Mum and polyp

[AcornAutumn]

Hi there.

I posted before about mum being asked to have a colonoscopy for various reasons.

She’s 82 and frail.

She managed to have a colon scan instead.

The scan shows a small polyp which they’re saying can only be removed via the full colonoscopy, that she managed to avoid, and that it should be removed because in a few years time it “might” turn into cancer.

I will support her whatever she chooses to do.

However, as I’ve had some bad experiences with them enthusiastically looking for cancer in me, I’m sceptical. I also wonder if there’s another way to treat the polyp without a colonoscopy and they might not mention it.

I just wondered if anyone has any experience of this. She’s terrified of ending up with a colostomy bag.

Polyps are removed by snaring via the colonoscope - there is no prospect of needing a stoma or a colostomy bag! Unless you meant she fears that might be necessary later, if the untreated polyp becomes cancerous?
It’s up to your mum whether she wants the polyp removed, or whether she thinks her remaining life expectancy is short enough that the prospect of the polyp becoming malignant by then is unlikely.
Do you know where in her bowel the polyp is? If it’s in the rectum, as opposed to say the caecum, then the colonoscopy to remove it only involves inserting a few inches of scope, and is quicker and more comfortable than trying to steer the scope round corners and inflate the bowel with gas to view the lining further up.
It also depends how much trouble the polyp is causing. If it is bleeding significantly, your mum could become anaemic, for example.
Has she discussed the options with her doctor?

Thanks Bab

We’ve not got that level of detail but I will ask for it

It’s not so much the colonoscopy as the prep that worries her

Last time she had it, she felt very unwell and with a heart medication etc she easily gets dizzy and falls. She is much more frail than when she last had it, which was due to her IBS.

Interestingly, I finally persuaded her to take flaxseed oil and eat oats and her IBS is not flaring up any more.

Re the stoma bag, yes, she is imagining that if she doesn’t remove it, she’ll be 85 with a stoma bag

The gastro specialist said “in a few years time, it could turn into cancer”.

She has been given iron supplements recently.

I was wondering if it’s worth going to private to see if there’s a way to remove the polyp that doesn’t involve the prep but I guess there isn’t.

I’m sorry if this seems trivial but for a frail 82 year old, it does seem like a lot to go through because something might become cancer.

I don’t know if they even do stomas for the elderly.

Another question you should ask is the size of the polyp

You may find this article interesting

Thank you MereDint - brilliant name

I saw that before, oddly enough.

All she could tell me from the phone call was “quite small” but hopefully the letter with details will come soon. I will urge her to phone again on Monday and I should be there if they phone back by Tuesday.

She feels quite strongly that it’s a simple yes or no and I know what she means.

I’m not going to influence her but I’d say no. But I don’t know what happens if bowel cancer goes untreated at an older age.

Dad died of cancer, it just seems like it’s horrendous no matter how things happen.

Would they be willing to monitor it by colon scan in a few months time?

@Mosaic123

Would they be willing to monitor it by colon scan in a few months time?

Thanks, that’s a good idea, I’ll ask.

Hello Acorn Autumn,
Prior to having a 4cm (considered large) flat polyp removed from my Caecum the consultant said that it could turn cancerous in 10 to 15 years time. Apparently not all polyps are cancerous but cancer commences with a polyp and that's why they want them out. If the polyp is as small as suggested and hanging from the colon like an upside down mushroom this is easily removed ( my 80yo uncle had it done with no problems and he was out of surgery within 30 mins and home the same day ). The medical profession always warn about perforated bowel just to cover themselves but your Mum's doctor should be able to put her mind at rest as to the best decision.