The Colon Club

During my colonoscopy they found a 12mm sessile polyp. There was also a small amount of inflammation. I know I need to wait for the pathology results, but I'm still a nervous wreck. The doctor isn't concerned, but isn't that large? Shouldn't that be concerning? And no follow up was given. All the nurse said was the doctor will call you. She was very specific when she said the doctor will personally call.

Nurses can't really give information. Whether it be good news or bad.

I am not knowledgeable about areas that I haven't experienced. Hopefully someone will come along to help you.

I just wanted to welcome you and let you know that you are not alone in the worry department.

Thank you. I know they can't, but it's still just like throw a girl a bone. They were hesitant on even giving me the pictures. I am trying to be positive, but as I spoke with my mom I found my grandfather had colon cancer, but they found it early so he was fine. I will say hemoclips are crazy little things.

I believe they will wait for the pathology report to come back to decide the next move. Were they able to get all of it out?

Lee

Yes. They also took a few biopsies because of the inflammation. They said to expect the call in 3 to 6 days.

Well that is good they got it all. Again they will wait for pathology to determine the next step. I suspect IF you do have cancer, it is probably a EARLY stage diagnoses (like stage I or maybe II). This is good, your chances of beating this are 80-90%, very good odds.

Try to take it easy until you get the results. If there is cancer, they will probably do a few test like CAT scan, CEA for a more informed diagnoses. Butt again, I think you will survive this pretty good.

Hope this helps,

Lee

Polyps are very common and 12mm is not large. I'd say the probability it is cancer is small. But waiting for results sucks and I'm sure everyone on this forum can sympathise with you. Just try to keep yourself busy and not think about it too much. And whatever you do, stay away from Dr Google. Best wishes for your results!

I know I should, but it brought me to some good forums. Lol. I really am trying to be calm, but I didn't think I'd be here at 28, doing a second colonoscopy, and then them finding something. The last one I had 5 years ago that said you're fine it's IBS, eat healthy. That didn't work, so now I am here. Thank you guys for the quick responses.

Does colon cancer run in your family? Or any other cancer? At 28, you are young to be producing polyps. If you were diagnosed with IBS on your last scope, that could be where the inflammation is coming from. If you want to stick around, could you put a signature together with what info you do have.

Why were you scoped before?

If you do have IBS, you do want to be sure to get scoped often, as inflammation can lead to cancer.

Lee

I think I did a signature right. Sorry if I didn't. My mother just told me Friday that my grandfather, her dad, was recently diagnosed. Her and my two aunts and one uncle all got a colonoscopy done. They had polyps and they were benign. They did my first colonoscopy due to weightloss and diarrhea with unknown cause. This last one was because of abdominal pain and rectal bleeding.

Okay, now I understand. It's good that you all are being proactive. Because of your IBS and producing polyps, yes do get scoped on a regular basis. Because you were scoped 5 years ago, I would not be too worried about the polyp they removed being cancerous. Generally it takes about 10 years for a polyp to turn cancerous. Yes it has happened (turning cancerous in a few years), butt it is very rare, usually caused by some genetic disorder.

When your doctor does call with results, talk to s/he about getting regular scopes.

And let us know how it goes.

Do you have any siblings.

Lee

P.S. awesome job on signature line.

The nurse did say that he(the doctor) wasn't concerned, but she also said my follow up was PRN when he told my husband that he would see me sometime in the next two weeks. My brain is just spinning now. I'm actually a very healthy person. I run 20-30 miles a week, eat what I'm supposed too, and hardly drink. So, this has thrown me for a loop. I'm also known to overthink everything and be a bit of a pessimist.

I do have one sister, but we are not close and my mother isn't concerned either.

I think the other thing getting me is that I work in healthcare. I'm an OB tech/Cardiac tech so it is odd being on the other side. Sorry, rambling here.

I'm hoping everything is okay, and I'm sure it is. I am learning a bunch. It is an awkward subject. Not many people want to discuss it, but it should be discussed. Just mentioning my symptoms to my family makes them back away. It's one reason I'm anxious to get back to work and talk to others in the medical field so I have a sounding board.

Just out of curiosity, did you find out through a routine exam or was their symptoms?

My only symptom were bleeding hemorrhoids. I was not anemic, blood work was fine, no blood found in the stools. My PCP figured my bleed hemorrhoids were my excuse for getting my baseline colonoscopy early in life. I feel that referral saved my life. My signature line tells the story.

I too was healthy and very active. Neither my brother or my mom every had a polyp, me I produce them. Thus I get scoped every 3 years.

Lee

Wow! Ten years is great and thankfully you did have a PCP who decided it was a good idea for you to start screening early.

12 mm? Ain't no guarantees is life but that ain't nothing. I'd be more worried about getting run over by a drunk driver.