new member intro and questions.

Posted July 12, 2005 · July 12, 2005

Hello Warriors, Survivors, Caretakers, and loved ones~

My name is . I am 27 years old. I was recently reunited with

my birth father. Unfortunately it was in his last days of a 12 year

battle with colon cancer and various mets. Anyway, I was informed

several years ago that he had cancer. Never really though about

howit would affect me. Turns out that he, his father, and sisters

(4 total) have all had colon cancer, breast cancer etc. I've been

diagnosed with irritable bowel type issues several times and have

never had a colonoscopy. I was feeling well for a few months and

hadn't thought about it for a while...Sunday night I 'blew up like a

puffer fish' and felt like I was retaining everything I'd eaten and

drank for several weeks. I spent all night with terrible symptoms

and finally started vomitting around 5 am on monday. I spent all

day MOnday pretty much unable to move. I talked to my aunt today

and she said that she has never had a polyp. They all have a rare

genetic form of colon cancer. She was diagnosed at 31, my father at

35. I called my doctor...a new doctor...to schedule an appt for a

refferal. We live in the bay area and health care is a wreck. THe

first appt they have is August 30th. Should this be addressed

before then? I feel terrible but am functioning again...is it ok to

wait until the appt if I dont' have a bad flare up again? I've dons

some research I don't want to put myself at additional risk by being

ignorant. What would you all do? I feel like a hypochondriac going

in at the age of 27 and trying to persuade my doc that I need a

colonoscopy.

Anyway...sorry about the long post...I am also the mother of three

great kids. Hadley, 4, who is battling a brain tumor and living

with moderate functioning autism. Keegan, 3, my preschool monkey

boy. And Liam, 20 mos, the baby. My husband is active duty in the

US COast Guard. Life is hectic...so you can see why I haven't

addressed these issues sooner. Thank you in advance for the

information and support I know I will find here.

With love and HOPE~

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