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Two Precancerous polyps at age 28

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 9:11 am
by bluebaby
I went for my first colonoscopy last week because my father had a villous adenoma at age 31, which he needed surgery to remove. So he told me to go now, as I am in that age range he anticipated. My father's mother died of colon cancer in her 50's with that same villous adenoma, as did my father's aunt, in her 70's, and my father's second cousin, at age 52; all had the same villous adenoma polyp in the same spot.

Last week I went with my two sisters, both of them were clear, I, on the other hand, had two polyps; one in my descending colon that was 10 mm, and another in my ascending colon which was 1.2 cm. The Doc removed both, said they look precancerous, but also said the stems they were on looked healthy, as did the surrounding tissue in my colon. Neither of these polyps were villous adenomas like my dad's side. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, because even though they were more tubulous like, I had two rather than 1; one of them looked more tubulovillous the Doc said. Maybe their similarity in size and structure suggests it was more environmental, and build up at the same time from my bad eating habits...

My father is a cardiologist and though he's never tested for Lynch, he insists that we don't have lynch syndrome, because the only cancer that ran in the family is colon cancer; there were hundreds of women in his family, none of them had ovarian or endometrial cancer (which is associated with Lynch). I should note my father's polyps never returned after the one he removed at 31.

However, I am freaking out, and DEATHLY afraid I have Lynch. I am more overweight than my sisters and have eaten pretty poorly over the last 28 years, but I am not obese or anything like that.

Is it really that uncommon for someone my age to have these polyps? Someone please comfort me...I don't want some crazy cancer in my 30's.

Re: Two Precancerous polyps at age 28

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 3:12 pm
by Geoman
At 40 I was told “you are too young for colon cancer”. You have hemorrhoids. I was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer at 44 and don’t have lynch.

Unfortunately, there is a trend of increased diagnosis in younger people. See link to article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/well ... ancer.html

I would get screened for lynch. It is a simple blood test. Not knowing has nothing to do with not having. Make sure you get screenings as directed by your doctor.

Re: Two Precancerous polyps at age 28

Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 3:22 pm
by Lee
Being overweight supposely can contribute to this disease. Butt it does seems like colon cancer runs in your family. If you are concerned about Lynch, by all means get tested.

For what it's worth, I was diagnosed at age 46, no family history, and not overweight. My brother has always been clean. His wife started producing polyps in her 40's. She lied to get her first scope at age 44, they found polyps, Was told to come back in 10 yrs. Three yrs later, she lied again, and again they found polyps. Now she gets scoped every 3 yrs. No family history, her mom, dad and sister were clean. None of these people are over weight, we all eat healthy.

good luck,

Lee

Re: Two Precancerous polyps at age 28

Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 4:30 pm
by rockhound
bluebaby wrote:I went for my first colonoscopy last week because my father had a villous adenoma at age 31, which he needed surgery to remove. So he told me to go now, as I am in that age range he anticipated. My father's mother died of colon cancer in her 50's with that same villous adenoma, as did my father's aunt, in her 70's, and my father's second cousin, at age 52; all had the same villous adenoma polyp in the same spot.

Last week I went with my two sisters, both of them were clear, I, on the other hand, had two polyps; one in my descending colon that was 10 mm, and another in my ascending colon which was 1.2 cm. The Doc removed both, said they look precancerous, but also said the stems they were on looked healthy, as did the surrounding tissue in my colon. Neither of these polyps were villous adenomas like my dad's side. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, because even though they were more tubulous like, I had two rather than 1; one of them looked more tubulovillous the Doc said. Maybe their similarity in size and structure suggests it was more environmental, and build up at the same time from my bad eating habits...

My father is a cardiologist and though he's never tested for Lynch, he insists that we don't have lynch syndrome, because the only cancer that ran in the family is colon cancer; there were hundreds of women in his family, none of them had ovarian or endometrial cancer (which is associated with Lynch). I should note my father's polyps never returned after the one he removed at 31.

However, I am freaking out, and DEATHLY afraid I have Lynch. I am more overweight than my sisters and have eaten pretty poorly over the last 28 years, but I am not obese or anything like that.

Is it really that uncommon for someone my age to have these polyps? Someone please comfort me...I don't want some crazy cancer in my 30's.


Get tested for Lynch- if positive, then you just deal with the screening protocols (e.g., annual colonoscopies, etc.). Way better than not knowing and having to deal with cancer. Also, my father has Lynch and has never had issues with it, so just because someone is Lynch positive, does not automatically = bad things.

Re: Two Precancerous polyps at age 28

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 10:29 am
by bluebaby
According to the pathology results, both polyps were completely benign. The 1.2cm one was an inflammatory polyp, and the 10 mm one was a hyperplastic polyp. According to my GI, I don't need another colonoscopy for the next 5 years. I will go earlier just to be safe. I am still a bit confused and paranoid about these benign polyps... but I am certainly relieved. Thank you all for your answers!