Enema and colon cleanse and polyps

My wife and I had colonoscopies at the same time.I do enemas and she does not.

I had two polyps and she had 12. Does colon cleaning make a difference? I think so...what do you think...Thanks

NO, it does not.

Enemas have no bearing on whether or not you have polyps or cancer.

In fact an equivalently strong (i.e. weak) case could also be made the other way. They know enemas cause inflammation of the mucosa, and they know inflammation can lead to cancer.

In short there's no strongly demonstrated correlation between enemas and cancer or between constipation and cancer.

American College of Gastroenterologists warns against using soap suds enemas before a colonoscopy. They can cause a "false positive" for early stage U.C. Tap water causes a mild irritation to the mucosa, because it lacks salt. Saline should be fine for irrigations, causing no irritations to the gut.

Several Docs I called on used saline enemas for all folks who were in-patients. It was just "standard".

Next month is my every 3 year colonoscopy. I have a hard time getting clean and my gastro. said it was fine to take a tap water bagful in the morning before I came in, besides having consumed the PEG solution as a "split prep".

Both my wife and I have had colonoscopies and drank the prep. I don't think enemas are recommended. I'm not sure a plain water enema would hurt,it just doesn't do much or go very high into the colon. I do know a nurse that does the prep and then gives herself an enema at the end just so she feels like she did everything she could. I don't think the doctor really cares because they just suction out any fecal material

This isn't a prep question, this is a "are enemas this amazing therapy that prevents cancer and produces happy unicorns that the drug companies are hushing up because it eats into their profits" sort of thing. Phrased as a genuine question, by someone who probably really wants to know, so I'm not ripping on Justacathe

Does colon cleaning make a difference? I think so...what do you think...Thanks

No - it doesn't make a difference.

It would be so nice if the answer were that easy though. I've been doing some looking into the whole colon cancer bit and most is long-term lifestyle choices (low fat, high fiber, exercise, watch your weight and blood sugar) and genetics (don't have one of the (unfortunately generally dominant) genes that makes colon cancer more likely, be a woman (estrogen has a protective effect).

Do what you can and hope for the best seems to be the way to go.

If I understand it correctly, a high fiber diet is recommended to provide bulk and speed things along so you poop at least once, or more, each day therefore preventing toxins from spending too much time in your gut and in theory preventing colon cancer.

So if you are a fan of frequent enemas and there is nothing camping out in your colon for days at a time, is that just as good? Do frequent enemas make more fiber redundant? Just wondering.

That mantra of "do what you can and hope for the best" seems, to me, to be an excellent basis for a fulfilling life. My late dad had colon polyps but as far as I know they never developed into cancer He died aged a young 82 from other causes.

As for me, nothing I have read or discussed with a number of RNs and other therapists will convince me that a "healthy" diet, a modicum of alcohol, regular gentle exercise and internal cleanses can do any long term harm. Those cleanses also have very pleasant short term effects!!!! So I will stay with what I do and look forward to another thirty years of quality living. Thanks

I'm not saying that "smart and safe" enemas are something to be avoided, just that they haven't been shown to have any positive effects (FWIW I haven't found any documented negative effects as long as they're done right and the taker is healthy, just the note that they can cause some inflammation).

@Cheryl77177

Until someone can actually identify these colon "toxins" I believe that we should consider them to be mythical.

Trucker

In the case that you will not have any bowel movement for at least two weeks you will know that the colon toxins are not mythical.

Not having a bowel movement for a long time has to do with insufficient fiber, not drinking enough water, lazy colon, medications, inactivity.

So called toxins would be at the bottom of the list. The only way to get rid of "toxins" like heavy metals or other usually undefinable toxins would be chelation.

Suzy....what the hell is "celation"? --does it hurt?

the boxcar

Boxcar, I think she means chelation, a therapy that's used for mercury or lead poisoning that binds the toxins in the bloodstream by circulating a chelating solution. But on an amateur level, it's turned into a bogus hocus-pocus cureall for a huge assortment of ailments.

As far as I know there is no scientific evidene whatsoever in the sense of "if….then…." for the occurence of colon cancer or polyps. Some time ago, the fans of Fiber Food had ten thousands of Swedish nurses eat Fiber Foods for years, to eventually find out, that the occurance of cancer was the same as with the Control Group.

The final conclusion was that after all at least there was no harm caused.

I can't remember if it was Swedish nurses, but I did see a study where they were looking at lifestyle and colon cancer in females and also decided that fiber had little effect on its own. What I can see fiber doing, though, is substituting for fat and sugar which can have a negative effect.

NO, it does not.

Enemas have no bearing on whether or not you have polyps or cancer.

@SwitchableSusie OK, what about diverticuli? Might it help prevent these pockets from forming because waste is being washed out regularly?

@SwitchableSusie OK, what about diverticuli? Might it help prevent these pockets from forming because waste is being washed out regularly?

.

Studies have found links between diverticular disease—diverticulosis that causes symptoms or problems such as diverticular bleeding or diverticulitis—and the following factors:

certain medicines—including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), such as aspirin , and steroids. lack of exercise. obesity. smoking.

Causes. No one knows for certain why diverticulosis develops; however, a few theories have been suggested. Some experts believe that abnormal intermittent high pressure in the colon due to muscle spasm or straining with stool may cause diverticula to form at weak spots in the colon wall.

Given these causes of diverticulosis, enemas would not be a help in preventing diverticulosis.

One contributing factor we know of s highly processed foods.

Generally the less processing it gets the safer it is.

If you buy your meat at he actual meat counter not at the same counter as they sell sausage and bacon.

Hand make your burgers from ground beef(mince meat to those of you in the UK) and whatever spices and binders you want to use. rather han jst shell out the extra for "Bubba Burgers" or whatever

Same for meat loaf Mix, form and bake it yourself

As far as fruits and vegetables, not in a cancer sense but in a nutrition and flavor sense. ALL fruits and vegetables start to LOSE NUTRITIONAL VALUE the moment they leave the plant, The shorter the time between plant and table the healthier.

Things like broccoli string beans and carrots are typically over cooked. You don't need to cook them to a mush! I like mine just on the edge of under cooked. They are healthier that way.

What you buy at the Produce counter is far more nutritious and safer than what you buy in the frozen foods aisle. The canned veggies Aisle is worse. I try to stay out of there