How my Onc & Breast Cancer Just Saved My Life

Wow, gsg, your story meant so much more than one of us just taking the plunge and encouraging the rest of us to do likewise! That just gave me chills, thinking about what could have happened if you hadn't followed your doc's suggestion! And since some of the chemo drugs we take for BC are also used for other cancers, thank God for their overall effects on killing malignant cells!

Last year, when Tammy Faye Baker was dying in full view of the public and then Joel Seigel died from colon CA as well, I finally went for my colonoscopy, even though I dreaded the prep. Well, the prep, in my experience, was NOTHING and the drugs for the procedure were GREAT (same as I had had for my lumpectomy) and I was extremely fortunate in that the test found no abnormal tissue or polyps. I didn't realize how worried I was until I heard that result, though and felt so very relieved.

I'm SO glad that you had the colonoscopy, gsg! You're extremely important to us here! Many hugs, ((((((my chica))))))

~Marin

Patrice, that was hilarious!

Sheila and Binny, thank you both for your advice.   Binny, I'll definitely check out that web site.  I already have neuropathy in my right arm (from before bc) and I certainly don't need more problems there!  Thank you for your expertise!

Tender, I'm so glad you're here.  I agree, 3-5 years before the standard age of testing does sound reasonable for us bc gals.  I will look into having it done when I'm 45.  Thank you so much for your wisdom.

Angel,

I was 43 when dx'd, and my surgeon says I need to get the colonoscopy NOW!  He only waited this long, because I had the surgeries, and got chemo...  so like I told him, "Haven't I been through enough?"

Yep, we young'uns have to get scoped EARLY!!

Harley

Thanks Patrice, for both the story and for the laughs.

I had no idea that BC increased the chances of colon cancer.  I've had one but it was a while ago.

Patrice,

I'm so happy for you that it was all caught.  Thank you so much for sharing your story.  I am scheduling my appointment right now. 

Hugs, Jackie

Debi...roflmao...what a funny article...thanks for sending it our way..it is so true. I agonized for 5 years before I had it done and then that was it....it was over...I am quite proud of myself for going thru it. One of my co-workers told me how good I would feel when it was over and she was right...in more ways than one.

Hugs and prayers,

Candie

Wow, a happy ending (literally) for once!

Janis

Great thread patrice.  I can't help but wonder if that thumb in your butt is the reason you've been feeling so out of sorts for the longest time.  Crossing my fingers that you'll be feeling on top of the world soon. 

<> 

<>As I was reading through this thread, I was wondering if my oncologist knows about the increased risk of colon cancer due to my bc history.  I seem to have a divining rod that leads me to dipwit doctors....  except that maybe dipwits are as good as it gets where I live.  My father died of stomach cancer at age 40 or so.  Every doctor I see knows this piece of family history.  No one has recommended I get a colonoscopy. 

<>As far as I know, stomach cancer and colon cancer are not the same thing, but given my experience with local doctors, I have to wonder about my quality of care.  Just two months ago my oncologist seemed so puzzled that my gynecologist ordered bloodwork on my thyroid.  For 2+ years I've complained every single time I see my oncologist about fatigue.  Lo and behold, my TSH is 6.4, indicating hypothyroid status, and my onc asked ME why did my gyn order the test.  I was about ready to knock his block off and scream why didn't YOU order it a long time ago??  I'm clearly out of whack with my thyroid!   Someone should just open up a resource library and have do-it-yourself medicine clinics.  We'd probably all be better off.  <end of rant>  sorry to digress

gsg - head of art dept at my university used to take slides from biology dept, project them on very large canvases and paint them in brilliant colors.  I think he won awards with these.

gsg--I have a family history of both bc and colon cancer (my mom has had both), so I had my first colonoscopy at 46, about 7 months after bc diagnosis and lumpectomy. Had a very small polyp removed--benign--and have to go back in 5 years (next year) for the next one.  The test itself was nothing--had conscious sedation and didn't feel or remember a thing--but the prep was unpleasant.  Hoping I can drink the smaller prep this time. Interestingly enough, a genetic counselor told me no genetic link between bc and colon cancer, yet my oncologist says they are called "cancer cousins".  So glad you got it checked out and you are doing well.

Anne 

patrice, I only wish my thyroid problem was being addressed!  Long story short, I am getting NO help from any of my medical professionals for my thyroid imbalance.  I have turned to natural healing for my answers.  I'm not real good at following directions to the letter, but even with my halfway following a 'beginner's kit' of products, I am finally feeling better.  ...speaking of which, you dodged my question.  Are you feeling any better?

Patrice, first of all I want to say that I'm sorry you're still having your "ups and downs."  You still have that wonderful sense of humor.

I just wanted to say that I too went out to eat at IHOP after the test.  I hate pancakes with strawberries on them and I can't remember what else.  Soooo fattening!  Well, as soon as I got home I lost all the pancakes.  At least I enjoyed eating them before the calories set in!

Oh, one question for those who took the pills.  I took them also.  However, it took a while for them to work (I have problem in that area).  Therefore, I was up during the night and then had to get up EARLY the next morning to start pills again.  Thought I wasn't going to make it to the doc's office.  So, do you think by drinking one of those "beverages" that it works faster?

Shirley

Okay, thanks for the thread, butt. . . .

Just DX last week.  Already sick of being "sick" and really wasn't needing to hear I'm at risk now for more, but glad I did.  Haven't met my onc yet but as soon as I do I'm asking about the colonoscopy.  The good thing about being sick and going through diagnostic stuff is that for as long as it takes them to figure out what you DO have, you learn a lot about what you DON'T have, and as far as I'm concerned the more things on that list the better

Great thread, Patrice!  I had my first colonoscopy at 52, right before finishing radiation in Nov.  I drank the nasty liquid stuff...seemed to work REALLY well, without going into details.  I was put to sleep and all was well, until I became conscious briefly to hear the dr. say, "Wow...it's dirty up here."  Ack...went back to sleep from the embarrassment of it all, I guess. :-) 

When the dr. came in to talk to me, he told me I had a very long and winding bowel (tortuous was the term he used--not to be confused with torturous--yuck, yuck).  The upshot was, I have to go back in three years for my next drain snaking, and because I wasn't cleaned out this time, I'll have to do double the prep.

I can't wait. :-)

Lynn