Colon Cancer Pathway

[Chenecinquantecinq]

Hi I don't know if anyone can help with this? My elderly mother seems a little confused, she has had stomach pain for some months and an endoscopic u/s showed gallstones. She has told me today yesterday she had a CT scan looking for bowel cancer and tomorrow she has a colonoscopy? Does the NHS do CT before colonoscopy and the fact they have now scheduled a colonsocopy 2 days post CT does that imply they have seen something suspicious? I thought that colonoscopy would be first port of call? thanks

In my case it was the other way round, but then I didn't have the symptoms or gallstones that your mother had (I had no symptoms but a routine bowel screening test came up as needing further investigation, leading to a colonoscopy at which a cancerous tumour was clearly visible and biopises taken. I was then scheduled for a CT scan which took place the following day and following the MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting was scheduled for surgery to remove the effected part of my bowel, which I had a few months ago).

A colonoscopy requires you to prepare the bowel over several days by first limiting diet, then fasting for 24 hours and finally having to drink a prep to empty your bowel that will keep you on the toilet for hours.

A CT scan by comparison is a simple non-invasive procedure, so I'm wondering if they may have decided that in light of your mothers age and other symptoms they'd perhaps decided to do the CT scan first to see if it could rule out the need for a colonoscopy ?. Or that possibly that they wanted to see if they could spot any reasons why a colonoscopy might not be successful (e.g. potential narrowings etc ) ?.

DH is receiving treatment for bowel cancer, he had a colonoscopy first and CT and other scans afterwards when the tumor was discovered. Elderly DM had some issues that could have indicated something going on in her bowels and they did a CT first, as it was far less invasive than a colonoscopy, turned out to be nothing so no further action. So, I agree with the above poster that it's likely due to her age.

Thanks both it’s today so we’ll know soon