If you are over age 50, please get a colonoscopy ASAP

[gruntly]

As they say, "Pride could be the death of you."

49, first one in Sept last, small polyp nothing special, but a real sense of relief since my sister (55 in Feb) went through hell two and a half years ago.

"See ya in five" he said.

[gary_g]

And thank you.

This was the thread that got me off the bench and into the game.

Two polyps removed. One was of no threat, the other was of the type that may turn into cancer.

That is what got my brother going also. He had one. Don't know anything else.

I'll be 45 in March. Our mom died of Colon cancer when she was 43.

IMO,MY COLONOSPHY SAVED MY LIFE

Outstanding, Milk man.

Spread the word.

Take care.

[gary_g]

I use my Testo camera and do my own.

This is after a night of heavy drinking

[Integrity Aire]

additionally, I would add to also get a full blood workup done every 6 months or at least yearly. Your blood is a window into your body, if something is wrong your bloodwork will show it.

[Green Mountain]

My second one is scheduled for the Jan. 19. The last time, 5 years ago, they found 10 polyps in the old hersey shute. It was kind of interesting watching the procedure on TV. They were all non-cancerous.

Wonder what the count will be this time.????

[gary_g]

..... they found 10 polyps in the old hersey chute.

Wow. They should have charged you for overtime

[tipsrfine]

Got my first colonoscopy done today. 7 polyps, six were removed, 7th one they couldn't get to, but did a biopsy on it. My Mother died of colon cancer when my age, and my older brother recently had colon cancer surgery, so I am very pleased overall with the results.

[mike3]

We took our dog in today for an endoscopy and they found some troubling inflammation and dark spots in his esophagus and stomach. They took a bunch of biopsies and we will get results in a week.

[timebuilder]

I'd say that some group members (Mediterranean, Africa, for two examples) should get scoped BEFORE age 50. Remember, that these guidelines are generalizations.

Julie has had some bleeding, and her primary doc wrote it off to her diverticulitis. However, it got worse, so she scheduled her own colonoscopy with a doc who had done them for both of us.

As soon as she woke up, the doc said "I'm sending you to a doc this afternoon. I called and got you in TODAY."

This was because he had just seen, up close and personal, a HUGE tumor on her colon wall.

The initial treatments of chemo and radiation were very effective. By this past December, there was no evidence of colon cancer.

The problem is, cancer can move to new locations, and for her, those locations were her liver and her lungs. That's why she died, not from the initial cancer, but the subsequent cancers.

GET SCOPED!!!!!!!!!!

Not a sigmoidoscopy, but a real, general anesthetic colonoscopy.

MAKE THE APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY.

[boilerman856]

I was 39 when I started having some abdominal pains and my doctors I saw (6 of them) blew it off as a stressed self employed hard worker. Told me to take a vacation! And diverticulitus. I pushed on to another doc who couldn't believe I had not had a coloniscopy and found a tumor when he did one. Colon cancer is a big killer in u.s. but is almost 100% preventable by removing polyps. Its been almost 5 years now and coloniscopies every 2 years. Its no big deal just the prep sucks but is better than the alternative. If your over 30 and any cancer in family please gets scope ASAP! It may save your life. Typically there are no symptoms until very late. Somebody upstairs was looking out for me hope he is for you too. Don't wait.

[timebuilder]

I was 39 when I started having some abdominal pains and my doctors I saw (6 of them) blew it off as a stressed self employed hard worker. Told me to take a vacation! And diverticulitus. I pushed on to another doc who couldn't believe I had not had a coloniscopy and found a tumor when he did one. Colon cancer is a big killer in u.s. but is almost 100% preventable by removing polyps. Its been almost 5 years now and coloniscopies every 2 years. Its no big deal just the prep sucks but is better than the alternative. If your over 30 and any cancer in family please gets scope ASAP! It may save your life. Typically there are no symptoms until very late. Somebody upstairs was looking out for me hope he is for you too. Don't wait.

Let me add one observation.

There is NO cancer in my family.

HOWEVER, during my first scope out, the doc removed THREE polyps, all of which were capable of turning into tumors.

Don't wait!!!!!!!!

[maxster]

if you ever have the slightest blood in the bowl after no#2 get to a doctor ASAP.in 1999 my brother let his go till the pollup almost blocked his colon and his wife was bleaching his blood stained underwear.he was diagnosed in Sept.2000 operated on in November KEMO/RAD treatment with a piss bag made a one way trip into Sloan-Kettering and was gone a week before 9-11.if the cancer hits your limp noides it spreads thru your body bigtime..if he didn't get the K/R treatment he would of been gone before Christmas 99'

[timebuilder]

One more thing.

There are strips of paper you can get at the drugstore that you just drop into the bowl when you are finished a #2, and if there is hidden blood (the medical term is "occult blood") the strips will change and tell you there is blood in your stool before you ever get to the point of visible red blood. However, you should still get a scope out if you have never done so.

[mike3]

Man, I can't believe all the stories here. After reading these posts why anyone would wait is beyond me. Keep this thread alive, it might mean you live.

[timebuilder]

Man, I can't believe all the stories here. After reading these posts why anyone would wait is beyond me. Keep this thread alive, it might mean you live.

Man, that's the truth!

[boilerman856]

Garyg yours sounds like me exactly. I was lucky enough to have an abdominal pain. But I has seen many docs and had to convince them something was wrong. The most important thing I learned is you have to push the doc because he has hundred more people to see and mostly it is nothing. Also if you have kids you might want some genetic testing you may have Lynch syndrome which I so and they can check kids over 18 to see if they got it too. Worth looking into for thirty sake. Good luck to you. I am almost 5 years out and don't dare say it out loudest.

[maxster]

if your doctor lets you view the exam on the monitor ...if you can being "stoned out" it is wild seeing the inside of your body like that...and it's not for you to tell them this but "i want a FULL colonoscopy" but on the lighter side it is hilarious for your person who drove you there...then treat yourself to 2 Wendy's 1/4lb double cheeseburgers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVnKbEZwLJo

[Milk man]

I went back in today. Took two more polyps off and sent to the lab.

I firmly believe that I would die of colon cancer like my mom if it wasn't for my colonoscopies.

The fasting is the worst part for me. I had to repair two rooftops at an Italian place yesterday at lunch time during my fast. Right by the exhaust mushroom.

A close second was when they tore out my hair from my chest when removing the monitor's sensors.

Best part (no not the camera part) was the propofol.

[allan38]

Just got my colonoscopy today.
2 5mm polyp snipped. Everything looked good.

Was running a little behind getting it at 53 years. I asked if I could schedule another one to get caught up...... They didn't think it was funny. They gave me 5 pictures of the scenery even though they said they didn't have a DVD of the highlights.

[Timber]

Had mine done this week. I am 51. All clear !