Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

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CatzinDJ
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:06 pm

Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby CatzinDJ » Sun Jun 04, 2017 11:43 pm

What advise do you give to your younger family members about getting colonoscopies? Do you encourage them to start even before the 10 years early diagnosis mark?
If they have IBS symptoms, do you encourage them to get a colonoscopy right away?

I have a teenage daughter and I'm worried for her. I doubt she has any problems NOW, but I'd like her to starting doing colonoscopies way before she turns 50. I'm thinking of taking her to Thailand for vacation and paying for a scope now. She can redo it in five years. She's had severe gerd and ended up with a fundoplication surgery. Now if she eats dairy, she has bathroom issues, but this hasn't stopped her from consuming dairy.

Do you encourage them to read and see how diet affects the outcome? I know I'm trying to do the impossible and we are all trying to do the same thing, but what do you tell your children so that they can be proactive in getting checked?
53 & Female
DX: Rectal Cancer (RC) diagnosed in Thailand
Tumor Location: Rectum
Tumor type: invasive adenocarcinoma
Tumor size: 4 mm
Tumor grade: low grade
Baseline CEA value (4.46) 5/2016
CEA 6/2/2016 4.8
Lynch- Negative.
LAR 7/13/2016 in Seatle, Wa
Home 7/18/2016.
CEA 12/9/2016 2.8
CEA 6/8/2017 5.6
Colonoscopy and Cat scan June 2017 NED
CEA 3/2018 2.9
TB latent recently diagnosed.

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Jacques
Posts: 678
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:38 am
Location: Occitanie

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby Jacques » Mon Jun 05, 2017 12:48 am

CatzinDJ wrote:... I'm thinking of taking her to Thailand for vacation and paying for a scope now...

One place you might try is Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok. They have doctors there who speak English, and their website has an English version.

Colonoscopies are done there in the G-I Center on the 2nd floor.

They also have specialists who deal with GERD and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/betterhealth/2014/better-digestive-health/understanding-IBS

CatzinDJ
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2016 12:06 pm

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby CatzinDJ » Mon Jun 05, 2017 12:51 am

Thanks. My initial diagnosis was done in Thailand. That's why I want to take her there. Vacation and check up at the same time.
53 & Female
DX: Rectal Cancer (RC) diagnosed in Thailand
Tumor Location: Rectum
Tumor type: invasive adenocarcinoma
Tumor size: 4 mm
Tumor grade: low grade
Baseline CEA value (4.46) 5/2016
CEA 6/2/2016 4.8
Lynch- Negative.
LAR 7/13/2016 in Seatle, Wa
Home 7/18/2016.
CEA 12/9/2016 2.8
CEA 6/8/2017 5.6
Colonoscopy and Cat scan June 2017 NED
CEA 3/2018 2.9
TB latent recently diagnosed.

KimT
Posts: 695
Joined: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:53 pm

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby KimT » Mon Jun 05, 2017 8:58 am

Early detection is always important. That said, I'm not too concerned for my my own teenage son at this point. We haven't even had him tested for lynch yet and don't plan to until he is 18.

I too was diagnosed in Thailand and had some treatment there. Colonoscopies are pretty inexpensive as you probably know. I had surgery at Bangkok hospital pattaya. I was very happy with dr sompote who did all of my colonoscopies. I've also been to bumrungrad but I prefer Bangkok hospital pattaya. Also the navel hospital in Sattahip is very good. Queen sirikit hospital.
2/10 dx colon cancer
right hemicolectomy 3/19/10
Stage 2a 0/43 nodes
Lynch syndrome
3/14/10 colon resection/ removal of metal clips
Nov 11 dx ovarian cancer

TXLiz
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:31 pm

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby TXLiz » Mon Jun 05, 2017 1:07 pm

CatzinDJ wrote:What advise do you give to your younger family members about getting colonoscopies? Do you encourage them to start even before the 10 years early diagnosis mark?
If they have IBS symptoms, do you encourage them to get a colonoscopy right away?

I have a teenage daughter and I'm worried for her. I doubt she has any problems NOW, but I'd like her to starting doing colonoscopies way before she turns 50. I'm thinking of taking her to Thailand for vacation and paying for a scope now. She can redo it in five years. She's had severe gerd and ended up with a fundoplication surgery. Now if she eats dairy, she has bathroom issues, but this hasn't stopped her from consuming dairy.

Do you encourage them to read and see how diet affects the outcome? I know I'm trying to do the impossible and we are all trying to do the same thing, but what do you tell your children so that they can be proactive in getting checked?


My geneticist advised me to have my 3 teens get colonoscopies by age 25. I was negative for Lynch but she said my tumor had all the markings of a Lynch tumor and there's a lot they don't know about Lynch...
She said to be safe, by 25.

I know colonoscopy carries risks and is unpleasant, but it's preferred to cancer IMO.
Vomiting and blockage 9/19/16 46 y F
R hemi colectomy 9/20/16
Stage 3 B CRC, located in cecum
3 out of 16 lymph nodes positive
perineural invasion/lymphovascular invasion
infiltrating, mod differentiated adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component
separate tumor nodules present in pericolonic adipose tissue
MSI-high
Baseline PET scan clear 9/16 CEA 0.5
FOLFOX 10/16- 3/17
April 16th, CT scan clear. CEA 1.1
Lynch "inconclusive"
Colonoscopy 10/5/2017 clear

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby CRguy » Mon Jun 05, 2017 9:39 pm

CatzinDJ wrote:What advise do you give to your younger family members about getting colonoscopies?
If you are having problems ..... GET IT CHECKED OUT
Do you encourage them to start even before the 10 years early diagnosis mark?
Yes. The old start at 50 ( or 10 years sooner ) is no longer valid nor viable .... just read this forum !
If they have IBS symptoms, do you encourage them to get a colonoscopy right away?
Altho' not common .. we have had a number of teens on this forum who had scopes and were diagnosed with CRC
Now if she eats dairy, she has bathroom issues, but this hasn't stopped her from consuming dairy.
has she been checked properly for lactose intolerace ?
other dietary intolerances .. gluten etc.


Do you encourage them to read and see how diet affects the outcome?
YES ... they need to become their own best advocates = pro-active and educated
..... but what do you tell your children so that they can be proactive in getting checked?


again .... read this forum
a whole lotta folks who "should not have had to worry aboout CRC ...." are HERE because they do have it
or are now deceased.

I understand talking to a teen about their own mortality may be an "interesting" exercise for you ..... we raised 2 of them ourselves :shock:
IF she has major issues with dairy and STILL consumes it ..... she may need a reality check ... BUTT.... that my friend IS the teenage brain.

BUTT at some point by setting an example, walking the walk before talking the talk, and letting them know you actually are a real human being with their best interests at heart and are not just trying to "control" them ......
most kids will come around.

Cheers and best wishes on that Journey !
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

Tdubz
Posts: 152
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 11:01 am

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby Tdubz » Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:41 pm

If you feel something is wrong, get it checked out. I cannot emphasize that enough. I went to the doc in my early 30's with symptoms that I thought were ibs. The doctor agreed that it was ibs too and that was that. 4 years later I go back with same symptoms and a new pain in my side. Saw a different doctor that day and she recommended a colonoscopy asap as my blood work was showing anemia and inflammation. Who knows when my tumor started growing, but maybe if I would have had a colonoscopy at my first visit to the doctor, the cancer could have been cut out at the polyp stage and I wouldn't have a need to be at this forum now.

I really wish they would change the recommended age to at least 30. There are so many of us that are so young getting this disease and catching it early is key. my kids are doomed for lots of colonoscopies throughout their lifetime, but I don't want them or anyone else to go through what we all have gone through so I think it's worth it.

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ocstacy
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2017 11:29 pm
Facebook Username: stacy

Re: Is colon cancer preventable if caught early?

Postby ocstacy » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:33 am

I really wish they would change the recommended age to at least 30. There are so many of us that are so young getting this disease and catching it early is key. my kids are doomed for lots of colonoscopies throughout their lifetime, but I don't want them or anyone else to go through what we all have gone through so I think it's worth it.


I totally agree with you. I will be 40 in one year and my MD mentioned that I was too young to have one done, even after the fact that I just told her my mom got diagnosed at stage 3A and I had hemorroid background. After going to a 2nd opinion dr. he said he talked to GI and that they will do the procedure. I am uncertain why they wait until 50! They need to change it to 30 or 40 and every 4 years not 10! If my mom would have had her colonoscopy like 3 years ago when she was having symptoms of pain she would have caught it maybe stage 1. Her dr. was such an idiot, making her get all of these CT SCANS, MRI, PET SCAN..idiot!! He thought it was bone cancer, then it was determined she had osteoporosis.

Thank goodness she doesn't go to that Dr. anymore!! Phew!! Some Dr. should not be dr, if you know what i mean :roll:
Caregiver/daughter to dear mother age 78, dx 5/09/17 because of me!! :wink:
Rectal CA Stage 3 low-grade adenocarcinoma- 6 cm
Neoadjuvant start 7/10/17 ended 08/16/17
3D Lap. surgery @ Keck USC, Dr. Sang Lee 10/17/17 temp ileostomy
11/1 hospitalized abscess/hernia - home 11/06/17 antibiotics
NO LYMPHS INVOLVED! NEAR PATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE! YAY! :shock:
Took her last chemo med 05/10/18! Ileo reversal 07/24/18
1st BM after reversal 07/25/18 Anal Fissure 8/15/18
Me:1st Colonoscopy age 38. 08/17 Benign polp.


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