Please Help ME Calm Down - Cancer: Colon Message Board

Sandra49 · 02-04-2006, 03:28 PM

I had posted a message similar on the bowels board. But no one responded. I have called my doctor, and he has not called back, I understand it is not an emergency. But I need someone to help be bring my situation in to perspective.

Cancer is prevalent on both sides of my family. On Maternal side, I have two unlces who died of stomach cancer, my grandfather died of prostate cancer, and mom died of pancreas cancer. On Dad side, I have two aunts who died of stomach cancer.

So when I had my first colonscopy at 51, and the doc found a small polyp, I was a wreck. Today (Saturday), I get a report that said it was ademomas (sp?), the kind if not caught could lead to cancer. The report recommeded that I have another colonscopy in 5 years. I will push for one sooner.

I am concerned of colon cancer, but my biggest fear is that I may have polyps somewhere else in my digestive track, and I don't believe there are any tests for that. Of course I will be making an appoitment with my doc, and will discuss my options.

But right now, this site is all I have. Can anyone suggest any tests I should take? Do these polyps grow throughout your digestive track? The fact that I had one in my colon, does that mean I may have them in another part of my digestive track? Does stomach and pancreatic cancer come from polyps?

If you have any experience or heard of this, please respond.

Thanks

tigerfish · 02-04-2006, 07:55 PM

Come down, u are worrying too much, my mom had the similar situation and she had her colonoscopy a year after, then 3 years after, then 5 years. so if your dr is telling u to get the second one in 5 years. believe him.
Colon cancer does not develop as fast as other cancer. And by having Polyps does not mean u have somewhere else.
what you can do also is each year during ur annual physical, do ask to do a stool test, where u can just do at home and bring the sample to ur family dr and u know right away if there are any blood in the stool.
My dad had rectal cancer stage III and he is doing well. U have nothing to worry, just come down and enjoy life.
Just because u had family history, it does not mean u can not beat it, by doing colonoscopy is ur first step toward a healthy life. Actually u should have started colonoscopy when u are 40.
U will be fine!

ktee_uk · 02-05-2006, 08:54 AM

Hi sandra

I do really sympathise with your predicament and share your worries about links from colorectal cancers to other types of cancer. My dad passed away from cancer of the esophagus (sp?), mum from colon cancer and from what i have discovered with my family history research, a variety of other types too.

I guess you are making the right step in discussing with your doctor what your options are. Managing the screening route is v.difficult here in the UK unless we go private but then you have to get a referral from your own GP in the first instance who is more than likely (in my own experience) to think that you are "crackers" for wanting to know that much info!!!

I would also advise that when discussing with your doc, in order to convey a sense of management rather than panic, you take along a chart of which family member had what. It would give him/her a clearer picture of what you are worried about.

Hope this helps. Please keep me posted as i would really like to know if you find out the possible links.
regards
ktee

Sandra49 · 02-10-2006, 07:49 PM

Thanks for your replies. I had my doctor appointment today. Thankfully I was no longer in a panic state, and was able to get all of my questions answered. He said having polyps in my colon, does not increase my chance of having cancer in any other part of my disgestive system. He also said I should not worry about having the polyp, because it takes an extremely long time to become cancerous. He said regular colonscopy will catch anything bad.

jaydees · 02-10-2006, 09:30 PM

Indeed my doctors state that I am to have a colonoscopy again one year after a colonoscopy in which a polyp is found. If no polyps is found then it is every 2-3 years.

I did have cancer mind you.