Notes on My Colon Cancer
charlieharrington.com
Notes on My Colon Cancer
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Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#2I feel you on this. I found out I had kidney cancer after my appendix decided it was time to go. I only had 3% of my left kidney removed and that is it. No chemo or anything just sore for a few weeks.
And man do I have guilt and felt like a fake cancer survivor. My experience was so minimal compared to a lot of people. But I realized I am a cancer survivor because of all the mental anguish cancer puts on me. It’s nothing I can ever explain, it is just this super terrible feeling of not knowing. Is my cough metastasized cancer? Probably not but my mind sure loves to think so. Having to deal with my own mortality was a big thing. I wonder if dying of old age causes as much stress and anxiety as knowing you have cancer and could die.
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#3Thanks for this - you're a phenomenal writer. Informative, funny at times, and most importantly vulnerable. Glad to see you're doing well!
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#4[deleted]
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#5Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the first place.
The night before mine, I googled to see if I could find anything that would make me feel less anxious and uncomfortable and I couldn't. Well, fellow reader, I hope this comment and the article put you at rest when it comes to doing this important and necessary procedure.
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#6I feel you on this. I found out I had kidney cancer after my appendix decided it was time to go. I only had 3% of my left kidney removed and that is it. No chemo or anything just sore for a few weeks. And man do I have guilt and felt like a fake cancer survivor. My experience was so minimal compared to a lot of people. But I realized I am a cancer survivor because of all the mental anguish cancer puts on me. It’s not…
> And man do I have guilt and felt like a fake cancer survivor.
Just a data point from an third-party observer with no reason to lie to you: your survivor guilt [0] is normal, but you've done nothing wrong and your experience with cancer is valid and I appreciate you talking about it. It's easy to fall for the trap of minimizing your problems after comparing yourself to other people, and it takes courage to be vulnerable and honest about the things that get you down sometimes.
TL;DR: Thanks for your comment.
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#7I feel you on this. I found out I had kidney cancer after my appendix decided it was time to go. I only had 3% of my left kidney removed and that is it. No chemo or anything just sore for a few weeks. And man do I have guilt and felt like a fake cancer survivor. My experience was so minimal compared to a lot of people. But I realized I am a cancer survivor because of all the mental anguish cancer puts on me. It’s not…
I had a partial nephrectomy several weeks ago due to kidney cancer. You're 100% right about the various feelings that come along with the experience.
Good luck - remember the recurrence rates are comparatively low once you get past a few years.
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#8Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the f…
Yes, this, totally this. Even the bowel prep [was] easy and painless [for me -- added this edit]. It's a good excuse to just binge a show, too.
I think the traditional guidance has been to go for your first colonoscopy around age 50. My doc mentioned that they're recommending that move down to 45, because they're seeing more and more young people with issues. You should bring this up with you doc if you have any similar symptoms or if there's any family history of colon cancer.
[edited]
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#9Fellow readers: Do not be afraid of a colonoscopy. Do not avoid it-- in fact, look forward to it. They are easy and painless. Waking up from the anesthesia I felt more relaxed than I ever have in my life. Also, the prep of clearing your system will reset your digestive system and you'll feel like a new person. I think the prep cleared out whatever it was that was causing us to investigate my digestive system in the f…
If you want a laxative, go for it, independent of a colonoscopy.
Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer
#10Hey Charlie, just wanted to thank you for posting such a vulnerable and funny memoir. I'm so glad everything is okay!