Colon Cancer related to breast cancer??!?!

I so agree with Ellen...what a jerk!!

I am praying for good results for you!!

Hugs and prayers,

Candie

Dear Deb. Prayers are coming your way. I just know that everything is going to be fine. Worst scenario, polyp looks suspicious, they remove it, the end of it.  God bless you, hang in there. Kathy

whoopsie, I have had both colon and breast dx about a year apart, both run in my Dads family, multiple primaries can run in families so I assume that means genes ( I have had cervical also, my Dad had colon and throat, his Mom breast, colon and oral)   Colon surgery was painless for me, my docs were great, however I did change oncologists before starting any treatments, was very happy I did, remember the doctors work for you, and you are your best advocate. I wish benign results for you, and may the waiting time go swiftly. Hugs

Breast, ovarian, colon and prostate are related.... generally when they are taking your history to see if you are BRCA positive, those are the four that can have relation-- I'm sure you can find more info at www.facingourrisk.org and www.cancer.org

When will the surgery take place to remove the other polyp?

Yeah, they're related. Fun times, fun times. The first time I saw my PCP after my BC she was hitting the referral lists for a gastroent. and setting up appts for colonoscopies.  Now everyone thinks I'm over 50.

My MIL had 3 feet of her colon removed (unrelated to BC) and there is still plenty there for normal bodily functions. While they were checking it all out, they found some probable cancerous polyps, but she's had her colonoscopy since the surgery and everything is AOK.  My mom had BC, has had several polyps removed over the years, but she'd rather be safe than sorry.

Next time you see the doc, give her the hairy eyeball and remind her that sometimes flip remarks aren't so funny.  If she's as great as you say, then it should all work out.

take care, hope it all comes out ok.

Did they remove the entire polyp?  My understanding is that when they can do that, the cancer is gone.  poof.  Cured.  You will be monitored more closely in the future for new polyps.  I insisted on a colonoscopy after I finished bc treatment, even though I was only 43, because my grandfather died of colon cancer so unlike bc there was at least that in the family.  The gastroenterologist said that having had bc increased my risk for colon cancer, but only slightly.  He said it was enough to get a colonoscopy because I wanted it, but probably not enough to push the procedure on someone not interested.

I was 50 when dx with colon cancer (51 when dx with breast), tumor was a blockage so I had surgery the next morning. My surgeon told me that the tumor had been growing at least 10 years.  I was treated with weekly infusions of 5FUand leukovorin for 6 months. So the ten years earlier than dx of relative kicked in, my oldest girl was 30 when insurance allowed her 1st colonoscopy, she had 2 polyps removed then. She is now 35 and will have her 1st mammo next month. Early screening is so very important.

Hi Springtime,

My Proctologist also told me that I should have mine done every 5 years, but it seems to me a far stretch.

Good luck with your colonoscopy (it's not that bad really)!

Shelley

After my first round with bc in '06, they sent me to genetic counseling because of family history.  I had thyroid cancer in '74, my mom died of bc w/mets to bone & brain in '86, her brother has skin cancer, his daughter, my first cousin had breast cancer, my dad died of pancreatic cancer 3 months later, his sister and mother both died of ovarian cancer, my sister had colon cancer.  I was diag w/bc in the other breast in '08.  They told me at the counseling session that the bc, ovarian, colon and pancreatic could all be found on the BRCA 1 & 2, so I was all set to have my other ovary removed; one's gone already.  Imagine my surprise when the tests came back and she told me "it was all random and nothing is related".  I just don't believe that, there is just too much.  Because of the results, if I want the ovary out, insurance won't cover it because "there is no need for it to be done medically".  I'm trying to watch it very carefully since ovarian cancer is so sneaky.

I started having yearly colonoscopies immediately after my sisters' diagnosis.  This was 5 years before my diag w/bc in the right breast.  I hate the prep most of all.  The last time I went on a liquid diet for just under a week so it wouldn't be so bad.  The anticipation of it is much worse than the procedure itself.  I had been concerned that they wouldn't put me 'out' enough during the test but so far, so good.  It takes ALOT of meds to get me out and many times, they just look at my slight frame and weight and way undermedicate me.  When I have the steriod injections in my back, they give me 11 mg of Versed just to get me to stop talking and relax.  They said that they have never had anyone that needed that much medicine and they are awake and walking out 45 minutes later!  Sometimes it is hard to convince docs that I need that much and my greatest fear is being awake during the colonoscopy.  I probably should get going and get my appointment made for this year.  YUK!!!!!  But better safe than sorry.  My sister is a 7 yr survivor so we keep thinking positive.

Whoopsiedoodles, I am so sorry you had such a terrible experience.  It's bad enough when done well so I can't imagine being awake.  That's my nighmare.  Next time make sure they know of the prior experience and insist on more medication.  They should have been able to have put more in the IV tube and put you out.  I think it's bad medicine and just makes people run away even faster from having the procedure.  Early screening is so important because if caught early enough, colon cancer is completely curable.  Best of luck to you and your future test.

Take care sisters,

Wendy

((((whoopsiedoodles)))  how awful!   It shouldn't hurt at all.  You should have been knocked out, given lovely drugs to do so, gotten a good nap, then had whatever the heck you wanted to when it was over.

As far as I know, your age doesn't matter when it comes to getting a colonoscopy after BC. Normally you get your first at age 50, but the gastroent told me that a BC dx gave me a free pass to an immediate, early, colonoscopy (I'm 47).  On her list of questions, BC was at the top; insurance approved the test w/o complaint.  This is another one of those tests you don't want to put off. 

I don't know the relationship of colon cancer to breast cancer, only that there is one and it is not BRCA gene dependent, either.

Sun, you talked about liquid diet for days prior. What did that do for you? Less trips to the bathroom or just less "stuff" once you got to the bathroom?

Spring

Lexi, I would do it. What the hay. I hear that "colonics" are good for us. lol.

Wendy, I asked for the "pills" vs the "gunk to drink" and was told that the pills were taken off the market because a few folks did not drink enough and developed Kidney issues! (I am in NC, not sure if this is everywhere!).

Spring.