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Post by lucyg on Jul 5, 2023 17:53:45 GMT
Thank you all for the kind words. I guess I was into blathering on and on late last night!
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 5, 2023 18:10:26 GMT
Thank you all for the kind words. I guess I was into blathering on and on late last night! Blather all you need. We are all here for you. I am praying for you to make a full recovery.
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Post by lucyg on Jul 6, 2023 3:36:41 GMT
Thank you all for the kind words. I guess I was into blathering on and on late last night! Blather all you need. We are all here for you. I am praying for you to make a full recovery.
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mimima
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Stay Gold, Ponyboy
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Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jul 6, 2023 3:48:28 GMT
Thank you all for the kind words. I guess I was into blathering on and on late last night! We love you - blather away ❤️
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 6, 2023 14:14:16 GMT
Sabrina and Lucy, thank you for sharing your stories. I think it's so easy to put off those regular screenings. But they save lives! I really wish they would lower the age of colonoscopies. Too many people are getting colon cancer, even as young as their 30's! And the same for breast cancer. I know 3 people who were diagnosed in their 30's. Get those screenings, ladies!
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Jul 6, 2023 14:23:31 GMT
Thank you all for the kind words. I guess I was into blathering on and on late last night! Keep blathering on. It may be what convinces someone who was putting it off to get their colonoscopy done. I had mine at the end of May, all clear thankfully. Now I get a break from doing one for a while, so long as my 'poop tests' keep coming up clean and no other symptoms.
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Post by jennoconnell on Jul 6, 2023 19:53:59 GMT
I wholeheartedly support having those colonoscopies, mammograms, etc. My grandfather had regular colonoscopies and frequent polyps. What we didn't understand at the time is that polyps can turn cancerous and that immediate relatives should consider that a sign to be checked early and often. My mother didn't schedule preventive medical care and preferred the "ostrich" strategy. When she was 62, she was forced to have a colonoscopy as the pre-surgery workup for a gall bladder problem. While she was still in the recovery room, the doctor told me that he couldn't complete the procedure because her colon was almost completely blocked and that she probably had less than a week before it ruptured. She lived 3 more years thanks to surgery and chemotherapy, but I know she regretted not catching it earlier. I requested my own colonoscopy early due to my family history, and sure enough, lots of polyps, but no cancer. Had I waited until I was 50, I might not be alive today. I talked my boyfriend and 25 year old son into being checked, and they were both perfectly healthy. My son knows he needs to advocate for himself since he's so young, but his insurance hasn't given him any trouble so far, again because of the family history. lucyg Scan anxiety is a real thing. I know the time leading up to the scan and waiting for the results can be nerve wracking. Sending you all the well wishes for a good result.
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Post by lucyg on Jul 7, 2023 0:35:50 GMT
jennoconnell, thank you! I’m sorry to hear about your mom’s colon cancer experience. She sounds like me.
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Post by meriannj on Jul 7, 2023 1:10:49 GMT
Lucy, so glad you are doing well now. I was dx with stage 3b colon cancer at age 43, I did chemo and radiation as well as taking 15 inches of colon and 24 lymph nodes 7 had cancer. It was a long road but I am 7 year out and keeping clean so far!!!!
SO yes EVERYONE when its time DO IT, its the best nap of your life!
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Post by lucyg on Jul 7, 2023 1:38:38 GMT
Lucy, so glad you are doing well now. I was dx with stage 3b colon cancer at age 43, I did chemo and radiation as well as taking 15 inches of colon and 24 lymph nodes 7 had cancer. It was a long road but I am 7 year out and keeping clean so far!!!! SO yes EVERYONE when its time DO IT, its the best nap of your life! SO GLAD you’re doing so well! Stay healthy!
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Post by jennoconnell on Jul 9, 2023 10:34:32 GMT
lucyg Please don't let my mom's experience throw you. I'm so happy to hear a success story like meriannj That's the kind of energy we need here.
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Post by bbkeef on Jul 9, 2023 13:40:37 GMT
I had my very first colonoscopy in June. It was not a big deal for me. I am so glad I went though, I did have several polyps and 2 were pre-cancerous. Because they were small, I go back in 7 years. I am on a mission to get all the critical appointments done this year. Mammogram, eye exam and colonoscopy are done. Physical and blood work are next week. Thank you all for sharing your stories and encouraging all of us to take care of ourselves (if not for you, do it for your loved ones).
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Post by piebaker on Jul 9, 2023 14:46:19 GMT
Sending love and support to lucyg and others with health challenges. I had pancreatitis last year, 12 years after my gallbladder was removed. I had endoscopy and I had inflammation of the stomach lining and a suspicious polyp on my ampulla of vater which is where the pancreas and bile duct secrete into the small intestine. Problems with the ampulla (benign and cancerous combined) comprise 3% of all digestive problems. My mother died of bile duct cancer, so doctors went back in and removed my ampulla. Fortunately, all my procedures were done by endoscopy. Every doctor tells me the ampulla changes could have turned into a very rare, silent cancer. I have to go for endoscopy and colonoscopy in early 2024. Please go for your screenings and don't ignore the strange symptoms if they persist.
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RosieKat
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Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 9, 2023 15:10:45 GMT
lucyg, I can't believe we didn't know! Sending you lots of love and prayers and good thoughts for continued positive progress. Thank you for sharing the story so that 1-we know to send you extra love, and 2-it may inspire someone else to make sure they do what they need to do (including my husband, who's trying to avoid doing this!).
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Post by Lexica on Jul 9, 2023 15:30:39 GMT
I need to talk to my doctor about this. I have Kaiser health insurance and have had it for years. Every year, I get a packet in the mail to gather my own sample and send it to them. It has always come back fine, but I do worry since it isn’t the best way to test for colon cancer. As much as it doesn’t appeal to me, I think I should ask for a colonoscopy every five years or so, just to be sure. I just saw my doctor last month and this didn’t occur to me. I see her again in five months and will write it down on my calendar so that when I make the appointment, I have it fresh on my mind. Thank you for the push. I needed it.
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Post by lucyg on Jul 9, 2023 16:31:15 GMT
lucyg, I can't believe we didn't know! Sending you lots of love and prayers and good thoughts for continued positive progress. Thank you for sharing the story so that 1-we know to send you extra love, and 2-it may inspire someone else to make sure they do what they need to do (including my husband, who's trying to avoid doing this!). You need to hang around in the dinner thread … that’s where I do all my complaining.
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RosieKat
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Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 9, 2023 22:41:11 GMT
lucyg , I can't believe we didn't know! Sending you lots of love and prayers and good thoughts for continued positive progress. Thank you for sharing the story so that 1-we know to send you extra love, and 2-it may inspire someone else to make sure they do what they need to do (including my husband, who's trying to avoid doing this!). You need to hang around in the dinner thread … that’s where I do all my complaining. I guess I do! I keep meaning to do that anyway, but then keep getting sidetracked by what the hell I'm actually GOING to fix for dinner and don't enter the thread due to shame. Yeah, even though I know that the actual thread has little to do with dinner!
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Post by christine58 on Jul 19, 2023 11:22:03 GMT
Waiting for the gastro office to call and schedule. They have you fill out paperwork first. They called last week and my appointment is August 3. Picked up the prep which is two bottles of liquid at the pharmacy yesterday.
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cakediva
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Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
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Location: Fergus, Ontario
Jun 26, 2014 11:53:40 GMT
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Post by cakediva on Jul 19, 2023 12:14:07 GMT
Yep - do it!!
Here in Ontario, we have a swab test that you do every year after you turn 50. The doctor sends out a kit, you do the swab at home and drop it off at a lab for testing. If anything shows "odd" they call you to book a colonoscopy.
My friend just did her first swab, had to have a colonoscopy, and it came back as cancer. It was caught super early, thanks to the testing.
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Nanner
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Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
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Post by Nanner on Jul 19, 2023 22:39:32 GMT
Just took my latest FIT test in on Friday. I do it yearly.
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Post by christine58 on Aug 4, 2023 1:43:44 GMT
Had my colonoscopy today. The prop was so much easier than it was five years ago and I’m here to report, I don’t have to go back for five more years. I had absolutely no polyps. I always worry because my grandma had colon cancer as did my mom.
Pretty sure my mom’s sister did also but her kids never decided to find out what cancer she actually died from. She got very sick, had never really gone back-and-forth to a doctor, and died within a few days of going into the hospital. Her kids never found out anything about the cancers that were inside her because they didn’t want to know.
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 4, 2023 1:57:32 GMT
I mailed off my poop Tuesday.
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Post by scrapmaven on Aug 4, 2023 1:57:55 GMT
christine58, knowledge is power and forewarned is forearmed, especially w/cancer. No one wants to find out that they have a horrible disease or even a genetic disposition twd the disease, but finding out can save lives and knowing which type of cancer your aunt had would enable to your cousins to get genetic testing and more frequent checkups. We all hate that period between getting the routine mammogram and then getting the results, but mammo saves lives and that's the whole point.
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Post by callmenutz on Aug 4, 2023 4:22:57 GMT
I had my last colonoscopy in July which turned out fine and I have now aged out of having any more! 😁😁😁
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Post by scrapmaven on Aug 4, 2023 16:15:59 GMT
I'm afraid of Cologuard, because it doesn't check for polyps and other internal things that can be cancerous. Colonoscopies are not fun, but they're much more thorough and I'd rather go through the torture and find something before it gets bad than risk it w/a not-as-thorough test. Then again, colon cancer runs in my family.
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scrappinghappy
Pearl Clutcher
“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say “Hello.” Goodbye. I’m late...."
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Jun 26, 2014 19:30:06 GMT
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Post by scrappinghappy on Aug 4, 2023 23:06:10 GMT
lucyg I had no idea you were going through a cancer diagnosis and the journey it entails. Sending you prayers for strength and healing.
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Post by dewryce on Aug 5, 2023 7:44:06 GMT
I'm afraid of Cologuard, because it doesn't check for polyps and other internal things that can be cancerous. Colonoscopies are not fun, but they're much more thorough and I'd rather go through the torture and find something before it gets bad than risk it w/a not-as-thorough test. Then again, colon cancer runs in my family. I feel the same way. It makes me feel better that the polyps are almost always removed before they can turn cancerous, as long as you’re on a schedule appropriate for your circumstances.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Aug 5, 2023 12:53:41 GMT
I just tried to schedule mine and I have to wait until December! I was shocked! Last time I had one 5 years ago there was no wait at all.
I had some post menopausal bleeding and went in to get it checked out by my gyno, I typically have my GP do my pap smears. Well he noticed. a patch of tissue on my vulva, biopsy back, stage 3 pre cancer. So I am now waiting for the oncologist to meet with me and schedule surgery to have it removed. I noticed the change but thought it was just getting old. So I'm here to say. GET your checks!
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 5, 2023 13:37:04 GMT
I just tried to schedule mine and I have to wait until December! I was shocked! Last time I had one 5 years ago there was no wait at all. I had some post menopausal bleeding and went in to get it checked out by my gyno, I typically have my GP do my pap smears. Well he noticed. a patch of tissue on my vulva, biopsy back, stage 3 pre cancer. So I am now waiting for the oncologist to meet with me and schedule surgery to have it removed. I noticed the change but thought it was just getting old. So I'm here to say. GET your checks! Oh man! Not what you want to hear when going to the gyn for something routine. Good luck! We are near for you as you take this difficult journey!
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Aug 5, 2023 14:15:35 GMT
My mom fell and broke her hip a few years ago, while waiting for surgery her platelets were too low, while investigating that colon cancer was found. She was operated on and a huge amount removed. Then her hip was fixed. The cancer Center said there was no real way to treat her at her age and she would die within three months. That was in 2018. She is still going good. My sister had Chrohns really bad. I’ve had bad digestive issues, colonoscopy are a way of life as are endoscopies. I hate both, they freak me out. My ICD needs turned off for polyp removal cautery, I have Lymphacitic colitis and the prep causes long flares for me.
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