texas granny

So sorry for your lost Butterfly and the pian you 2 went through

Butterflyspain

Thankyou for your kind thoughts, I am slowly coming to terms with things but its not easy, he was such a bundle of fun and always singing, I miss that too.

Donīt let your dear ones go through what I had to watch.

MadQuilter

I was hell-bent on not doing the test but thinking that a simple test (I actually had a sigmoidoscopy) could give me peace of mind changed my mind. With every procedure there is risk involved. I chose to take that risk because the odds are good.

watterstide

my friend has lost a father,and 3 siblings to colon cancer..she gets them like clockwork. every year...for her.

i think you should get one every 10 years. reguardless.
i do. my husband does, he is 56 and has polyops (sp?).

i don't see how the prep can dehydrate you that bad. you have to drink 64 ounces of fluid with the miramax, (and we were told to use gatorade or a clear liquid.) or whatever stuff they recommend..the time spent in the procedure room, and recovery is only 2 hours max.

if you had read all the emails and letters of the people who were "saved" when katie couric had one done on tv. (her husband died from colon cancer..i think you would change your mind. IMHO

dotcomdtcm

There are better preps now. I had one 5 years ago & I'll have another soon. Too risky not to be careful. Discuss your fears w a good doctor.

soniboo

She's right. They've come a long way with the prep and a good doctor can be a great asset for you.

Because my mother had colon cancer 23 years ago I'm fortunate that my doctor (and also my family doctor) take good care of me.

Too many people that DON'T have colon cancer in their family have colon cancer. Don't chance being one of them.

Jim's Gem

I lost a friend to colon cancer 10 years ago. She was 43 when she died!!! When they found it, it was stage 4, she lasted a year. They don't even recommend this test until you are 50. If they tested her at 40, she may have lived.

Shadow Dancer

Having been on the receiving end of hearing the big "C" diagnosis three times,the second time I didn't even know anything was wrong.

I can't stress enough the need to be pro-active. I have had to have a colonoscopy regularly and will continue to be monitored because they found polyps...I'm not taking any chances because colon cancer is slow growing and it's too late most of the times when symptoms show up.

I'm standing on my soap box and yelling at the top of my lungs...Please, be pro-active, don't let this dang disease take another person because they didn't get tested.

S.D.

brushandthimble

I have mine every 5 years. PLEASE have your procedure when your Dr tells you to.

I have to post my thinking and will now go and read all the other responces. My sister passed at age 50 after fighting colon/rectal cancer for 2 years.

The new prep is easier on your body; the go-lightly is no longer used here.

MollieSue

Get the test done! My soon-to-be-ex just had approx 12" removed last December, from stage 3B colon cancer. He is fine, but the doctors said had he waited any longer, might have been a different story.

I've not had one, I am 51, but no insurance. But hubby had had 3 done, so I asked him what the prep was like. You hear horror stories about everything. Any bad cramps, etc.? He said no, nothing, just a lot of going to the bathroom. He also discovered if you eat lighter a couple of days beforehand, then the prep goes much quicker, easier. And that really is the worst part of the whole thing, in his experience anyways.

Just think of all the times we have a pelvic done, and don't really think a thing about it. It's just another part of our bodies that need to be checked every now and then. Just seems more nerve wracking cause it's such a 'personal' area, one we're not used to having be messed with.
:)