Colon Cancer, Understand Your Risk, Get Colonoscopy

[BoberFett]

MiraLax and Gatorade.. Not the best experience but certainly doable

Yep, 2 weeks worth of MiraLax in one day. Let's just say you get to spend plenty of time reading in the bathroom...

 

[Eug]

Protip 2: After you drink the solution, if you feel the like you need to fart don’t try to, get on the toilet.

Sounds like personal experience, and thanks for the imagery.

 

[Exterous]

The good news? No cancer!

:thumbsup:

The bad news? Divercultis and colitis as confirmed by biopsy

:thumbsdown:
My boss had that and had to have 1/3 of his colon removed. He's ok now but I remember the concern over ending up with a colostomy bag

Glad you caught it relatively early and I hope you remain in good health!

Protip 2: After you drink the solution, if you feel the like you need to fart don’t try to, get on the toilet.

D:

 

[SandEagle]

i'm coming up to mid 40s and dont plan to get an assoscopy done until im 65.

i think cheap toilet paper causes colon cancer. i have to research this further and submit the results to the FDA.





Really, trolling a colonoscopy thread???



esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[NetWareHead]

The best part of a colostomy is undoubtedly summed up by this here video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVnKbEZwLJo

Pretty much the only part I am looking forward to

 

[Miramonti]

n/m

 

[Eug]

i'm coming up to mid 40s and dont plan to get an assoscopy done until im 65.

Not recommended to wait. Not only can colonoscopy detect cancer, it can also prevent it. Geekbabe had a bunch of polyps removed. Not sure what kind of polyps they were, but if a certain type, if she had waited another few years, they may have been cancers.

However, if you're dead set against colonoscopy, then there are options you can discuss with your doctors.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

In my mid 20s I went in for an annual physical and asked my doctor about colon cancer and any information he could give. At that time (slightly less than 15 yrs ago) he said he wouldn't worry about it at my age. Maybe it's time I go revisit this since I'm older and thought nothing of it since till reading this thread. I did find out I was diabetic at that checkup.

 

[venkman]

I had Colon Cancer diagnosed in my early 30s. Luckily it hadn't spread past the polyp, so I didn't need any additional surgery and my last colonscopy came back with no cancer. Only reason I got checked was that I did have family history of it on my mom side. If I had followed conventional advice and waited until 40, or even 35, I probably would have full blow high stage cancer.

 

[Geekbabe]

Not recommended to wait. Not only can colonoscopy detect cancer, it can also prevent it. Geekbabe had a bunch of polyps removed. Not sure what kind of polyps they were, but if a certain type, if she had waited another few years, they may have been cancers.

However, if you're dead set against colonoscopy, then there are options you can discuss with your doctors.

My polyps were of the serrated type, I haven't gotten hard copy of the pathology report yet so that's all the info I have. Repeat scope in 3 years.

 

[Geekbabe]

i'm coming up to mid 40s and dont plan to get an assoscopy done until im 65.

i think cheap toilet paper causes colon cancer. i have to research this further and submit the results to the FDA.

Well, I like to gamble but think I will stick with doing it in Vegas. Understand that if you get a polyp that goes rogue you might not live to see your 65th birthday.

 

[Geekbabe]

I had Colon Cancer diagnosed in my early 30s. Luckily it hadn't spread past the polyp, so I didn't need any additional surgery and my last colonscopy came back with no cancer. Only reason I got checked was that I did have family history of it on my mom side. If I had followed conventional advice and waited until 40, or even 35, I probably would have full blow high stage cancer.

I am so, so glad you got checked and are okay!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

My grandfather died of colon cancer in the mid-80s and a doctor mentioned doing a colonoscopy when I hit 40 (which never happened). I'll be 44 in a couple of months and my current doctor said I could wait to 50, which I'm inclined to do at this point.

 

[Theb]

My grandfather died of colon cancer in the mid-80s and a doctor mentioned doing a colonoscopy when I hit 40 (which never happened). I'll be 44 in a couple of months and my current doctor said I could wait to 50, which I'm inclined to do at this point.

Just get it out of the way. You know it's going to be at the back of your mind for the next 6 years. There's no good reason to wait.

 

[zinfamous]

killed my brother at age 34; only 10 months after initial diagnosis.

That diagnosis sent me to get my oil changed at 30....and now I am due (overdue) for the 2nde one.

not pleasant.


and fuck cancer.

 

[kranky]

Glad to hear all is well, Geekbabe.

My father had symptoms of colon cancer for 2 YEARS and never told anyone until he couldn't hide it any more from my mother. Miraculously, he was cured. I get checked every 5 years and while the prep isn't exactly something to look forward to, it's not terrible by any stretch. And certainly no reason to not be checked.

 

[lupi]

what's the male to female breakdown on this?

 

[Eug]

I had Colon Cancer diagnosed in my early 30s. Luckily it hadn't spread past the polyp, so I didn't need any additional surgery and my last colonscopy came back with no cancer. Only reason I got checked was that I did have family history of it on my mom side. If I had followed conventional advice and waited until 40, or even 35, I probably would have full blow high stage cancer.

Did you ever see a genetic counsellor? 30s is pretty young. If it runs in your family, then it's possible there is an underlying genetic mutation.

For example: Lynch Syndrome

If it doesn't run in the family, a genetic counsellor might still recommend testing the cancer. You can still do that 15 years later, assuming the lab still has bits of your tumour (which they probably will).

 

[TheVrolok]

did you ever see a genetic counsellor? 30s is pretty young. If it runs in your family, then it's possible there is an underlying genetic mutation.

For example: lynch syndrome

if it doesn't run in the family, a genetic counsellor might still recommend testing the cancer. You can still do that 15 years later, assuming the lab still has bits of your tumour (which they probably will).

fap/afap.

 

[Eug]

fap/afap.

FAP is different. Usually a zillion polyps. AFAP doesn't but still often has quite a few.

---

And no guys, it's not that kind of FAP.

 

[MustISO]

The preparation is most certainly the worst part. There is nothing solid left in your system.

And the amount of air in your system afterwards, that hurt quite a bit.

 

[SunnyD]

I'd love to check up on my asshole, but the irony is my insurance won't cover it until I'm over 50.

 

[TheVrolok]

FAP is different. Usually a zillion polyps. AFAP doesn't but still often has quite a few.

I know what it is quite well. Certainly HNPCC accounts for a higher percentage of colon cancers, but FAP isn't incredibly rare at 1/10-30 live births and will essentially cause colon cancer. In addition, we're talking about young patients diagnosed with colon cancer (20s-30s) which is more common of FAP/AFAP than HNPCC (although certainly still possible). Now if they also had other malignancies, I'd start to think HNPCC before FAP/AFAP.

 

[pontifex]

damn, i guess it's that time for me to get this done (34). Ugh, so embarrassed to do it.

 

[TheVrolok]

damn, i guess it's that time for me to get this done (34). Ugh, so embarrassed to do it.

Unless you have symptoms, a close relative with early colon cancer, or a familial disease, the recommendation is still to wait until 50.