How my Onc & Breast Cancer Just Saved My Life

Oh, good for you, gsg! You know, reading this thread made me think how much it matters to all of us that we each take care of ourselves. None of us needs any more bad news from our Sisters here. So if any of you can't bring yourself to do this for yourself, do it for the rest of us!

I just had a colonoscopy last Monday (hmmm! nothing to eat on Easter !) As to the prep, just wanted to suggest that you invest in a couple of rolls of the real soft lux toilet paper. A jar of Vaseline on the back of the toilet, applied liberally and often, really helped with the potential for nasty irritation.

At Tuesday night's local face-to-face support group we learned that here in AZ they're currently researching a genetic link between bc and colon cancer and are already certain of a link. My gastro is up on this and insists on every three years for us bc veterans. I'm relieved (though not a bit happy!) to comply.

Please all, remember to insist that they not use your affected arm (or arms, if you're bilateral) for either IV or blood pressure. We're ALL at risk for lymphedema, and this kind of self-advocacy can spare us a whole world of grief.

(You knew I'd get that in, didn't you.)

Be well!

Binney 

SO scary! Good for you for scheduling that colonoscopy. They took a pre-cancerous polyp out of my hubby about 5 years ago (he was 40) that had he waited until the "recommended age" of 50, he might've been a goner. 12 hours of yuck, a little nap while they shoot a camera up your ass and a cheeseburger and fries later, we can rest easy that colon cancer won't get us!

I'm with you Patrice, I listen to my onc more than any other doctor.

Hugs

Erica

I was told by my onc to get a colonoscopy....A YEAR AGO! I know I should make an appointment. I know, I know, I know. I'm afraid...not of the prep or the actual procedure itself, but of what they might find. Totally irrational! I just can't seem to pick up the phone to make that call. Now after hearing your experience gsg...I think I'll call.

I have an idea for a pair of earings...cute little dangling polyps!!

My colonoscopy is scheduled for next Thursday- my first, and I'm 57. My onc also insisted that I get one- the very first time I saw him, actually. After my surgery, he said no more procrastination, and ordered one for me.

 I'll be taking the pills, so I'm glad to hear they aren't so bad.

 I'm not as afraid of the procedure as I am afraid of what they might find. 

 The idea of more cancer is almost too much to imagine.

My maternal grandmother had colon cancer in her late 60s. She had a colostomy, and lived to be 94.  She was a trooper.

Patrice...let us know about your new cancer fighting diet! Love to learn more...

I am glad to announce that I have been a good girl and had my 1st colonoscopy this past December. My pcp has been bugging me since I turned 50 (I am now 55). I kept putting it off..just didn't sound like fun.Then at 53 got bc...they bugged me some more but I wanted to wait til after chemo and rads.My onc now kept bugging me so I finally scheduled it. I drank the BIG jug of golightly or whatever it is called. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Started working in about 30 minutes. I,too, bought some baby wipes. Well,now I know why babies cry when you clean their bottom with those things...wow...did it sting!!! Some good real soft toilet tissue is all you need. I also had an endoscopy at the same time. They put me to sleep...and then I woke up. Not bad at all...wondered why I waited to do it...lol. Good thing I went. I had 3 polyps in colon, one of them pre-cancer. In my esophagus (sp) was a wart.....never heard of such a thing....and discovered I have a hiatel hernia. Taking medication for that now. Gastro doc said I have to have colonoscopy done every 3 years. No prob. Not may favorite thing to do but not even half as bad as I had anticipated. So if you haven't had it done....make that appointment. It felt like such an accomplishment for me when I was done. I was very proud of myself for doing it as I procrastinated for 5 years. My doc said my sisters should have it done right away...one is 43 and one is 52. Neither have done it yet. As for my DD's..he said they should start at 40 since I had a pre-cancer polyp. He also said that colon cancer would just about be eradicated just by people having this done...cause they snip them as they see them. Good luck to those who are making their appts now...hurry up...you can do it...as someone said before me...we will have pizza waiting for you!!

Hugs and prayers,

Candie

I'm 43, was dx'd with bc a year ago.  Do I still wait until I'm 50 for a colonoscopy if there is no family history of colon cancer?  I mentioned it to my Onc and she didn't seem to think I needed to worry about it right now..

Girls......LOL......well this thread has sure been a source of entertainment for me today, even though it's a serious issue and we do need to get our butts...or my butt in gear as well. Gosh, they sure do put people through the line up on scope day! I can't remember how many I counted coming and going the day I sat and waited for my biopsy......Everyone was in for the bum job except me which left me waiting a long time feeling bummed out! Well, I better get that taken care of too. Thanks for the laughs!

For thoroughness sake, let's emphasis here too that the risk of colon cancer is significantly higher in women with a history of uterine or ovarian cancer before the age of 50. In these patients, a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years is strongly advised. I don't see how a woman with breast cancer could be declined similar surveillance timeframe. The "slight" increase risk of bc seems to be getting further scrutiny, as Binney points out.



Angel, when does a breast cancer patient start colon screening, absent a family history? If the average risk personal screen (no increased personal risk) is done at 50 years of age, then moving the screen up by 3 to 5 years for we breast cancer patients, and certainly uterine/ovarian cancer patients under age 50 seems very reasonable. The point is colon cancer is very common, more difficult to treat when found in advanced stage, and a low-risk (but not no risk) and accurate (and maybe with dyes for sessile polyps i.e. flat polyps, even more accurate) test is available to screen for colon cancer.



High risk patients are those with personal history of colon cancer or an adenoma ( a benign fleshy pre-cancerous colon growth), as well as history in first degree family members (parent, sibling, child) and surveillance screening time table needs to be thoroughly discussed with one's doctors. It is note worthy for some of our forum members that Medicare allows repeat surveillance screening two years apart.



Important note: when is colonoscopy clearly needed over sigmoidoscopy? When a family history of colon cancer or right sided colon adenoma was present. This is very important and often overlooked when a family member had a right sided precancerous polyp, or adenoma. So check with your family members specifically about this.. Family history of right sided disease mandates a method of right colon evaluation and only colonoscopy will allow such.



The most common symptom of colon cancer is rectal bleeding. But regrettably, colon cancer can be asymptomatic, which has prompted recommendation for screening starting at age 50 and then every 10 years in average risk patients. Left sided colon cancers tend to present with bleeding and later on with constipation, pain and with obstruction problems. Symptoms of right sided colon cancers may be weight loss, fatigue, vague pain and chronic anemia: these symptoms should be checked out in all patients.



On the pill prep versus the liquid prep, the pills are clearly easier. On occasion, they pills don't seem to induce the desired effect, in spite of drinking the phosphate activating drink, so do call your gastroenterologist immediately if you seem to fall in this group. She or he may advise what to do (? more phosphate containing drink) to assist in their activation, and an hour or so delay in procedure. Worth mentioning to watch for, so a re-scheduling and re-nerving is not necessary.



This is a great thread. Thanks, Patrice and all.

Tender

Tender, thanks for that very helpful run-down. I used something called Movi-prep, which required drinking a whole lot of foul-tasting stuff, but the gastro guy really preferred it strongly as it seemed to be easier on his patients and definitely did the job. It was very easy on my stomach, whereas the pills have in the past caused cramping. Just a thought...

angel, the number of nodes removed is only one factor in lymphedema risk, another known factor being ANY surgery or other trauma to the chest. (Rads is also a major risk factor, but I'm assuming you didn't have rads.) So while a prophylactic mastectomy is not statistically as much of a lymphedema risk as one where 20 nodes were removed, it's still a risk, and only YOU can determine how much risk you want to deal with. There are unfortunately many women on the lymphedema board with lymphedema on their prophylactic side (including me), and none of us were warned about our risk by our doctors. In fact, most of us were told we were NOT at risk.

If you choose to protect yourself, you'll have to be your own advocate by insisting on NO blood pressure, IV, injections, or blood draws from EITHER arm. For my colonoscopy I had the blood pressure cuff on my left leg and the IV in my right foot. Sounds bad, I know, but it's definitely doable. (The anesthesiologist who did my IV this time used lidocaine beforehand and it was the most pain-free IV I've ever had, anywhere! You can also apply some Emla on the site beforehand if the thought of it makes you nervous.)

Lymphedema Risk Reduction guidelines here: www.lymphnet.org, or drop up and visit with us "swell" gals on the Lymphedema board any time!

Be well!

Binney 

Patrice- How great that polyp was caught before it really cause trouble. I hope you will be around to amuse us for a long time, this thread added unexpected fun to my morning. I'll ask my onc and PCP re: when I should have a colonoscopy. I'm 48 but I think maybe with ILC there's more risk of bc mets to the intestine (don't know if colonoscopy would help catch a problem early or not). I've had 2 upper endoscopies in the past and actually the lower sounds easier except for the gross drink part. I'm sure the experience is the same- like you don't remember a thing.

Patrice - you crack me up!!!!  I am sure the doctor said the first sentence and not the latter . 

I remember waking up during my last one, but it was only a fleeting moment and I think it was after it was all over but before I really woke up.  I remember the doctor leaning over me and saying something about doing a biopsy on an ulcer.  I usually have the problem that they think I am awake and I am not.  Twice, I woke up when the doctors were giving me their reports verbally and I said "Huh?".  Both times they were flabergasted that I hadn't already been awake because I was responding to them.  It's amazing what those drugs will do to you.  LaLa land!