Bowel cancer screening
Discussion
was diagnosed in September with bowel cancer, had an operation 17th october which was supposes to be keyhole.
turned out the tumour had burst out of upper bowel and enveloped the lower bowel too.
so, had a grapefruit sized tumour removed, spending six hours in theatre.
ten days later was home, had four cycles of chemo, that started off easy, but slowly got harder.
CT scan and blood tests last week seem to show all clear, so tentatively believe im ok.
colonoscopy and endoscopy are both ok, not overly pleasant but not anywhere as bad as you imagine.
poo sticks, not had those yet, but since op have tried pooh catching and examining for blood...
i'd say for your own peace of mind, get over it, i simply wrap 2-3 bits of loo roll round hand and catch it.. worse case scenario you need to wash your hands a little more than normal... that for me is well worth the peace of mind it gives.
anyone wants to know how bowel can treatment went for me, please ask away.
turned out the tumour had burst out of upper bowel and enveloped the lower bowel too.
so, had a grapefruit sized tumour removed, spending six hours in theatre.
ten days later was home, had four cycles of chemo, that started off easy, but slowly got harder.
CT scan and blood tests last week seem to show all clear, so tentatively believe im ok.
colonoscopy and endoscopy are both ok, not overly pleasant but not anywhere as bad as you imagine.
poo sticks, not had those yet, but since op have tried pooh catching and examining for blood...
i'd say for your own peace of mind, get over it, i simply wrap 2-3 bits of loo roll round hand and catch it.. worse case scenario you need to wash your hands a little more than normal... that for me is well worth the peace of mind it gives.
anyone wants to know how bowel can treatment went for me, please ask away.
So I lost my mother at 66 to this scourge cancer, It was found too late and by that point it had wormed its way through her.
few years later, my father was called in they last poo test didn't look good so it was a camera up the jacksie. couple of polyps found and they tested positive for cancer so it required removal of part of the gut and a bag for a year, this was a few years ago now.
Been cancer free for a few years, still getting checkups and the bag has been removed so hes back to the pleasures of a car magazine while sat on the throne and we will be having his 80th later this year.
get it done and its only s
te it washes off your hands its nothing really.... don't make it an excuse !
few years later, my father was called in they last poo test didn't look good so it was a camera up the jacksie. couple of polyps found and they tested positive for cancer so it required removal of part of the gut and a bag for a year, this was a few years ago now.
Been cancer free for a few years, still getting checkups and the bag has been removed so hes back to the pleasures of a car magazine while sat on the throne and we will be having his 80th later this year.
get it done and its only s
te it washes off your hands its nothing really.... don't make it an excuse !
rossub said:
krisdelta said:
sgtBerbatov said:
I listen to Christian O'Connell (still) after he moved to Australia, and last week they had a guy called Peter Logan call in who was Stage 4 with bowel cancer. Think he was in his 50's, and kept putting the test off. Now he's more or less terminal.
I'm 31, and never had great bowel movements. But after listening to the guy I want to get the test done.
Get it done I'm 31, and never had great bowel movements. But after listening to the guy I want to get the test done.
Don't hesitate getting the screening done and if in doubt about your bowel habits see your doctor.
I went from having regular movements to irregular and often diarrhoea. I saw the GP and put it down to stress/diet but it didn't get better. When I went back after a few months and saw the senior practice nurse she put me on a fast track appointment for a colonoscopy.
Even though I was feeling quite amused by the process (Entonox air/gas anaesthetic - laughing gas basically) I got a very cold feeling when the doctor looking at the camera said "Well that shouldn't be there!". Turns out I had a very large polyp at the top of my rectum. They told me I would need that section removed surgically and they couldn't tell me 100% if it was cancerous or not until they had the whole thing out.
I did my research and found a chap who can get even big ones out with an endoscope hoop arrangement i.e leaving the back passage intact. Prof Saunders, thank you. All safely removed under general anaesthetic at the end of 2017 and no recurrence. It wasn't cancerous but was heading in that general direction.
I'm 42 by the way, so don't think you're too young to be affected. Scary times for a few weeks there.
I went from having regular movements to irregular and often diarrhoea. I saw the GP and put it down to stress/diet but it didn't get better. When I went back after a few months and saw the senior practice nurse she put me on a fast track appointment for a colonoscopy.
Even though I was feeling quite amused by the process (Entonox air/gas anaesthetic - laughing gas basically) I got a very cold feeling when the doctor looking at the camera said "Well that shouldn't be there!". Turns out I had a very large polyp at the top of my rectum. They told me I would need that section removed surgically and they couldn't tell me 100% if it was cancerous or not until they had the whole thing out.
I did my research and found a chap who can get even big ones out with an endoscope hoop arrangement i.e leaving the back passage intact. Prof Saunders, thank you. All safely removed under general anaesthetic at the end of 2017 and no recurrence. It wasn't cancerous but was heading in that general direction.
I'm 42 by the way, so don't think you're too young to be affected. Scary times for a few weeks there.
I’d read the first post a while back and almost laughed at the idea pooing in a pot could be a hardship to some. Recent events have now made me want to be more vocal..
I’ve had IBD for over twelve years now, with varying diagnosis between UC, Crohns and Crohns Colitis. I’ve had more blood tests, pooed into more pots, had more fingers up my bum (Dr’s handshake
) and had more accidents over the years than I care to remember! Whilst I’ve spent the majority of those years with active flare ups, the past couple of years have been great since changing medications.
This time last year I received the dreaded ‘colonoscopy due’ letter and as I was starting a new business venture and have been in such good health had been putting it off. A few weeks back I bit the bullet, booked myself in and did the whole bowel prep routine.
The scope itself goes between absolutely horrific to gas and air overdosing amusement - I’ve opted not to be sedated the past couple of times due to recovery times. They took over 15 biopsies and longer than normal to complete the procedure. My discharge letter showed signs of slight inflammation, heavy scarring from previous ulcers and an adenomatous polyp.
I met with my specialist on Wednesday who went through the results and significance of the polyp. My case is being heard by a multi disciplinary panel next week where they’ll be advising full removal of the Colon as it’ll both eliminate the risk of cancer and no Colon = no Colitis! It does however mean I’ll have to live with a stoma and possible J pouch further down the line.
The point of all of this, is had I carried on putting off the colonoscopy, I’d be facing Cancer at 37. I’m gonna get out of this without a Colon, but with my life. If you’re seriously worried about the possibility of getting a bit of poo on your finger at 60, let me know and I’ll come and put it in the goddamn pot for you. The possible outcomes for not doing it are significantly worse!
I’ve had IBD for over twelve years now, with varying diagnosis between UC, Crohns and Crohns Colitis. I’ve had more blood tests, pooed into more pots, had more fingers up my bum (Dr’s handshake
) and had more accidents over the years than I care to remember! Whilst I’ve spent the majority of those years with active flare ups, the past couple of years have been great since changing medications. This time last year I received the dreaded ‘colonoscopy due’ letter and as I was starting a new business venture and have been in such good health had been putting it off. A few weeks back I bit the bullet, booked myself in and did the whole bowel prep routine.
The scope itself goes between absolutely horrific to gas and air overdosing amusement - I’ve opted not to be sedated the past couple of times due to recovery times. They took over 15 biopsies and longer than normal to complete the procedure. My discharge letter showed signs of slight inflammation, heavy scarring from previous ulcers and an adenomatous polyp.
I met with my specialist on Wednesday who went through the results and significance of the polyp. My case is being heard by a multi disciplinary panel next week where they’ll be advising full removal of the Colon as it’ll both eliminate the risk of cancer and no Colon = no Colitis! It does however mean I’ll have to live with a stoma and possible J pouch further down the line.
The point of all of this, is had I carried on putting off the colonoscopy, I’d be facing Cancer at 37. I’m gonna get out of this without a Colon, but with my life. If you’re seriously worried about the possibility of getting a bit of poo on your finger at 60, let me know and I’ll come and put it in the goddamn pot for you. The possible outcomes for not doing it are significantly worse!
krisdelta said:
As unpleasant is it is, I would encourage anyone at risk to get tested - I lost my Dad at 49 to Bowel Cancer and it's a most unpleasant way to go, but eminently treatable if caught early.
I was not aware of said screening, however we are in the process of loosing my partners dad to the same, little bit older but at 67 still a younger than most.Mind you, while survived it with limited side effects, my own dad had a heart attack in in 60's shortly before retirement. Life is short. Make the most of it.
Daniel
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