You worried you may have colon cancer?

REB · Last edited by REB on Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:50 pm; edited 3 times in total

This question comes up a lot here. Here is the bottom line. If you are here asking that question, you should go see a doctor. If you are looking for answers, we can give you some, but you need to go see a doctor. If you need reassurance, we can’t give that to you, but your doctor can. Go see a doctor.

Odd are, you probably don’t have cancer, but it could still be a serious condition you need to have checked out. Go see a doctor.

They generally don’t start checking for colon cancer until you are 50. Getting it in your 40’s, like me, is not uncommon. And it is not unheard of for people in their 20’s and 30’s to get it, so no one is immune.

I first started having warning signs about a year before my cancer almost killed me and put me in the hospital.

My main warning sign was being anemic. It became apparent 10 months before I found out I had cancer. Had I caught it back then at a late stage II or early Stage III, I could have saved myself a lot of grief. But I am the type of person(or I used to be) who had to be literally dying before I would go to the doctor. I kept telling myself I was out of shape and just getting older.

My warning signs;
• Anemia: Skin became very pale. Craved ice. Would get lightheaded if I stood up.
• Blood in stool. I didn’t notice much of this. The few times I did notice, I thought I was cleaning myself to hard(I am a clean freak).
• That is all I noticed. If anyone here can add to this list, that would be great.

_______
WHEN you go to the doctor, what will happen?

I don’t have experience here, because my cancer put me in the hospital, needing emergency surgery to save my life. So the others here can chime in.

From what I know, they’ll probably do blood work. There is a number called CEA that can tell if you might have cancer. Don’t rely totally on this number. My has always been normal, and going by it, you would never know I had cancer. Maybe someone here can tell you more about this number, because I don’t know a lot about it.

Demand a colonoscopy. It is not that bad. The worst thing is the prep the day before and it is about 2 to 3 hours out of your life. I slept through the actual procedure from the mild sedative they give me. This is nothing compared to surgeries and chemo.

CT and PET scans. These can see any cancerous tumors in the body. The PET scan is very good at seeing cancerous tumors. Neither will see individual cancerous cells, just tumors.

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If you do have cancer, it is imperative you start fighting it ASAP. Let me show you why;

Stage I : Cancerous polyp. Removed during colonoscopy. That is it!

Stage II: Small tumor. Most likely removed during colonoscopy. Probably no surgery or chemo, but I don’t have a lot of data on this. Maybe someone here can chime in.

Stage III: Large tumor. Possible surgery to remove infected area of colon. Unlikely but possible temporary colostomy. At least 6 month of chemo. This is where I have my experience.

Stage IV: Tough fight ahead. Cancer has spread throughout the body. Probably numerous surgeries. Possibly removal of colon. Probably a temporary or even a permanent colostomy. Continuous chemo.

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You can’t stick your head in the sand about this. Something is wrong and you need to find out. Hopefully it will turn out to be nothing. It could be a serious, none-cancerous problem that need to be dealt with. If it is cancer, the earlier you catch it, the easier your fight will be.

I wish I had gone to the doctor when the signs first showed up. I would probably not still be doing chemo right now and on my way to being cured.

Don’t wait. Go see a doctor.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil), leucovorin & oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
04-09-08 Finished Chemo, 04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 1 Tumor on outside of colon & 2 in the adipose tissue - same cancer- SUV 5
06-23-09 FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
08-18-09 Tumors have shrunk. SUV 1
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI - Jan 2011 Finish ERBITUX?
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:42

topazil · Senior User Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 108

Great Sticky REB Thank you so very much for it. As I can I will if you okay it add some things I have found in my research to help. Again Thanks for the sticky it was needed (Wink)
_________________
Total hysterectomy July 23 2008, mass felt in colon during surgery.
Colonoscopy Aug 2008
Colectomy Sep 2008
Stage IV Colon Cancer metastasized to lungs and liver. (T3,N2,M1,G2)
Started chemotherapy: 09/14/09
Latest chemotherapy session: 11/09/09 - Folfox 6 = Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, Leucovorine with
Avastine.
Started CEA Level when first diagnosed = 10
Highest CEA Level so far 409 on 9/21/09
Most recent CEA Level = 113 on 11/09/09

REB

Please feel free to add, or correct Smile

I hope I am not coming out too unsympathetic. I am a straight shooter. I will not sugar coat it. Sometimes people need a kick in the tail to get going. I know I did Smile

_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil), leucovorin & oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
04-09-08 Finished Chemo, 04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 1 Tumor on outside of colon & 2 in the adipose tissue - same cancer- SUV 5
06-23-09 FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
08-18-09 Tumors have shrunk. SUV 1
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI - Jan 2011 Finish ERBITUX?
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:42

star · Senior User Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Ohio

HI Reb,

I can endorse what you are saying because it took Barb 6 months before she decided to go to Drs,, If only she had gone earlier would have helped a lot... so if in doubt with your health GO TO DRS RIGHT AWAY DO NOT PUT IT OFF, ITS NOT WORTH IT..AS LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT AND TO CATCH ANY THING EARLY IS A GREAT THING..

Best Wishes Rob

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