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.
They ARE starting to use anesthesia here for colonoscopys and egd’s. My mother died of colon cancer at age 42- she could still be alive today if she’d had a colonoscopy done in time. I get them now every 3 years and have never had a problem. I see more and more YOUNG people being diagnosed with colon cancer. I think the risk of the procedure is very small with a reputable dr. Don’t be too hasty in disregarding this VERY important test.
@Heather: That is not true. Screening colonoscopies do not prevent the death from cancer itself in the group of people with genetic cancers. Before repeating the same “sales pitch” for screening colonoscopies we all already know, please review the source material in the respective links. The mainstream research clearly states that screening colonoscopies do not prevent or reduce the incidence and/or mortality from colon cancer.
From what I have read from medical research articles, oftentimes the fast growing colon cancers are the hereditary type noted in people in their 40s or younger. The colon cancers that are more common after the age of 60 tend to be slower growing ones.
Personally, I don’t have any family history of cancer, and none of the risk factors associated with much less risk, especially since I am active, eat very little meat, and am not overweight. I’ll take my chances, and stay away from the risk factors associated with the procedure itself.
Plus, since I have a family history of Alzheimers, I can see the sedation is more of risk especially for a screening test.
Thank you for posting this. I’m in my 60’s and have never had a colonoscopy, but lately I’ve been wondering if I “should.” Most of my friends do get this test on a regular basis, because we are told to. But they also get mammograms, and I’ve never had one. I have no known risk factors for colon cancer and don’t believe I have any symptoms, so I won’t get any routine colonoscopies after reading this.
I appreciate this important warning about colonoscopies and I will instead look into ways to promote colon health more.
My 95 year old mom-in-law has never had one. Good for her !
Roar of the Wolverine blogger tells a sobering tale of how he almost died from perforated colon during a colonoscopy, got a terrible infection, and needed a complete bowel/intestinal transplant.
http://roarofwolverine.com/wolverine
I am Liveing this NIGHMARE! My sphter muscle started to spasm a year ago after colonoscapy. When I questioned how to make it STOP they offered little or NO treatment. 4 months later they removed the Polyp that was less than 2 CM inside the rectum & the spasms continued, My Sphincter muscle is doing Isametrics & tightening small & smaller till its become a pastry bag .I had a second surgury last week to take care of a fissure because the rectum cannot heal dues to the amount of FORCE I have to use to relief Myself. 7 of the 10 doctors I have seen over the last year simply accuse me of being mentally ILL & offer salutions like visulazation & Hypnoisis; neither will help reduce the strength that Muscle has gained by spasming constantlyfor a year so I am probably going to have to have a 3rd surgury to cut an inner muscles. Thank you soooo Much for Giveing this problem a voice so Other’s can learn exactly how life changeing it can be!
Maggie, you need to reduce the volume and size of your stools, and stop straining. This is the only way to reduce the pressure on your rectal muscles. My site provides plenty of instructions on how to accomplish this in the Gut Sense section. Just follow the links at the end of Dr. Daniel’s post.
Thank you for the information I will go & read it right away. My Stool is small because I have had gastric bypass. There is no lady like way of conveying the problem since the second surgury, the sphincter muscle litterally refuses to dialate & the muscles behind it are createing exsploiding eliminations. The condition sounds amusing but it creates so much preasure it not only makes the rectum spasm but the bladder too. I feel like I need a supervised recovery program.
I know two individuals personally, who went to reportedy *the best lower GI doctor in town* and they both spent weeks in the hospital, one almost died, from perferations in their colon from colonoscopies. I doubt I will be following the standard recommendations to have one after witnessing their experiences.
I had colon cancer at the age of 19 – bizarre, I know. Unfortunately I’ve had a lot of colonoscopys (I’m 34 now). I never would have considered having them done without anesthesia, because they have always been a little bit painful for me. Are you saying that’s only because the doctor is taking advantage of my sedation and jamming the scope faster than necessary?
Reading this article is really frustrating for me. Since my last colonoscopy, I have discovered real food. And have been on the GAPS diet for about 8 months. The last thing I want to do is jeopardize my progress, but it sounds like there are no alternatives for me?
I had both a colonoscopy and endoscopy about 5 years ago after some digestive distress. Everything was “normal” according to the doc. but they still wanted me to take medications. Shortly thereafter, I was fortunate enough to discover a holistic wellness center that specialized in Muscle Testing and the use of wholefood supplements as well as education about a whole food diet. I’ve been a client there ever since and my helath has improved significantly. I no longer turn to the traditional medical community for these types of routine screening tests and after reading this article I’m even more grateful to have discovered other options.
Some people have difficulties even with “light sedation”. Risks are different by individual, which is why I object to the “everybody HAS to” approach. If full facts are presented and all risks acknowledged, then each can choose in an informed manner.
Betty I was about the same thing. Versed is usually used, similar to Valium. That is not general anesthesia. I have a family history of colon cancer on both sides of my family…I’ve been with them for many of these procedures and never had a perf. I’ve always been allowed to stay with my family during the procedure and play “fly on the wall” as an undercover RN…paying close attention the whole time. I’m sure it pays to research who is doing the procedure and that they don’t hurry through. My mother’s last one took around an hour. Also, the only irrigation that was used was normal saline, she did do a prep with mag citrate the night before and fixed all that with raw milk, kefir and probiotics.