38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

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ocstacy
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby ocstacy » Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:37 pm

Yahoo!!! Good news! After meeting up with a second doctor for 2nd opinion, after asking many many questions, my colonoscopy was finally approved!! The doctor actually phoned me personally and mentioned that he had spoken to the G.I. Again, the second dr. was a little concerned on why I wanted it so bad because of my age and my mom's diagnosis but after arguing and trying to prove my point he made a call to the GI and they said it was okay. Hopefully, I get a good G.I. specialist!
Why is it so hard to get a colonoscopy in your 30's?? So, July I will get one done and I'm a little nervous but oh well. Prayers ! :D PS) do all the new docs start in July? Someone told me that!
Last edited by ocstacy on Wed Jul 05, 2017 2:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
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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ANDRETEXAS
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Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Tue Jun 27, 2017 12:31 am

Congratulations ! Way to get it done !
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

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ANDRETEXAS
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Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Tue Jun 27, 2017 12:31 am

Prayers sent your way....
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

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ocstacy
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby ocstacy » Tue Jun 27, 2017 12:58 am

Is the prep super hard? Also, were you put out or twilight sleep? I just want to knocked out.... also did you have gas after you woke up? :P
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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CRguy
Posts: 10473
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby CRguy » Tue Jun 27, 2017 1:03 am

ocstacy wrote:Why is it so hard to get a colonoscopy in your 30's??

to quote from our Founder's Colondar bio
Molly McMaster | Age at Diagnosis: 23 | Hometown: Glens Falls, NY

Molly McMaster was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer on February 19, 1999 – her 23rd birthday. After surgery and chemotherapy, Molly will celebrate her 29th birthday and her sixth year cancer-free this month. A former radio personality, Molly now dedicates her time to educating people, especially younger people, about colorectal cancer.

AND last I heard Molly is doing well with NO cancer in 2017 !!!!!!!!!!!!!
= CRC IS treatable and beatable IF discovered early
IF you get the diagnosis and your Doc is actually looking out for you
IF NOT ... get another Doc ! :twisted:

When I first joined the forum, 2008, we had a kind of push to take a Colondar to every Doctor, post it in their office ... and then ask them WHY they were not doing c-scopes on YOUNGER patients ... even though they have had the possible signs and symptoms
... ergo CLINICAL signalment !!!!

to get a damned C-scope done
THAT was 2008

Take your docs any and ALL Colondars OR Colondars2.0

plunk it on their desk
nail it to their wall
and don't stop until YOU educate THEM

WORD

Best wishes
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

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LeonW
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Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby LeonW » Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:34 am

ocstacy wrote:Is the prep super hard?

I didn't find it super hard; it's just something big that tastes bad. The first time around was the easiest :wink:
I recommend you prepare it detail: make a plan that tells how many (full glass) shots to drink within the prescribed time. And set alarms when to drink.
In this manner you can take each dose in auto mode. Just mechanically do what the plan says to do when the alarm goes off. Without thinking. My DW made me try a straw - is too difficult / too slow. Use a container that gulps down easy.

ocstacy wrote:Also, were you put out or twilight sleep?

I was put out each time, but woke up in the middle of the one in 2015. Found it interesting to watch and have things explained. Doc adjusted the monitor so I could see better. Didn't feel a thing. Dozed off again during recovery afterwards. I'll certainly ask to stay awake next time (April/May 2018). Not that you should do the same, but there's no need to worry. In most countries (UK is exception, I think) standard procedure is to put you in a light sleep. You won't notice a thing.

ocstacy wrote:did you have gas after you woke up?

Nope. Walked out and had a sandwich before going (being driven) home.

Best wishes
Leon
Dec 2012 - CC 2 unresect liver mets, CEA 41.8 (MM 65yrs)
Jan 2013 - colectomy @ spleen 2/26 nodes IVa T3N1bM1a
Feb-Jul - 1x Xelox-7x Xelox/Avastin, shrinkage from #3
Aug - 2x PV embolization (both failed)
Sep 2013 - R liver resect, 25d hosp (liver failure/delirium, lung emboli, encephalopathy), no living cancer (pCR)
2014/15 - recovery, scopy: 2 polyps
2016 - new town/life
2018, scopy: 2 polyps
2018/20 low (1.0-1.4) CEAs/clean CTs: 4x2014, 6x2015-17, 3x2018-20
next June 2021!

PainInTheAss
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby PainInTheAss » Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:50 am

ocstacy wrote:Yahoo!!! Good news! After meeting with one more doctor today, my colonoscopy was finally approved!! Again, the second dr. was a little concerned on why I wanted it so bad because of my age and my mom's diagnosis but after arguing and trying to prove my point he made a call to the GI and they said it was okay. Hopefully, I get a good G.I. specialist!
Why is it so hard to get a colonoscopy in your 30's?? So, July I will get one done and I'm a little nervous but oh well. Prayers ! :D


It is actually easier to get one with a colorectal surgeon. My colorectal surgeon has his own little hospital attached to his office where he does colonoscopies and other minor procedures. GIs don't do them as often. My daughter's GI prescribed laxatives, so I took her to my colorectal surgeon and he immediately recommended a colonoscopy. A GI in the ER told me I didn't have a tumor. I highly recommend you get a colonoscopy with a colorectal surgeon for this reason. My dad got a perforated colon during a colonoscopy with a GI. I've heard of others having issues, too, even with GIs missing cancer diagnoses. Can you imagine being told you are all clear but you keep having symptoms and then you get another one and find out it actually is cancer and they missed it? Colorectal surgeons specialize in the bowel. My surgeon knew in five minutes that I didn't have just hemorrhoids after being in the hospital for 5 days under the care of a GI and a whole team of doctors who had no idea what was wrong with me.
47yo single mom of 4 (24, 21, 18, 16) at Dx
6/13 - RC T4b IIIc 5LNs on PET CEA 5.4
8/13 - Finish chemorad
10/13 - APR/hyst+ovaries/perm colostomy 2/12 nodes+
6/14 - Finish Xelox 6 rds
1/15 - CT clear CEA 0.2
10/15 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.7
4/16 - CT clear
10/16 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.6
5/17 - PET clear? Follow up MRI to verify inflammation

Aqx99
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby Aqx99 » Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:02 am

I had Suprep for my colonoscopy prep. It tastes like salty Dimetapp to me. It wasn't that hard to drink down. I just kept reminding myself why I was drinking the nasty stuff. In addition to non-red Jell-O, broth, etc., I also ate non-red gummy bears so I had a sense of actually eating when I felt hungry.

I was completely out for my colonoscopy. I wish they had woken me about 5 seconds later than they did, though. I came to just as the scope slipped out from between my butt cheeks.

As for gas, I passed the longest and loudest fart of my life in the recovery room. They fill you with air in order to be able to see every inch of the colon walls, so they expect you to pass gas afterwards. Just let it rip, nobody cares.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

TXLiz
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby TXLiz » Tue Jun 27, 2017 12:51 pm

So glad you got a referral!

Prep isn't bad, the procedure wasn't bad, to me.

Knowing what I know now...even if it's embarrassing, uncomfortable, etc, it's worth every second. You need to know.

I get ultra mad at docs who blow any patient off when requesting a colonoscopy. They know it's not just older people who get CR cancers.

One of my docs always said: "GI cancer is a cancer of old men." :roll: :twisted:

Really? Can I get that in writing and sue you into oblivion now, since I am not a man and less than 50 years old!
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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kellywin
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Location: Northern CA

Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby kellywin » Tue Jun 27, 2017 4:23 pm

Do not take no for an answer. My bleeding was blamed on "hemorrhoids" too - luckily my doc took it seriously and after a month when the bleeding didn't stop but got worse referred me directly to a colorectal surgeon. Diagnosed shortly thereafter as stage IIIC rectal cancer @ 40. I had only been bleeding for about 6 weeks and that was the ONLY symptom. And that's with no family history. With Kaiser you can change your primary - so if they won't give you the referral, change until someone will. I'm not trying to scare you, but you have to be your own advocate.
Kelly, mom 14 yo girl
Dx 11/15/12 Rectal Cancer @ age 40
Stage IIIC
5.5 weeks Xeloda & Radiation - complete 2/5/13
Colectomy 3/12/13, 7 of 14 nodes positive - no ileo
4/24/13-8/20/13 - 5 rounds Xelox, 1 Xeloda only

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Maggie Nell
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby Maggie Nell » Wed Jun 28, 2017 5:06 am

Aqx99 wrote:As for gas, I passed the longest and loudest fart of my life in the recovery room. They fill you with air in order to be able to see every inch of the colon walls, so they expect you to pass gas afterwards. Just let it rip, nobody cares.


OMG! Did you bottle it? On another thread, peanut, posted a link to an article that reckons smelling farts prevents cancer.
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

peanut_8
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby peanut_8 » Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:01 pm

Don't know if you get South Park in your neck of the woods Maggie, butt your fart bottling comment has reminded me of the episode where...

Stan convinces everyone in South Park to drive Hybrid cars after Kyle moves to San Francisco

the good folks of San Francisco like to smell their own farts,

even going to the extent of capturing the gas in a wine glass, and sniffing it smugly

Image


PS
good luck on your colonoscopy ocstacy.
Last edited by peanut_8 on Wed Jun 28, 2017 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

DarknessEmbraced
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:41 pm

I'm so glad you are going to get your colonoscopy!*hugs* For me the prep is the worst part. I have one where I had to drink a lot of prep and found it really difficult. It tasted like old salty gum. The prep I prefer is pico salax. Only two packets. Still doesn't taste good but chasing it with other liquids helps and having it cold. I have sedation for my colonoscopies so I don't remember anything or feel pain. I hope your prep and colonoscopy go well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

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Bev G
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby Bev G » Wed Jun 28, 2017 3:03 pm

Just FYI, yes, new doctors always start the 1st of July, perhaps a week earlier in some facilities These are docs entering their intern year, the first year out of medical school. I can virtually assure you that you won't have an intern doing your colonoscopy.

I'm glad you hung tough to get your scope done. Wishing you the best of luck.
58 yo Type1 DM 48 years
12/09 Stage IV 2/22 nodes + liver met, colon resec
3 tx FOLFIRI, liver resec 4/10
9/10 6 mos off chemo, Neg PET&CTC CEA nl
2/11 finished total 10 rounds chemo

9/13 ^17th clean PET/CT NED for now

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ocstacy
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Re: 38 yr old wants colonoscopy, doctor declined

Postby ocstacy » Mon Jul 10, 2017 1:54 am

lol, yes july 2nd to be exact as I asked my 35 year old MD. She laughed and said how did you know? I said I joined a "Colon Club" online and belong to a group.
I let her know that I want to meet my GI before he does the procedure and ask how many he has done before I even say yes. I am glad that she finally agreed after I went in for a 2nd opinion, then she said didn't know I was bleeding at one time, and that my hemorroids were that bad. It was 2014 to be exact.. will never forget the pain that I experienced. Horrible! I cried so much. I will never forget when the dr. did an exam on me and I just cried so hard cause the pain was so unbearable. I had to sit in a sitz bath with throbbing pain, thought it was going to explode.. awful awful awful. Started full time college, worked 2 jobs, my daughter was 1 1/2, didn't have health insurance. I used OTC stuff and it got worst. So thankfully, I got RX med.. and it slowly went away.

My mom, brother have HX with hemmy's, brother had it banded. Mine were horrible towards end of pregnancy and shorty after. I would rather have another baby than go through that pain again. I am so sorry for anyone that has to go through with it (Cancer) that is why I am going in. Cause I'd rather know earlier, than later cause I have the same issues that most of you had. I study cancer in my physics class. We look for tumors, we see the sharp corners of spread. It's very interesting, but where is it coming from? I think it's milk, diet, etc.
I think everyone has cancer somewhere and did you know that a colonscopy can only detect colorectal cancer and usually a CT, MRI, Petscan will not. So why is it that they start at age 50 and you get screened every 10 years? Shouldn't it be age 40 screened every 5? That is what I think! :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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