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Dec 15, 2024, 14:56

Mark Lewis: First colonoscopy done

Mark Lewis, Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, shared a post on X:

“First colonoscopy done so finally this son of a minister can practice what he preaches!

My impressions:

1) there is definitely opportunity cost when it comes to the prep (for me MiraLAX and Dulcolax and simethicone and Gatorade) but there’s no way around needing to clear the lumen.

2) similarly sedation makes the whole procedure more comfortable but a ‘propofol nap’ requires additional recovery time afterward – I was certainly in no state to drive myself home, for instance.

Mark Lewis: First colonoscopy done

3) There is obviously a much larger debate around where to set the appropriate time of first screening.

At age 45 I had five polyps removed (which will now be examined by pathology to determine if they had any malignant potential but probably better out than in – we shall see).

Mark Lewis: First colonoscopy done

4) all in all, there is no substitute for embodied experience – I can now better counsel my own patients on what colonoscopy entails; keep in mind, though, that many modern stool tests aren’t ‘just’ looking for blood but precancerous DNA (albeit not with perfect sensitivity).

5) talk to your doctor about your gut health (a diagnostic scope to work up symptoms is different than screening), know your family history (what’s the youngest age of a relative affected by colon cancer?), and choose the approach that’s right for you.

Wishing you the best,
M.”

More posts featuring Mark Lewis.

Mark A. Lewis is the Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, the Co-Chair of adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology in the SWOG cooperative group, and the Vice President of American Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Support.

Dr. Lewis is also a well-known patient advocate and social media influencer. His interests are neuroendocrine tumors and cancer syndromes.