Re: cancer risk and colonoscopy

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne, Happy that you found us and decided to join our group. I

am so sorry you lost your dad last year. As for your question....

Yes, PLEASE, PLEASE do go get checked. It is never to early to get

checked with a colonoscopy. There are people here on this group who

have gotton colon cancer in their early thirty's. So now would be a

good time for you to get checked. Especially since this risk seems to

run in your family. They can catch the problem when it is still a

polop. Before it developes into cancer. This could save your

life!!!!! The colonoscopy itself is easy to go through. It is the

prep before hand of cleaning onelself out that is the hardest part.

Please for your own sake get it done. Ingrid

> Hello. I was very happy to find this group. My father died of

> colorectal cancer last year, and my grandfather (my mother's

father)

> also died of colon cancer about 10 years ago.

> My doctor has mentioned that if I want a colonoscopy, to let him

know,

> and he will help me get one. However at my age (29), is it too

soon?

> Should I wait until the recommended starting age (45)? Any advice?

> Thanks!

> ~Joanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne, Happy that you found us and decided to join our group. I

am so sorry you lost your dad last year. As for your question....

Yes, PLEASE, PLEASE do go get checked. It is never to early to get

checked with a colonoscopy. There are people here on this group who

have gotton colon cancer in their early thirty's. So now would be a

good time for you to get checked. Especially since this risk seems to

run in your family. They can catch the problem when it is still a

polop. Before it developes into cancer. This could save your

life!!!!! The colonoscopy itself is easy to go through. It is the

prep before hand of cleaning onelself out that is the hardest part.

Please for your own sake get it done. Ingrid

> Hello. I was very happy to find this group. My father died of

> colorectal cancer last year, and my grandfather (my mother's

father)

> also died of colon cancer about 10 years ago.

> My doctor has mentioned that if I want a colonoscopy, to let him

know,

> and he will help me get one. However at my age (29), is it too

soon?

> Should I wait until the recommended starting age (45)? Any advice?

> Thanks!

> ~Joanne

[Guest guest]

Get the scope, that way you won't worry. THere's a 22 year old woman in

my chemo " group " with stage 4! NO FAMILY HISTORY of colon cancer

either. You never know. I waited too long because the docs thought I

was allergic to wheat! I am 55 years old and presented as menopausal

(which I am). No one thought I was sick, then boom I couldn't poop --

emergency colostomy bag.

Thinking about cancer is scarier than the colonoscopy. Plus you get a

nice sedative with the procedure!

Best of luck.

[Guest guest]

I have a family history of colon cancer, but I didn't know it. I was

Dx'd at age 39 with stage 1 colon cancer.

I'm sure Priscilla will answer you soon. She'll tell you how this is

a disease that we know what it looks like before it turns to cancer.

We could be almost free of the disease if everyone were screened. She

is pushing for earlier screening since it makes a LOT of sense.

Bottom line, get the colonoscopy. You have a family history;

therefore, you need screening. A colonoscopy is a hell of a lot

easier than a colon resection, chemo, radiation, ad nauseum.

Colonoscopies are actually the mildest procedure I have had. My

vascectomy was worse. ;-)

Miracles happen!

Cliff H.

BTW, I'm going to insist that my kids get screened at 20 or before

they aren't covered under my insurance.

> Hello. I was very happy to find this group. My father died of

> colorectal cancer last year, and my grandfather (my mother's father)

> also died of colon cancer about 10 years ago.

> My doctor has mentioned that if I want a colonoscopy, to let him

know,

> and he will help me get one. However at my age (29), is it too soon?

> Should I wait until the recommended starting age (45)? Any advice?

> Thanks!

> ~Joanne