Colon Cancer?

[Mistress Trista]

I'm so sorry to hear this. My dh's father died of colon cancer and my uncle was diagnosed with it last year, but he came through just fine. He had to wear a colonoscopy (?) bag for a few days after surgery, and the chemo made him sick, but at least he's still here to complain about it. I'm sure you will be too. Just hang in there.

[roz]

I'm so sorry to hear this and will be thinking of you.

[flyby0408]

Thank you everyone for your kinds words, prayers, support and advice. However I am sorry to hear about the dear ones some of you have lost.

My grandmother died of colon cancer, it went untreated, when she was in her 50's.

Jan I'm glad to here you got everything taken care of..

Yes they found it during the colonoscopy, they even sent me home with photos..talk about an icebreaker at Thanksgiving Dinner. No they could not take care of it then, that's why I'm scheduled for surgery on the 4th. Its a little smaller than my hand and they need to cut open my belly button area to make room enough for the doc to stick his hand in there..

The doc told me, since I got this so early in my 30's, that my children should have their first colonoscopy in their 20's.

and I'm getting a lot of help, I have friends here that have been a god sent and the hubby will be taking off some time from work to be here, my mom is coming on Monday, my mother-in-law will probably come after my mom leaves....and my meals are being taken care of by the moms club here and friends....

well the only symptoms, was really the blood in my stool..and gradually the stool would become softer and softer..now its just like liquid..but bloody..the doc says, that's because the tumor is starting to block the area I poop out of and if I don't get this taken care of..eventually I wouldn't be able to poop and then your talking emergency surgery.

fortunately I'm not in any pain...I noticed a change in my skin..I'm breaking out a lot..and its very dry..I'm thinking its since I cant expel all the junk out of me..its showing up on my skin..plus I'm anemic too

[jr_lenz]

The good news is that colon ca is very treatable when it is found in early stages. Allthough we can make some good guesses before surgery you cant really stage a cancer until you get it under a microscope.

there is a good chance that you may have to do chemo and radaiton. if you do have to do radiation, and depending on where the cancer is listen to what your doctor has to say about doing a colostomy bag during the treatment. I know that sounds horrible but if the cancer is near your rectum, it will like pooping with a 3 degree sunburn in your butt, b/c radaiton burns.

they found my first polyp when I was 30, it was still in a pre cancer stage and hadn't broke out of the celluar membrane yet. if I had waited until I was 50 I would have already had cancer! its very scary, you should start screening when you are fifty, but if you have sysmtoms you need to be checked. like I said before its treatable early, but it can be very agressive in later stages. Have a tube up your butt is nothing compared to cancer treatments.

I agree with doing your reseach, but wait until you have the specifics of your case. that way you can narrow the information down. write down questions for your doctor. you think you will remember it all but when you get in there your mind will go blank!

best of luck to you, my thoughts are with you.

[lucky81698]

I'll be thinking of you this week. I hope your surgery goes well and am glad you aren't in pain. It's great that you have so many friends and family there for you.

My doctor (same as my father's) recommended my brother and I get colonoscopies starting at age 40. Some of the symptoms I had were bloating, feeling full no matter what I ate, diarrhea, stomach pain, lack of appetite (due to the previous things mentioned), fatigue, and finally blood. I kept trying to tell myself it was just something I ate, red licorice, cranberries, etc. I am sure there are many people that do the same for the simple reason they are afraid of getting a colonoscopy, the results or both. I realize now how silly i was, and how lucky I am that I finally wised up. While a colonoscopy isn't something I would say I enjoy, it is not something to be afraid of or embarrassed about, but is 15 minutes that could save your life.

I hope your surgery is successful and you have a quick recovery.

Jan

[flyby0408]

Originally Posted by lucky81698

I kept trying to tell myself it was just something I ate, red licorice, cranberries, etc. I am sure there are many people that do the same for the simple reason they are afraid of getting a colonoscopy, the results or both. I realize now how silly i was, and how lucky I am that I finally wised up. While a colonoscopy isn't something I would say I enjoy, it is not something to be afraid of or embarrassed about, but is 15 minutes that could save your life.

I hope your surgery is successful and you have a quick recovery.

Jan

yep..i kept thinking it was something i was eating, i was eating a lot of fiber one bars and i even saw a nurse practitioner for an infection i had with my breasts since i was breastfeeding..so i just had the baby like 3 wks prior..and she couldnt give me an answer..we thought it could be a dye in the bars..but she brushed it off and mentioned maybe i might want to have a colonoscopy..but she didnt act like it was important..so i didnt think it was either..and i of course i was not jumping at the chance to go for one either..

anyway, thanks again

and thanks jr_lenz for the info on how radiation would effect my pooping..ouch..i'm glad to hear your okay now..thank you for the kind words

[patty@myflightsurgeon.com]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and you will be in my prayers.

I have an Uncle with colon cancer.

He had to get operated on and then he had chemo and the chemo made him sick, and radiation, and he has 3 new tattoos to prove it.

But he has to get a colonoscopy every 6 months and of course the blood test. But thank god he is in recovery.

Good luck!

[Hokuspocus]

Good Luck and you'll be in my prayers this week.

[Brenda]

((hugs)) I'm soooo sorry. You'll be in my prayers. Please keep us posted!

[ccbegay]

I will be thinking of you...remain strong...