Colon Cancer related to breast cancer??!?!

wbuggie

Hi Deb,

Although I did not have colon cancer... in the midst of my BC (turned out it was extensive ADH and ALH) I too came up with a precancer polyp and had precancer cervical (aggressive as it kept coming back faster and in more areas so ended up with a hysterectomy anyway).  I asked the question of my ONC as to any relationship and was told no.  My family history is EXTENSIVE in colon (mother and most of her 9 siblings).  There was no history of BC so that one blew me out of the water.  Now, the good news with colon is one of the slowest growing and easily treated when caught early and most are.  I don't know the answer to the correlation.  I do know that I started having issues with my paps very young.  Not certain if some of us just end up with the bad gene pool.  It is interesting to me to hear that some ONC are saying there is a correlation between these cancers!  I may rethink having genic testing done.

I am praying hard for you that this is just a bad scare and nothing more.  As for the being awake during the colonoscopy... THAT IS INSANE!!!  That also happened to me for my first as I was an HMO patient in those days and the nasty doc I had did it in his office and was withholding meds in order to keep cost down.   In relating how bad the experience was, I was informed by family members this was NOT standard.  I later dated a doc who had worked for this idiot and told me this was his "method".  

Good luck and please let us know how you are doing

wbuggie

In regards to docs.... I think we had all had good and bad.  My primary never called me about my BIRAD 5!!  His assistant did not apparently pay attention to it and file it!!  I did not have full trust in his office staff due to how busy they are and how disfunction they appeared to me.... THANK GOD.  I decided to have copies to both my GYN and my ONC.  It was my ONC who called me to let me know I needed to have more test.  Imagine my primary's surprise when I showed up at his office to let him know how his office had screwed up.  He was very sorry and telling me how difficult is was to be certain all the records were properly handled!!! I just reminded him that should I not have covered my bases, my daughter would be living in his nice home and driving his boat LOL!!!!!

cp418

Hi Deb - sending prayers your way for a speedy recovery after surgery.

short story - when my father was age 78 he was having BM difficulties due to a bowel obstruction. He flat out refused to see a doctor.  He tried to ignore the situation but all the prune juice didn't make a difference.  Finally we convinced him to see a doctor(s) who all told him point blank he needed surgery. They were unable to perform a colonoscopy due to the extent of the tumor obstruction.  He had surgery where they removed a cancerous tumor and a fair amount of his intestine.  He recovered and refused any additional treatments or doctor visits/examinations.  He is now age 87 and giving the nurses a the nursing home a really hard time.  It certainly sounds like your doctor found your polyp earlier than my father.  Please keep this in mind and we are all thinking and praying for you.  Hugs Joann 

Anonymous

I feel stronger and have more peace with every post I read. 

Thank you all so much. I just read everything to my dh.  He is grateful as well. 

I will do my best to either pop in and give updates, or have dh do so. 

Much love and many prayers, Deb

susan_CNY

I have no idea what birad 5 is, I had stage 2 colon cancer, treated with surgery, 13 day hospital stay %FU and Leukovorin infused weekly for 6 months, also prescribed to take 1 regular aspirin a day to prevent polyps, and followed up with yearly bloodwork , physical exam by onco belly and breasts since partial mast and rads, and now 3 year colonoscopies and yearly blood work and manual breast exam besides mammo for breasts, I really think at times there is such a thing as too much information, being a 3 time cancer patient has made me more skeptical a patient but a much calmer, let the docs explain person, getting ahead of yourself at dx juat makes the situation worse, I advocate second and 3rd opinions, and not rushing into major harsh protocols just because is the norm

PSK07

My MIL had a colon resection done last October - she'd had digestive issues for some time and simply wouldn't go back to the doctor (a bad colonoscopy experience).  Anyway, the doc removed 3 feet of her colon. She was in hospital for about a week, recovered completely. In the pathology they found several cancerous polyps. Had another colonoscopy in December & got the all-clear.

Scary and frightening and everything...saying a prayer that you will have the same results as MIL and get the all-clear. Take care.

REKoz

Deb-

I am so sorry you are going through this and I will certainly keep you in my prayers. You wrote of your experience in a most profound way and my heart goes out to you.

I hope that this is not a contraversial or inappropriate question. I apologize in advance if my question should be posed elsewhere. But I read this thread with great interest due to a pretty substantial family history of polyps and diverticulosis. Because of that history, I had a colonoscopy about 6-7 years ago (i'm 53). Now I am due for another which I will schedule after I finish chemo at the end of the month. But I'm wondering if anything in the colon would have shown up on the pre-chemo Pet scan? Does anyone know? I'm thinking something would "light up" -no?

God Bless you Deb..this cancer thing soooo STINKS!

Ellen

Springtime

Golly, What Layne said!!! Lean away! And lean on God. He will hold you in the palm of his hand...

Thinking of you Deb!

Spring.

Anonymous

Deb

You will be in my thoughts!!!!!

Like everyone has already said: we are here when you need us....

Hugs

Jule

lexi4

Deb,

Thinking of you and praying for NO cancer. Prayers for a smooth surgery and recovery.

Hugs and Prayers,

Lexi

Kindergarten

Dear Deb, Prayers are coming your way. You are a wonderful person and this is just another gliche in the road. The Lord is right beside you and He will see you through this, too. Please let us all know when you need something. I know this is scary, but that is all it is: a scare!!!!! I guess these situations make us stronger. Get some rest and feel the  peace that is surrounding you. God bless you, Kathy

kmccraw423

Dear Deb:  My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time, too.  You know you are not alone as long as you have the family, friends and us.  We will be praying like crazy.  BTW, your surgeon sounds awesome.

NadineS

I had been having some issues with constipation and then pain just above my belly button with a couple of nights of having nausea.  I went to see my GP yesterday, got an X-Ray that showed that there seemed to be a place where things were not moving through the upper part of my large colon.  I was sent for a CT scan.  I called my doctor (she even gave me her home number) and it turns out they think they see a mass and believe it is metastatic.  I don't yet know the size but it appears to be originating in the lower intestinal area.  I am supposed to be scheduled for a surgical biopsy.  I am so numb.  I was State IIa and really thought I had beat this. 

 I had just been to my check-up with my oncologist about a month and a half ago and told him about my stomach symptoms but he said that I wasn't having any of the classic recurrence symptoms.

 I have been looking online and the area where I am having an issue is not considered one of the normal areas for metastases.  This is really stressful and I am so sad right now.

Springtime

Oh Nadine. My God!!! This is just too much. Please keep us informed. I will raise you up in prayer. Spring.

Anonymous

Nadine, I'm here for you, sister.  We can stumble through this journey together. 

Ladies, I love you, and am so deeply grateful for the elephant brigade that will be marching into the OR tommorow morning.  Be sure to eat a good breakfast, because I can't, and I am starving. 

I love you all so much.  Deb

PS-I will ask Greg to post an update when he can, and I will have him post it on this thread.  Please let the others know, if anyone is wondering.  Thank you! 

candie1971

Deb, I will be there too...and praying for the Dr's and nurses too...I hope there's room for all of us...cyber hugs.

candie1971

Nadine, I am praying for b9

Gg08..wow, gall bladder. Oh my, well if mine continues ...lol, I have had since I was on chemo..they say it is the cytoxan by mouth that gave me acid reflux...maybe I should get it checked out.  Is this all I will do is go to Drs? I am having a cyst removed from my wrist next. Gotta call and make appointment...chickened out today!

Anonymous

Well, I had my appt with primary doc...

She said the heart burn could be from several things: 1)medication induced, 2) colon issues, 3) thyroid issues, 4) gall bladder issues, so she is testing for all of the simple ones first then will order a colonoscopy.

She started me on prescription prilosec and stool softeners....blood testing will be back today so hopefully will rule out some of the above 4 things.

Deb-Im keeping you in my thoughts today!!!

Nadine-praying for b9....

lexislove

I just checked in to give Deb support..

~~~~ Nadine, I'm sorry about the stress you are going through. This all seems a little crazy, you are in my thoughts and I pray for b9 results. Lokks like you are younger too.

Please update us when you can!!

Anonymous

Update on Debbie

Hello Everyone,

My appologies to everyone for this taking so long to get posted.  Debbie is out of surgery and in her room as I write this.  I was unable to make out her password and she was out of it for awhile but now I got it right and can post an update.  God answered everyone's prayer for a safe and successful surgery.  She was only in surgery for around an hour.  The surgeon felt everything went well and removed the 2-inch diameter polyp and completed the resection of the colon.  The polyp is being sent to Pathology for a more detailed analysis and we should have results by Monday or Tuesday.   Please keep praying that the results are benign.

It has been a long morning so far starting around 4:00am but Daniel has been a real trouper and has been so well behaved.  We are grateful to our friends who have already picked him up.  He will be with a couple families that have little boys that are his age.  It will be good for him to be out of the hospital and enjoying some playtime. 

Debbie is at Community Hospital in Munster, IN.  Thank you all again for your prayers and support!  God is great and he continues to bless our family.  Please continue to lift us up in prayer for a safe and quick recovery.  I will try to send out an update again in the next few days. 

God's Blessings,

Greg, Debbie, & Daniel

lexislove

Thank you Greg for the update!!!

Glad surgery went well....praying for b9 results!

Springtime

Lovely Greg, Debbie and Daniel!

May God continue to BLESSBLESSBLESSBLESS you all. 

Prayers and thoughts. 

Spring.

Margerie

Thanks for the update Greg.  I am glad to hear Deb is resting.

Hang in there Deb and Greg!  My best to you both!

Anonymous

Bump

lizws

Hey Deb....... holding you closely in my thoughts and prayers.  Yell if I can do anything for you. 

Hugs,  Liz

ICanDoThis

Greg, thank you for posting info about Deb's sugery. Tell her we are circling, and will help whenever we can

Sue

suemed8749

Greg, thanks for the post - praying for B9 polyp and speedy recovery. (Love the name Daniel for a son - mine turned 14 last week.)

TenderIsOurMight

A gentle hug for Deb tonight. May she know she'll remain in my thoughts with prayers for benign results and uneventful recovery. Thank you much for your update.

Tender 

wbuggie

Deb and Greg,

You and your family have continued to be in my prayers.  I will continue to pray for all to go well and the path to come back B9!!!!

Hugs and strong LOUD prayers!!!

NadineS

Thanks to all of you for your kind words.  I found out that the mass appears to 11 cm...hard to think that something that large is in my stomach.  Really haven't had much in the way of symptoms the past few days but have been watching what I eat and taking one stool softener a day.  Monday I will see the surgeon for a consultation and, if he doesn't decide to do surgery right away, I will have a core needle biopsy possibly Tuesday.  Has anyone else heard of someone having metastisis in their abdomen?  It does seem unusual.  The way they are talking it sounds like one main mass.  My friend who is a doctor is hopeful that, if it is malignant but only in one spot, that it will be treatable.  I'll just keep hoping.