CancerDad, I have read all of your replies and your are truly an inspiration for all of us on the boards. Colon cancer runs in my family. My father and sister both had colon cancer, and their both deceased. I am 33, and I've had 5 colonoscopies, which I've had polyps on every single colonoscopy. The lastest one was in Jan. 05'. The doctor removed 2 extemely smalll polyps, and he told me that I had internal hemroids. Time to time, I still have blood on the toilet paper, which really concerns me because I am indeed high risk, and all I think about is cancer. My next colonoscopy will be in Aug. of this year. My GI doctor told me that as long as I have a colonoscopy every year I should be fine, even if I come back clean. Can stress cause a lot of my problems, and should I worry myself sick about this everyday? I have 2 children ages 11 and 9, and this is more of a reason I am doing everything that I can to beat this. Thanks for listening, and all advice and inspiration is welcome.

Thanks,
July

July:

Please don't worry yourself to death over this (I know easier said than done!). Stress is NOT good, though. You are doing all you can do to make sure you stay on top of things. The only other thing I would suggest is perhaps genetic testing for HNPCC. Your insurance should pay for it, given your family history, and own history of fast growing polyps. What has the pathology report come back as each time they remove the polyps? Are they pre-cancerous adenomas?

You may want to have the simple blood test to know whether you carry the gene, and to set your mind at ease as to whether and when your children should begin getting screened. Otherwise, like I said, you are doing everything you can... hopefully exercising and eating right as well. You can talk with your GI about a high fiber diet which has been suggested in some literature to improve your chances of NOT getting colorectal cancer.

Best of Luck, and let me know whether you have had the genetic testing, what it revealed, and if you know what the pathology reports have revealed. :)

Regards,
CancerDad :angel:

CancerDad thank you. I will request the blood test in August. After my 4th colonoscopy, I think that may have been pre-cancerous, that's the only time my primary doctor was concerned. With the recent one he just said that they were benign. However, I did ask the GI about the pathology report, when my primary doctor was concerned, and his words was I'm the specialist, and your fine. My question to you is why haven't anyone offered this blood test to me? Also, at puberty, I am going to have both of my children tested. My daughter was born with jaundice (she has my husbands blood type) will this affect her test? Also, why do you think I'm still bleeding? Could it be more than hemroids, eventhough I just had a colonoscopy in Jan. 05'?

Hi July:
Again, depends on how fast the polyps are growing. If you have HNPCC, a hereditary condition, then you may grow polyps pretty quickly. I wouldn't subject my children to a colonoscopy at puberty, unless you come back positive for this genetic mutation. I don't plan to. And most GI docs won't start until they are 18.

Since you just had a colonoscopy in Jaunuary '05, I'm willing to bet that you are bleeding from the hemmorhoids. I don't like your specialist's condescedning attitude though-- YOU are the PATIENT and it is YOUR BODY. So if he has to sit there for an hour explaining test results, or giving copies of lab/pathology reports to you, then that's what he has to do. You have EVERY RIGHT to get copies of YOUR FILE. KEEP THIS IN MIND.

I not sure why your GI Specialist has not suggested genetic testing, especially when you are going in so often for colonoscopies, and have children you are considering subjecting to this procedure at puberty... maybe he's not the best physician to be going to? Ask him about it, and if you are not satisfied with his response, change physicians!

Good luck, and please don't hesitate to ask me any other questions you may have.

CancerDad, At puberty, I will have my children take a blood test, not a colonoscopy. Did I mention to you that I'm also experiencing lower back pain? Also, I may have asked this before, but how accurate are colonoscopies, and is it possible that a polyp could have been missed during the procedure? In Jan. 05', when I had the colonoscopy, I also had a upper (not sure what you call that) and my stomach was clean no polyps, nothing. Would this be a good test to have yearly, along with the colonoscopy? I also hear that calcium is good for strong bones, which I'm assuming that this could block or make it hard for polyps to grow, is that true? Back to you, I'm happy to hear that your doing well, did you have to change your diet after being diagnosed? What advice can you give me to live a healthier lifestyle?

July...so sorry to hear about everything you've been going through. I was diagnosed with colon cancer, in my early 30s, but, fortunately, it was caught early. I've had 5 follow up colonosocopies, over the past 4 years. More of a shock, is that, my mom recently died of uterine cancer, during my post recovery period, when she was only 57. I'm so vigilant about any necessary screening tests now. I had blood in my stools, which I had ignored, because, honestly, I didn't know a thing about colon cancer. Moreover, when I mentioned it to a doctor, he just said it was hemmerhoids(sp). Once I was diagnosed, my siblings soon had colonoscopies too. As a result, my younger brother, by 2 years, actually discovered he had precancerous polyps. My grandfather also had 2nd stage colon cancer in his 70s, many years ago. I think you are doing the best you can do, in terms of having regular colonoscopies. I'm starting to feel like a pro, when it comes to having multiple colonoscopies. I have always had some back pain and residul blood after my colonoscopies. Since you have them annually, your body doesn't have much time to recover. If they did remove some polyps last time, then, they cauterized your tissue afterwards, which can sometimes ooze blood for awhile. In fact, I had to have an area recauterized, because the small amount of spotting wouldn't stop. I kept thinking my cancer was coming back. This is the first year that I've felt calm, not so nervous about every bowel change. As far as when to have your children first tested, I can only suggest that you see a genetic oncologist and get his or her advice, because it is so prevalent in your family. Ask about any genetic blood testing, for your kids. My niece, who is 23, already wants to get a colonoscopy, because her paternal grandmother died of colon cancer. She gets constipated alot and is understandably concerned. I'd think that any significant bowel change, as your children enter their late teens and early 20s, would be a reason to consider the test, because of its' prevalence in your family. When I was being treated, I did meet a 22 year old woman, whose polyps had been caught early like mine. We both had external and internal radiation. My heart goes out to you. I'm just so happy all your polyps have been caught in time. Take Care.

Wmlcolors, thanks so much for your reply. At what age were you diagnosed, and what stage? Do you get yearly colonoscopies? Do you have to follow a special diet? I guess the more information I get, the better I will feel. I consume all of my energy worrying about cancer.

I was diagnosed at 34. They caught it at stage one and I had precautionary external and internal radiation, no chemo. That's been the hardest, because I was put into menopause way too early. My main symptoms had been severe constipation and persistent blood in my stools, which I ignored for over 2 years, due to lack of awareness of this disease. At first, I was getting a colonoscopy every 6 months, then every year and finally I skipped a year. Now, I can actually have one every 3 years, for the rest of my life. The doctors suggest never going past 4 years. Because your polyps seem to grow fast and because your sister died at a young age, I'm guessing that is why they are advising you to have annual colonoscopies. Did you ask your doctors about that? I'd see if you can ever skip a year, just to have a break, and I'd see a genetic oncologist, for further advice, just to help you put this in perspecitve and to know when the rest of your family should be tested. In this, I am not an expert, though, since my mom died of uterine cancer this year, I feel like cancer has dominated my life for over 5 years. I'm still in shock my mom died. I'm exhausted with grief. Until my last colonoscopy, 8 months ago, I was in a constant state of anxiety about my cancer coming back. Educating yourself helps alot, as does sharing with others, like here. I really think you are doing the most you can do, by getting regular colonsocopies. This way, anything suspect, will always be caught early. I primarily follow a diet with enough fiber to ward off constipation and obviously I try to eat healthy in general. I do take a baby aspirin daily, as well as calcium carbonate and fiber supplements regularly. If possible, find a gastroenterologist who you feel very comfortable talking to about all these concerns. It will make it that much easier for you. Take Care.

What advice can you give me to live a healthier lifestyle?
July:

There are so many different lifestyle changes they recommend to reduce your chance of colo-rectal cancer. Eating a high fiber, low fat diet has been linked to reducing your risk. Exercise regularly. Just generally be healthy. They don't know for sure WHAT is best though... BOTTOM LINE. I just try to do things in Moderation. For info, look on the American Cancer Society site, etc.

Good Luck

Thanks CancerDad, and wmkcolors. You both have been such an inspiration to me. CancerDad and wmkcolors, good luck to you and I hope all the best for you and your families. I will keep you posted regarding my bowel problems, along with my colonoscopy results in August.

Again, thanks for replying.

July