Colon Cancer related to breast cancer??!?!

sounds like a good gyn.  There are some other things that also cause the blood that can be a concern without being cancer.  In particular, diverticulitis or the precursor diverticulosis.  good luck.  I hope it's nothing.

Springtime: I think I developed an anal fissure during chemo too as I had the most excruciating pain which added to my difficulties with BM. I have become lazy about my vegetable intake lately. I think this should be a warning to me to do better.

Flash: having had a colonoscopy a year ago, I find it hard to believe that I would have developed colon cancer since then. Since they usually only recommend that one comes back every five years (three years for men I think) they must figure that it takes that long for polyps to develop and become cancerous.

I finally followed up with a gastroenterologist about my positive FOBT. I actually saw some blood in my stools a week ago, so figured I did need to follow up. Being able to see blood made me think that the blood in coming from the rectal area and likely to be from hemorhoids.

The gastroenterologist said that even though I had a colonoscopy last year, she would advise another one because of my family history (my father died of cancer of the colon) and because of my breast cancer. I didn't know there was a link but she tells me there is a correlation. Last year I got the all clear on my colonoscopy and that gastro told me to come back in five years. She did't mention any link between the two cancers. 

Anyway I'm scheduled for the colonoscopy on Tuesday and concerned now about the prep. Last time the prep was dreadful but I was going through chemotherapy at the time with nausea and chronic constipation, so I figure this time can't be as bad. I hope the suggested Citrate of Magnesia and Dulcolax do the trick without causing too much pain and discomfort.

I am a stage 3 colon cancer survivor and recently diagnosed with stage 1, ILC breast cancer.

Doctor said there is a connection between colon, breast and ovarian cancer.

I will be having genetic testing for lynch syndrome and BRCA test.

It's interesting how each doctor seems to have their own opinion of how often a colonoscopy should be done. My first colonoscopy (last year) found a tubulovillous adenoma. Two of my doctors said I need to have another colonoscopy after 12 months because of what was found and one of my doctors said it should be repeated in 3 years. I'm going to play it safe and have it done within the year.

The gastro I saw last week spoke more of a correlation than a direct link. As in more colon cancer is seen in women who have breast cancer than in the general population. I take it to mean not that one cancer causes the other, but that whatever risk factor(s) one had for one cancer may also put you at risk of the other too. Obesity would be one such factor. Or it could be genetic.

Hi everyone-

I am a veteran of 3 colonosopies thus far, because I started earlier than most people.  My grandfather died of colon cancer, but since that isn't a 'first degree relative' (like mom,dad or sibling) all I have to do is go in every 5 years rather than every 10 years.  One thing I learned after the first one is that the instructions for the prep on the day before can be adjusted a little bit.  Instead of starting the awful  "Go-Lytely" (that's the gallon of stuff you drink) in the evening, start in the afternoon.  That way you aren't up into the wee hours of the night.  Chicken (not beef) broth is allowed by many physicians.  Personally, I eat green or yellow Jello, too.  This can help you feel less hungry, and lots of water can help with dehydration.  Dehydration can make the insertion of your IV the morning of the test more unpleasant.

There are two different kinds of colon polyps commonly found.  Hyperplastic polyps which have no cancer potential and adenomatous polyps are often termed "pre-malignant".  There are a number  of different kinds of adenomatous polyps'', but they all have the potential to become cancerous.

When I told my oncologist about the colon cancer family history, she didn't think it was enough history to even test me for the BRCA gene.  I was a little surprised, and I hope I haven't missed anything.

Edited for spelling errors.

Sheesh--I had IDC 4 1/2 yrs ago and when I had some bad reflux, my doctor suggested a colonoscopy and endoscopy.  He found one polyp--not even pre-cancerous and now I have to go for colonoscopies every 3 yrs!  Does anyone else have to go that often? 

There is a condition called Lynch syndrome (HNPCC or Hereditary nonpoly posis colorectal cancer ) in which the gene mutation causes colon (80%) endometrial (60%) and ovarian (10%) cancers.  It is characterized by a single lesion or polyp as opposed to regular colon cancer which usually has multiple polyps.  The gene can be tested for via a blood test.There is a 50% chance it will be passed on to children.  Mine was passed from my mother's father through her.  There is no evidence of a direct link to BC however statistics show a correlation between women with the affected gene and an increased rate of BC. My mom had BC and colon cancer.

Colonoscopies are literally a pain in the A---, but really far easier than most BC tests and treatments. Far easier than any of the biopsies!  It is one of the most easily cured if detected early.  I lost my two brothers before anyone suggested genetic testing.  Now I am the only surviving sibling with the gene.  I get tested every 2 years. 

If you have BC and ANYONE in your family had colon cancer, at least please discuss HNPCC with your ONC.  To go through everything BC patients go through and end up with colon cancer is tragic.

my doctors did not feel genetic testing was or is neccesary for my family, but said to make sure my children all all aware and are tested early for colon and breast cancer. My dads mother, her twin brothers, my Dad, his 1 brother and 2 sisters all had colon cancer, his Mom and 2 sisters also breast cancer , both for me also, my only sibling was dx at 29 with MS, a very severe case, was in nursing home by 40 ( passed at 49 with an undiagnosed mass in her abdomen, had never had a mammo ) Makes you wonder, I feel is in the genes. Best of luck to all, is scary.

the first lumpectomy in 2003 was stage 1, followed with rads, my second  lumpectomy  in 2009(same breast ) was benign, had an MRI this past summer since the mammo is so hard to read now from scar tissue, I was very frustrated and asked for mast but docs talked me out of it, this bull gets so tiring...

My turn for a colonoscopy! I am going in this Friday and totally dreading the prep. I have the gallon of Golytely plus dulcolax and Reglan.

During chemo I had really terrible diarrhea, that resulted in anal pain and bleeding. My oncologist thought it was most likely a fissure. It eventually cleared up and BM's returned to normal for about a year and a half.

FF to October 2010. My routine onc visit showed that I was becoming anemic, with pretty low blood counts and hemoglobin counts. I am 36, so my onc thought that maybe it was related to my menstrual cycle, and suggested I take iron. Around this time, I had started suffering from occassional constipation, and worried that the iron tablets would make it worse, so I held off taking them. By December my BM's were horrible, painful, and causing bleeding and blood in stool. I saw my onc on Jan 26th, and blood counts had gone lower. Meanwhile, my menstrual cycle has vanished, and has been gone about 50 days at this point. My tumor markers are normal. Onc did a rectal exam and felt no tears, fissures, or hemhorroids.

 Would tumor markers be elevated if this was colon cancer? How worried should I be?

I also have developed uterine fibroids that are doubling in size every year, and ovarian cysts. My gyn wants me to have a total hysterectomy, but I have not had children yet, and was still holding out hope for trying once I am off Tamoxifen.

 Any thoughts on all of this would be great. Thank you!

Hi am just joining in. I had breast cancer 6 years ago. My onco score was 51 highest Duke had ever seen. I have been on Arimendex since. I had both breasts removed, hysterectomy, and left lymph nodes removed. I had a colonoscopy just yesterday and they found a large 2 cm polyp. He says he feels all is fine but is sending it out to be tested. I worry only b/c I had the high recurrence score yet I had 6 treatments of TAC. do you think my high onco score could be related to this large polyp? They are rushing results but the worry of 3 to 5 days is brutal. 

Thanks Helen