<p>I have a huge family history of this type of cancer. My father died from it, my mom is a survivor. My grandparents had it, as well as a number of aunts and an uncle. I was 44 when they found 2 polyps. I just had my colonoscopy and thankfully, nothing was found then. I was moved from every 3 years to every 5 years. I will always keep up with this test. It is so prevalent in my family that I know it’s not an if I get it, it is when I get it. It is preventable if caught early. My prayers are with your friend.</p>
<p>For anyone procrastinating a colonoscopy, many gastroenterologists now use propofol anesthesia during the procedure. You close your eyes and wake up refreshed and ready to go home. If you are a member of a large HMO you can call and ask that the procedure be done by a doctor who uses propofol. Even the prep is not so bad if you eat lightly for 2 days beforehand. </p>
<p>Our HMO utilizes a fecal occult blood (stool) test until age 55, yet the stories on this thread illustrate how important it is to have a colonoscopy at 50, if not sooner. It’s hard to believe the fecal test is as accurate as a colonoscopy, yet that is what they claim.</p>
<p>jacdad, I hope you enjoyed your ice cream today!!!</p>
<p>As momsquad said, many doctors now use the anesthesia that essentially knocks you and your memory out.</p>
<p>As everyone says, the prep is the worse part, but even that is just a little while, a half a day at most. I had some strange complications and even had to change prep approaches mid way through, but I survived. If I can do it, anyone can.</p>
<p>The test itself was nothing – at least to me anyway. I don’t remember it at all.</p>
<p>H & I had colonscopies in the past 3 months. His first, my second (first was part of dealing w gluten-intolerance issues 10 years ago). Really not a big deal and done at same-day surgery center. Doctor uses propofol. He was fine afterward, I was tired and crawled in bed for a few hours when I got home. The next day I was fine, just a bit gassy. </p>
<p>Having had GI issues for many years, I didn’t find the prep that bad. Looked up some recommendation online and mixed the cherry & lemon-lime packets together. (Our insurance didn’t cover the newer ‘low volume’ prep, so we just had the big 1 gallon jugs).</p>
<p>A neighbor was diagnosed with rectal cancer in the summer. She is 50 and a nurse. It has been a bumpy road for her; she seems to have something happen with each round of chemo. I am an acquaintance, so I am not in on every detail. However, what I did with her approval was set up meals for a couple weeks on an online site called Take Them a Meal. <a href=“http://www.takethemameal.com/[/url]”>http://www.takethemameal.com/</a> You just get a list of emails and set it up. You can put as many details ( likes, dislikes, allergies, etc.) as you like. It works pretty well.</p>
<p>With the meals, you can also set up a cooler on the porch so people do not have to bang on the door and disturb people. Someone else, who was also undergoing chemo treatments, put a note on the door on days that she felt well and said to knock and if someone was home they would answer.</p>
<p>When she is ready, she will want you to listen.</p>
<p>I was diagnosed with stage 3c rectal cancer in January 2007. I went through six weeks of chemo/radiation, colon resection and six months of heavy duty chemo. I did fine throughout all of that for the most part. In February 2010 I had a recurrence in my lungs that forced me to take my cancer to Sloan Kettering in NYC. I had seven more months of chemo followed by two lung surgeries. I have had no evidence of disease since June of 2010 and am doing very well. The worst part is the side effects from all the treatment such as neuropathy and unending bowel issues. </p>
<p>I participate in a wonderful online support group called the Colon Club. It is a fantastic resource. You should direct her there.</p>
<p>My 52 year old cousin was diagnosed with colon cancer – stage 3 last year. His father and older brother had polyps a number of years ago, but it was too much bother for him to get his colonoscopy. He has great insurance. So far his treatments are going well, but of course it is too early to tell. His older sister still won’t have her colonoscopy. I fuss at her whenever I talk to her. She is 63 and still hasn’t had one.</p>
<p>Second story, much worse. Our 21 year old nephew was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer this past fall. There was no significant family history. He just finished his first round of chemo. A friend of the family who is an oncologist, but not his oncologist stressed to his parents that this was very, very, very serious, and must be treated very agressively. Right now he is weak from the treatment, and has to force himself to eat, but has a positive outlook. All of his siblings have to have a colonoscopy as soon as possible. The whole family is in shock.</p>
<p>^^momsquad…the relying on a fecal blood stool to find colon cancer is like playing Russian roulette.
Just a…it sounds like you have some great ideas on how to be there for your friend.</p>
<p>Speaking as a person who has the colon cancer gene, I can’t stress enough to get your colonoscopy as soon as you turn 50 if you have no family history. Colon cancer is a silent deadly killer, by the time you have the symptoms, it can be too late.</p>
<p>Nothing less than a colonoscopy is good enough to find polyps…not a fecal blood stool, or flex-sigmoidoscopy.</p>
<p>My father had colon cancer when he was 25 years old and was lucky to survive it. He lived cancer free for 25 more years and ignored rectal bleeding until it was too late. He died from rectal cancer when he was 53. Due to his stubborness about seeing a doctor, he never lived to see his grandkids. </p>
<p>Something to keep in mind if you think you don’t need a colonoscopy.</p>
<p>One Wednesday, at the age of 41, I had one of those “7 cancer warning signs”. I called my doctor. On Thursday I saw the doctor. On Friday I had a Sigmoidoscopy (advice - don’t do this without anesthetic). On Monday I had a colonoscopy where they removed the rather large precancerous polyp they had found on Friday and didn’t find any more. In a week I went from normal to OMG to get-on-with-life. </p>
<p>I have had to have several scopes since then, but no more issues. Dodging bullets is better than trying to recover from getting blasted by one, as it were.</p>
<p>ETA: Insurance rules are too f stupid to even get into.</p>
<p>Wow, I can see from reading every word of this thread that there is no one common denominator. I will check into the Colon Club before passing it on, however, she is really (REALLY) into online bulletin boards and the like, so this one may be right up her alley.</p>
<p>Thank you every one of you who have shared or written, I just knew I could find some support here!</p>
<p>I have a friend who was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in her early 40s. She underwent 18 months of intensive chemo (6 days/week) and is not past the 5 years mark.</p>
<p>I just marked my “cancerversary”. I was 27 years old when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 colon cancer. No family history, I was young and otherwise healthy- thin, good diet, non smoker. Symptons included abdominal pain, weight loss, dark stools. I had surgery to remove part of the colon. 3 different oncologists had 3 differnet plans for follow up treatment. My young age was a concern- not too much literature. It’s been 28 years - I have colonoscopies every 4 years, with the idea that a polyp can become cancerous in 5 years. So far, so good. My kids each had the procedure when they were 22. Everyone over 50 or with a family history should be screened.</p>
<p>Happy cancerversary Valleymom! Thank you for sharing your experience.</p>
<p>My H was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer two years ago at age 55, and has been in chemotherapy ever since. Although he had not had a colonoscopy, he had seen a doctor–but the symptoms of colon cancer can look like many other things. So I also encourage everyone over 50 to get a colonoscopy!</p>
<p>Even with a difficult prognosis, two years out things are much more manageable. The time just after diagnosis can be scary, confusing, and exhausting. It sounds like you are doing everything right, and people here have made great suggestions. A few more:</p>
<p>Everyone responds differently, so be as open as possible with your friend about what is toughest for her, and what will help. My husband wanted people to share a positive outlook, some people may want to share tears, others may be more focused on practical things that need doing. She may want to share a lot of details about her treatment, or she may not. Listen carefully to what she says and take your cues from that. It can be hard to ask for help, so you could suggest a few things, and see how she responds. Recognize that what she needs might also change over time. </p>
<p>Encourage her to ask lots of questions of her medical team–even with the best care, sometimes doctors leave out information, don’t explain their reasoning, don’t consider a path or treatment that might be what she needs.</p>
<p>In addition to the Colon Club, also check out the Colon Cancer Alliance. Both have information, message boards, and support–for your friend and her family, and for you. Some people prefer one more than the other, some use both.</p>
<p>Does she have a spouse/partner? They are likely to be overwhelmed as well, so ask if there’s anything you or another neighbor or friend can do for THEM.</p>
<p>I don’t think "just"aMom needs this next part, but for anyone else listening, a few don’ts: Don’t interrogate about symptoms missed and why they didn’t go to the doctor earlier–that is not helpful now. Don’t give unsolicited medical/nutritional advice (though you can offer, especially if you have personal experience or professional expertise)–“don’t eat cheese” was my favorite. Hearing about New Age theories and miracle cures is very annoying if that’s not your thing. And if you don’t know their views, be careful with the religious commentary. It all comes down to paying attention and listening, really.</p>
<p>Congratulations to all here who are doing well post-diagnosis!</p>
<p>Update…friend began chemo and radiation this week. She has 32 visits scheduled over the next 8 weeks. </p>
<p>I introduced her to Colon Club, and when she’s up to it will likely participate. She did a lot of reading there. Maybe even logged in.</p>
<p>Someone asked, stage 3A. </p>
<p>Thank you again, to all who submitted information. :)</p>
<p>I had my 1st colonoscopy before age 50 because I noticed rectal bleeding. Benign tumor was removed. H has now had his 3rd colonoscopy. This was my 2nd. First time we both had no polyps for the first time so the doc said he will see us in ten years! (Polyps were removed in all our prior colonoscopies.)</p>
<p>MIL called yesterday, saying she needs a colonoscopy, as she’s having problems. She has already had polyps removed at her last colonoscopy, 4 1/2 years ago. How frequent are colonoscopies scheduled when polyps are found? She’s on Plavix and aspirin, which is complicating the situation.</p>
<p>
My first colonoscopy revealed polyps so they put me on an every-3-years schedule. After two clear results I now get tested every 5 years.</p>
<p>I had one instance of bleeding 10 years ago, and a colonoscopy 5 years ago found a polyp. My doctor wants me to continue having colonoscopies every 5 years. I just had my third one last week. It showed nothing.</p>
<p>Plavix complicates the situation. There’s a need for good coordination and communication among all the doctors involved. I know that some people taking Plavix (my husband among them) avoid routine colonoscopies because of the complexity of getting them done. But a person with symptoms should have the procedure, even if it involves hospitalization (which it may).</p>
<p>Hi “just”
Your friend is blessed to have you. Sometimes she won’t know what she needs and won’t know how to ask, but she will appreciate it if you just step in and do things for her. I know this because I was diagnosed three weeks ago (at age 45) with bilateral breast cancer. It is excruciating waiting for the test results to come in. I’m still waiting and until they are all in the docs have no idea how things will proceed. Even though I feel okay right now I’ve appreciated friends being willing to run errands for me and I know that when the time comes they are planning to do the takethemameal program for my family and I’m not too proud to accept! One thing about the kids… every child is different - but my 14 year old son absolutely HATES it when people come up to him and tell him how sorry they are. So try to make things as normal as possible for the kids without reminding them with questions about what’s going on.</p>