Postby rockhound » Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:11 pm
Kenzie0104 wrote:Hi Guys!
I am currently 21 years old. When I was 19 I had a precancerous polyp removed from my colon. My doctor told me not to worry too much about it, but to definitely get checked on every 5 years. At the time I had no family history of colon cancer, just breast cancer. This summer, my Dad (46 yrs old) was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer (no symptoms or signs). Because of my grandma having breast cancer, they wanted to do genetic testing. They both have the FAP Gene (I'm not too familiar with it, but I'm doing my research). I informed my doctor as well, and he wants to make sure I do not have Lynch Syndrome, so I'm getting another colonoscopy in a few weeks
.
Coping with my Dad having cancer is really hard, but I'm having anxiety attacks just because my Dad's doctors are pushing genetic testing and talking about the possibility of Lynch Syndrome.
Should I be this concerned right now though? I guess I just need some advice.
Thanks in advance!
If you know you are Lynch positive (or FAP) you can get screened annually so if any polyps do appear, they can in theory get taken out on those screening colonoscopies. Plus you are at risk for a number of other cancers that can also be evaluated- early detection usually equals better long term results. If I would have known I was Lynch positive, I'm certain a colonoscopy would have caught my polyp early before it became cancerous (and was caught via colonoscopy I pushed for exactly a year ago). Some people don't want to know all that, but I personally would. Same with FAP- from what I understand that can lead to potentially 100's of polyps. Anyway, I would recommend the genetic testing and also the colonoscopy.
45 yr old male
Diagnosed December 2016, age 41
Stage 1/IIA rectal cancer - T2/3N0M0 via MRI (MRI indicates stage 1; onc/surgeon = stage 2a)
Lynch syndrome, MSH6 mutation, MSI
2 to 3/2017 Xeloda + Radiation
5/10/17 - Robotic LAR with temp. loop illeostomy, 0/20 lymph nodes
6 to 7/2017 - Six cycles Folfox @ full strength
9/20/17 - Ileostomy takedown
10/17 - CT, NED
5/18 - CT, NED
11/18 - CT, NED
5/19 - CT, NED..moving to yearly CT scans
5/20 - CT, NED
5/21 - CT, NED (4 yr. scan)