Colon and Esophagus cancer

Check both ends!!!!

Long story short. July 2022 colonoscopy found about a dozen spots throughout the colon with hi grade dysplasia (pre cancerous), dr said Colon has got to go! Aug 2022 Surgery, complete Colectomy with ileostomy, found stage 0 cancer, surgery was the cure!

8 months later I was having difficulty swallowing, I was told that I needed to chew my food better! Called bullshit! Insisted on getting an upper endoscopy. Closest place that could get me in was 270 miles away, they found a large cancerous tumor, scans staged it IIB (T3N0) and gave me treatment options. Called City Of Hope, they flew me and the wife there at no cost to us, 2 days of tests last day explained treatment options. No Brainer we went to City of Hope for treatment! 7 chemo 28 radiation then major surgery. It was Brutal!!

IF the first hospital that found the colon cancer would have checked the rest of the GI, as they should have, they would have found the esophagus cancer much earlier! And long term survival would be much clearer.

Most importantly I’m now cancer free 15 months!

Again when you get a colonoscopy have them check the upper as well!! It’s done at the same time and literally takes them an additional 5-10 minutes!

Advocate for yourself! ALWAYS get a 2nd opinion!! Cancer is far easier to whip when you catch it early, with proper treatment!!

 

My grandfather had it and had a section of colon removed. By the time it was discovered it had spread a lot. He went through chemo and swears that nuked his insides. He lived another 8 years or so after that and made it into his 90s. He was a fighter and never quit.

I had my first colonoscopy in my mid 30's. I think I had 8 non cancerous polyps possibly more removed. After the procedure I was advised to follow-up with another one in 5 years.

My dad only made it to 37 (non hodgekins lymphoma) and my mom 67 from cardiac arrest. My dad's cancer lasted 4 years, but medical technology was a lot different back then. I can't imagine being diagnosed at 33 and dying at 37.

I'll be surprised if I've got another 15 years.

 

Happy for you on this one. Sorry you have to go through it, but glad there's been good progress.

 

My grandfather passed from colon cancer, both my parents had cancer.. I’m the youngest of 4 and the only one that had cancer. Also City of Hope did extensive DNA testing all came back negative! Dr figured it is “environmental”

Damn..37 is too young!

 

I get checked on both ends every 3 years after it was discovered my family has a history of Barret's esophagus which is a pre cancerous condition. It is a death sentence if you smoke. Most of my family smoked and died because they had this disease. I don't smoke but have been told the risks are very high that I will get cancer as well. None of my family survived past 60 until recently. I'm 65 and I have 3 cousins and a brother who all smoke and are still here. We all ask each other how was it possible to still be here after seeing what it did to our parents, aunts, uncles, grand parents are great grandparents. I saw so many of them die and it is a terrible way to go.
They actually found my Barrett's in 1997 when they rushed me in when my dad was diagnosed with cancer and we were both having similar symptoms. Fortunately we had the same doctor and that was what saved my life. Its not fun getting a camera shoved down both ends but I do it. My brother and cousins wont saying that they don't wanna know while they keep smoking.
I had severe heartburn and acid reflux for 10 plus years and would wake up at night choking on it. Then the bleeding started (stomach and colon). I was scared but now its under control and my symptoms are minor compared to what they were. My father lost his battle but what he went through saved me.
When my dad died he couldn't smoke anymore but he kept a pack on the table in front of him. I asked him why and he said "they are there if I want one". The day after he died a pack a cigarettes for him came in the mail. My mom was gonna throw them in the trash but I told her to give them to me. I sent them back to the manufacturer with his obituary from the newspaper and said my father is not able to use your products anymore. They just killed him.
Life is fragile and we all think we are immortal. I think Neil Peart from Rush said it best in one of their songs "we are only immortal for a limited time". We live like there is no tomorrow.

 

I never did the follow up appt. I should. I was 4 1/2 when my dad passed. I was old enough to know things weren't going well, but still a little young to grasp the concept. Life altering for sure.

 

OP I’m sorry you had to go through hell but I’m glad you are doing well now. God bless you.
Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers for those who have colonoscopies. Anyone who has a family history of colon cancer should get a colonoscopy NOW if you haven’t yet had one. And if you have a family history and you smoke and/or .drink alcohol you are at a 60+ % chance of colon cancer compared to someone who neither smokes or drinks. Absolutely no reason why people shouldn’t get routine colonoscopies.
I had a friend age 43 who had a very strong family of colon cancer. He refused to have a colonoscopy until he started shitting blood. He died a couple months after his first colonoscopy at age 43. Your insurance pays for it, get er done.

 

Age 45 everyone qualifies, or as needed if you have GI problems, or in my case I had Colon Cancer at age 51 so my children qualify at age 41. Lots of horror stories about prep, the new prep is much easier, only caution is once you start your prep don’t trust a fart!!

 

They use the same endoscope?

 

No they are not the same. They will not do an upper endoscopy just because you want it done. There has to be a reason or symptoms. If there isn’t your insurance won’t cover it. All you have to do is tell your physician you are having significant GERD symptoms and they will do the upper scope.

 

I thought it was but wasn’t sure. The reason they don’t use the same scope is because it leaves a shitty taste in the mouth.

 

Was diagnosed with CRC in 2015 had part of my colon removed no lymph node involvement chemo deemed not necessary. Blood tests every 3 months for 2 years.
2018 rolls around was having pain in my side after an ultrasound and MRI found nothing had a liver biopsy done I had a mass on my liver, 7 months of chemo had a liver resection then another 6 or 7 months of maintenance chemo. During that time some spots showed up in my lungs 2020 found out it spread to my lungs. I've been on 1 drug or another ever since. I have 5 rounds of radiation coming up at the City of Hope in the next couple weeks been a long trip but I am still hanging in there. CRC does run on the male side in my family ( Dad, Uncle, brother ) so people get checked.

 

Ask your doctor for the smaller prep solution that you mix with a bottle of gatorade or whatever. The other method requires you to drink a whole gallon of solution.

My advice would be to not each a bunch of stuff in the days leading up to. It's only harder on yourself if you do. And yeah, there's no warning fart, so don't venture too far from the bathroom.

The procedure doesn't take that long maybe 30 minutes. You'll wake up a little loopy from the anesthetic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pce7YHyA2w0

 

It depends on how good your insurance is.

 

Damn.. I’m speechless

I assume you’re going to the LA City of Hope? A good friend of mine’s son passed away from CRC 34 years young! Pneumonia got him before he could start this trial.

https://www.cityofhope.org/cancer-c...ty-of-hopes-novel-potentially-cancer-stopping