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Notes on My Colon Cancer

charlieharrington.com

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Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#161

Post by koheripbal »

stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow 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…

Is it possible to get it without the general anesthetic?

I don't like going under.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#163

Post by hef19898 »

nerdbaggy wrote: post #2

I 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 would never have believed it, but cancer changes you. And I can totally relate to the experience, while I wnet through chemo, it was an easy one. Seeing all the others, successfully going through it felt kind of like cheating to me, e.g. I never lost my hair or a lot of weight. Other had to be brouht to the brink of death in order to survive.

One thing I realized was, that I was less afraid of death itself, but rather the process of dying which can be a rather lengthy and ugly thing. Worst thing to happen, eve wirse than the initial diagnosis, was the moment a couple of months after I inished chemo. Some hemorroids started to act up again, and it was a quite realistic scenario that the cancer was back. Damn, I was destroyed by that. The initial diagnosis didn#t realy surprise me, for some reason I kind of expected that after all the tests they did. The potential second one caught me completely off guard, it took me a couple of months to recover from that. looking back, I'd say that was the worst part of the whole thing.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#164

Post by JacKTrocinskI »

graeme wrote: post #31
stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow 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…

Recommend anyone considering this to ask your doctor about using a sedative instead of general anesthesias. As best I can tell general anesthesia for colonoscopy for low risk appears to be a cultural custom especially prevalent in the northeastern USA. Anesthesia has many more possible side effects than sedatives and ought to be avoided unless needed (this applies to any unneeded treatment). Plus if you’re awake you…

I once had an endoscopy without any sedatives or anesthesia and that really sucked. The doc stuck a large tube down my throat and had me gagging for what felt like an eternity. After the procedure I needed a few minutes to wipe the tears that started forming from my eyes and gain some composure. This was done in Poland. If a colonoscopy is anything like that then not sure I'd want to be doing them regularly.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#165

Post by hef19898 »

JacKTrocinskI wrote: post #164
graeme wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recommend anyone considering this to ask your doctor about using a sedative instead of general anesthesias. As best I can tell general anesthesia for colonoscopy for low risk appears to be a cultural custom especially prevalent in the northeastern USA. Anesthesia has many more possible side effects than sedatives and ought to be avoided unless needed (this applies to any unneeded treatment). Plus if you’re awake you…

I once had an endoscopy without any sedatives or anesthesia and that really sucked. The doc stuck a large tube down my throat and had me gagging for what felt like an eternity. After the procedure I needed a few minutes to wipe the tears that started forming from my eyes and gain some composure. This was done in Poland. If a colonoscopy is anything like that then not sure I'd want to be doing them regularly.

Edoscopies are totally different beast. Colonscopies are much easier, also on the patients. They are defenitely nothing to be afraid of.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#166

Post by JacKTrocinskI »

cameldrv wrote: post #73
graeme wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recommend anyone considering this to ask your doctor about using a sedative instead of general anesthesias. As best I can tell general anesthesia for colonoscopy for low risk appears to be a cultural custom especially prevalent in the northeastern USA. Anesthesia has many more possible side effects than sedatives and ought to be avoided unless needed (this applies to any unneeded treatment). Plus if you’re awake you…

Second this. There is evidence that anesthesia causes brain damage. This shows up in the data most for babies and small children, and the elderly, where you can see it on IQ tests and chance of dementia. It's more pronounced with multiple surgeries. It may be that it's damaging everyone's brains, but it's just not as noticeable for adults. One study with twins showed about a 1.5 point IQ loss from a major surgery. Of…

Does this include the anesthesia given to us at the dentist? The one they give you in a shot to numb the tooth. I couldn't live without that.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#167

Post by hef19898 »

sg47 wrote: post #41
nerdbaggy wrote: post #2

I 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…

Stage 3 thyroid cancer survivor here at a similar age to the author. I totally feel like a fake cancer survivor but it's definitely turned me into a hypochondriac. I had to get a colonoscopy recently due to my GI issues and some of the symptoms were similar to the ones for colon cancer. I've tried to move on after 2 surgeries, RAI, medication adjustment but mentally it's been tough. I have to get tested regularly to…

Fuck, that sucks. I hope you have someone to talk to, because that constant enxiety can wear you down. In my case it was a very good friend, close family had enough on their hands already to cope with.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#168

Post by therealx »

JacKTrocinskI wrote: post #166
cameldrv wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Second this. There is evidence that anesthesia causes brain damage. This shows up in the data most for babies and small children, and the elderly, where you can see it on IQ tests and chance of dementia. It's more pronounced with multiple surgeries. It may be that it's damaging everyone's brains, but it's just not as noticeable for adults. One study with twins showed about a 1.5 point IQ loss from a major surgery. Of…

Does this include the anesthesia given to us at the dentist? The one they give you in a shot to numb the tooth. I couldn't live without that.

No, that's local, not general anesthesia.

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#169

Post by hef19898 »

cableshaft wrote: post #65

I've had the blood bit off and on (mostly off lately, but it happened again recently for a day), but I've always been told by doctors that it's just hemorrhoids, I'm too young to get cancer. Then Chadwick died, and I'm like, man, he got diagnosed with Stage 3 the same age I am now, and I'm in terrible shape compared to him. I'm thinking I should probably get a colonoscopy next summer, after this wave of Covid dies do…

Get it now. Don't wait. You want to catch cancer early, as early as possible. Ideally with colon cancer you get it before things get cancerous and you can avoid major surgery and therapy afterwards. And a couple of months can be all it takes to make a difference.

As other already said, a colonoscopy isn't really bad. It deffenitly beats having cancer by an order of magnitude!

Re: Notes on My Colon Cancer

#170

Post by ljf »

stevecalifornia wrote: post #5

Fellow 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…

Here in the UK you just get pain relief, and are generally conscious for the procedure - though gas and air is available if it is uncomfortable. It caused me no pain at all, was quick and easy and I'm pleased I went ahead with it.

My father found he had bowel cancer from a routine fecal occult test they were sending to all men above 65 in my area. He took some convincing to do the test, but found he had cancer and was swiftly operated on. My older brother found he had it far younger, about 52 and his was far more advanced when it was discovered, and 5 years of treatment later it won't be something they can cure. So it is pure chance my father's was caught so early and was so successful.

After speaking to my gp they agreed to start my colonoscopy cycle at 40 - with one every 5 years until I hit 55 and then likely more frequently.

I was a little nervous but it was totally fine and I feel freed that it is one worry that is if not behind me, that is controlled.

Top tip is to follow the instructions of the laxatives well and eat nothing except a broth or miso soup, and it will be far easier on your gut.

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