'd have to have a polyp...i'm clueless now and very confused lol

[Carryon]

hmmm...5 yrs to grow & another 8-10 to turn to ca...?? really? so thats like 13-15 yrs you'd have to have a polyp...i'm clueless now and very confused lol

You can be an ostrich using that arithmetic at your peril. My wife is an oncology RN in GI who, just yesterday, was telling me about a young man 24 with terminal cancer that started in his colon.

[crazygirl1]

I would never be careless about that, I lost my mother to colon ca... . I had heard the 10 yr thing but never the 5 yrs to grow thing. Carryon I understand it can occur in anyone at any age but 24 really is the exception.

[Carryon]

I would never be careless about that, I lost my mother to colon ca... . I had heard the 10 yr thing but never the 5 yrs to grow thing. Carryon I understand it can occur in anyone at any age but 24 really is the exception.

To the point of the thread: if you have bleeding you check it out, don't use the numbers as a reason not to.

[dancer67]

I agree that if you have rectal bleeding, you should have it checked out.

I finally did that 4 years ago.

[floridaguy65]

Sometimes, as this is a pretty busy forum and topics get various replies along the way, the original intent might get lost and a whole "new topic" created within:)

Here's the first part of Dancer's original post:

"I was DX with internal/external hemorrhoids in December 2006. I had a sigmoidoscopy. So it has been almost 4 1/2 years. My sigmoid was perfect other then the hemorrhoids.(I had two vaginal births). I went because I was having stomach pains along with rectal bleeding. I was dx with IBS as well.

How long does it take for a polyp to grow in the lower colon, and how often should(or do you think I even need one) I get another sigmoid?

My last GI visit was in November, and I told the GO Doc I still had rectal bleeding every so often. Sometimes once a month, or once every few months. I alsoe told her I was anemic. I am 43. She said no worries, and I do not need anything done until I am 50.(A colonsocopy)"

My comments would be:

Nobody, from this forum, can tell you how long a polyp takes to grow within YOU. If one ever even grows. This is what your Doc is for...taking into account ALL the info about your overall health, lifestyle, family history, previous testing and other disease factors. You can come here and get some general statistics, sure...but, that is all. But with HA, we tend to accept the "general statistics", only in combination with our "perceived" notions regarding our health, in the first place. So, our overall analysis is, still, filtered through our Anxiety Disorders, and, often, faulty. We believe what we want to hear, often...I've done it...we all do it when struggling with HA.

What can you go by then? Well, as always...your Doctor and yourself. You were diagnosed with i/e hemorrhoids and had a perfect sigmoid. You just saw your GI Doc in Nov...you told her you still had some rectal bleeding sometimes. She is a GI Doc and this is what she does, she sees MANY patients, she listens, interprets and understands your history and makes a diagnosis....period:) She said no worries...the reason for bright red blood is Hems. You don't need a colonoscopy unitil you're 50 according to your Doc. You can "what if" and over analyze until the cows come home. But, the KEY and the bottom line is you have HA, Dancer. And to find some solace from HA, we MUST break the chain of "standard operating procedure" that HA lays upon us. Living in fear is AWFUL...I know. There will be ANOTHER health worry right around the bend, when you get passed this one. Don't be offended...I'm not coming down hard on you, I promise:) I'm just stating how HA operates when we are fully in its grips...it has happened to me MANY times and for years, too.

We have to trust our Doc, eventually, when dealing with HA. There is no lasting solace from HA unless there is trust in a Doc and trust in yourself. HA THRIVES on doubt. For me, I would much rather take that "leap of faith" in learning how to trust my Doc (and myself), than let more years tick by living with the dominating fear of HA. This "leap of faith" is vital, IMHO. Our HA will always be there to alter our perception of our health until we accept, trust and "rewire" our perceptions:)

Peace and Feel Well:)

[Carryon]

Floridaguy, as I said "forum shopping".

[dancer67]

My comments would be:

Nobody, from this forum, can tell you how long a polyp takes to grow within YOU. If one ever even grows. This is what your Doc is for...taking into account ALL the info about your overall health, lifestyle, family history, previous testing and other disease factors. You can come here and get some general statistics, sure...but, that is all. But with HA, we tend to accept the "general statistics", only in combination with our "perceived" notions regarding our health, in the first place. So, our overall analysis is, still, filtered through our Anxiety Disorders, and, often, faulty. We believe what we want to hear, often...I've done it...we all do it when struggling with HA.

What can you go by then? Well, as always...your Doctor and yourself. You were diagnosed with i/e hemorrhoids and had a perfect sigmoid. You just saw your GI Doc in Nov...you told her you still had some rectal bleeding sometimes. She is a GI Doc and this is what she does, she sees MANY patients, she listens, interprets and understands your history and makes a diagnosis....period:) She said no worries...the reason for bright red blood is Hems. You don't need a colonoscopy unitil you're 50 according to your Doc. You can "what if" and over analyze until the cows come home. But, the KEY and the bottom line is you have HA, Dancer. And to find some solace from HA, we MUST break the chain of "standard operating procedure" that HA lays upon us. Living in fear is AWFUL...I know. There will be ANOTHER health worry right around the bend, when you get passed this one. Don't be offended...I'm not coming down hard on you, I promise:) I'm just stating how HA operates when we are fully in its grips...it has happened to me MANY times and for years, too.

We have to trust our Doc, eventually, when dealing with HA. There is no lasting solace from HA unless there is trust in a Doc and trust in yourself. HA THRIVES on doubt. For me, I would much rather take that "leap of faith" in learning how to trust my Doc (and myself), than let more years tick by living with the dominating fear of HA. This "leap of faith" is vital, IMHO. Our HA will always be there to alter our perception of our health until we accept, trust and "rewire" our perceptions:)

Peace and Feel Well:)

Floridaguy:

As usual; Great post. It makes sense when people take my words, and spell it out for me. And when I read it from someones elses posts, it really makes sense to me.

To me, yes. It is a matter of trust. And stop thinking that I know more then they do.

I had two Dr's tell me I did not need a colonoscopy. And I am going with that.

Unless my bleeding gets worse, or I start having any change in my bowel habits, I will see my GI Dr.

Thank you Floridaguy

[Elephant]

hmmm...5 yrs to grow & another 8-10 to turn to ca...?? really? so thats like 13-15 yrs you'd have to have a polyp...i'm clueless now and very confused lol

You can be an ostrich using that arithmetic at your peril. My wife is an oncology RN in GI who, just yesterday, was telling me about a young man 24 with terminal cancer that started in his colon.

You're worse than Google.

[Carryon]

hmmm...5 yrs to grow & another 8-10 to turn to ca...?? really? so thats like 13-15 yrs you'd have to have a polyp...i'm clueless now and very confused lol

You can be an ostrich using that arithmetic at your peril. My wife is an oncology RN in GI who, just yesterday, was telling me about a young man 24 with terminal cancer that started in his colon.

You're worse than Google.

This thread is about getting rectal bleeding checked, not Googling. But for the record, the admoninition is against Googling to match one's symptoms with a disease. Anyone who is shocked that young people tragically can get cancer is ignoring reality and that each day your are healthy is gift and therefore don't Google to deprive yourself of that gift by pointless worry.