From my gastroenterologist's letter to me:
"Your polyp was adenomatous and was benign." Good news! But I had four polyps.
"...[A]denomatous cells can eventually grow into a cancer in a several to ten-year period."
That's not good.
"Since adenomatous polyps are hereditary, we recommend notifying your first degree relatives (mother, father, brothers, sisters, children) that they should have their colons evaluated with colonoscopy by age 40 or ten years before your first adenomatous colon polyp (whichever is sooner)."
But, will their nurse stepmother poo poo MY physician's advice or say I am lying? Yes, she would do that! I have such power and charisma that I have convinced judges, teachers, attorneys to lie about ex. You have to know I forge official letters and reports all the time. I am good or bad, whichever way you look at it.
I feel a great relief but anxiety for my children. All three have jobs with good insurance, so I hope they listen and follow through.
I hate to get a letter in the mail about medical, financial, or a worrisome thing on FRIDAY late. That is anxiety for the weekend.
Your turn
For those of you in the know, I have questions: Is four a large number of polyps for a 67-year-old woman to have? When they mention one polyp, are they ignoring or forgetting I have four polyps? Do people usually have more polyps the next time around? Is having four any indication I might have more and cancerous ones? I had a nodule removed from behind my thyroid, the kind that eventually becomes cancerous. I am just a person sprouting precancerous growths? Kristine or Jane or anyone, got any answers/opinions?
Since I'm not Kristine or Jane, I'll just keep my opinion to myself. When I had my colon removed, it was full of polyps.
ReplyDeleteI did not word that right and will reword it. I want to hear what you have to say. Tell me, please?
DeleteI think you should buttonhole your doctor for a heart-to-heart talk about your concerns. I am due for my second colonoscopy and do not look forward to the prep nor having Nurse Ratchet shove a camera up my ass. But it has to be done... someday.
ReplyDeleteCoffey, I'm trying to picture poor Nurse Ratchet, and the job ahead of her where your ass is concerned.
DeleteCoffeypot,
DeleteMy appointment with him is in three weeks! That is why I was asking here.
I am ignorant, so cannot add anything useful.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I am distressed that nurse stepmother is prepared to let her dislike of you jeopardise people's health. Some people are too stupid and too nasty to be allowed oxygen.
You have no idea how she has hurt my children to hurt me. I am going to start a blog about that.
DeleteI agree with Coffeypot - have a good talk with your doctor. How long are you to wait till your next colonoscopy? My brother-in-law has to have it done every 5 years because of the kind of polyp that was found. My surgeon explained, at my preliminary appt, that he likes to remove all polyps to be on the safe side - then biopsy them. From what he said I took it to mean that some doctors do not remove the polyps but just do a biopsy & then if necessary go back in and remove them. I prefer his way. I did not have any polyps but he did give me color photo of my internal hemorrhoids - wasn't that nice!
ReplyDeleteBellen,
DeleteI go back for another in 3 years. Oh, my, I am all for taking them out the first time! Oh, I forgot he promised me color shots. I must get those. Thanks for the explanation of how it can be done.
Four polyps, or twenty, as long as they're not cancerous. And if one was, his report would have concentrated on that one. In other words, be glad there were only four, and the benign prognosis would apply to all of them. Some people have to have their colons removed due to Familial adenomatous polyposis, an inherited gene that produces MASSES of polyps. Relax. You're normal.
ReplyDeletelotta,
DeleteI was not sure if numbers mattered. That is a horrid diagnoses and treatment. My daughter has a colon problem, pretty serious. Thanks.
Removing polyps is a good thing. And it sounds like the kind of polyp you had is even better. My husband had a more serious kind with his last colonoscopy and the docs assure us he's golden as long as he goes back when they tell him too.
ReplyDeletePolyps are pretty normal. If more people would just get the darned colonoscopy when they are supposed to, there would be a lot less colon cancer.
The info you got from the dr is accurate. 4 polyps is not excessive. see above re adenomatous polyposis. The report could mean that one or all of the polyps contained the pre cancerous cells. It really doesn't matter how many were adenomatous-- it just means you have a propensity to grow that kind of polyp, So every 3 yrs is the recommended time interval until you get very old. So next time only 2 Dulcolax, try to finish the prep in the time frame he gives you. Many people can't do that so just keep drinking until you are pooping clear water. Some drs divide the prep to half the day before and half the day of the exam. That seems to be easier to tolerate. If the taste is getting to you, drink the stuff with a straw and try to keep the liquid off the edges of your tongue-- where the taste buds are. Clear liquids are liquids you can see through-- apple juice, tea, broth, water, Sprite, and even Coke. Do not use Cool aide or other red liquids-- it looks like blood in there. We always recommend lemon lime jello or lemon jello if you want something more solid. Rita is tight-- as we get older we tend to have more polyps but if you follow the schedule prescribed anything bad will be caught early. Oh yeah, back to the prep. If you get several flavors don't decide on one flavor for the entire gallon. Make the gallon up with no flavor. In you first glass put a little of the flavor packet in the glass. If you think you will be able to drink the whole gallon with that flavor then go ahead and do the whole gallon. Otherwise, try some of the rest of the flavors. You do not have to use the flavors if you don't want. I do it with no flavor--I think it's easier without a flavor..My first colonoscopy ruined me for the cherry flavor.
ReplyDeleteI had opened and smelled each of the flavor packets before deciding but I made the mistake of flavoring the whole gallon with one flavor Yep it was CHERRY. HORRIBLE is all I can say.
DeleteI was able to split the gallon to 1/2 the night before and the second one the morning of. I truly don't think I could have drank it all in one evening. I spoke with a friend who have me he best advice. She suggested that I use ice and to hold my nose and chug it down. Following that advice made a huge difference.
Flavor packet? I got a huge jug of Miralax powder, Gatorade (lemon lime), and Dulcolax.
DeleteKristine,
DeleteWhat kind of flavor packets? I used half the miralax and 64 oz lemon lime Gatorade. I did not even get all that finished. I never drank it all and threw it away after the procedure. That morning, they said I did not have to drink it, but try. When I told them about the four dulcolax, and the fact I was clear, they snickered and said try to finish it. The doctor said I was squeaky clean.
There was nothing offensive except I don't like lemon-lime drinks and nothing else in the Gatorade line was clear enough, all blue, purple, and red. I would have preferred the purple or red. Lemon-lime was too sweet. The sugar was just too sweet.
I had benign polyps removed five years ago. I am due for another test this summer. Since my mother and uncle both died of colon cancer, I have to be tested every 5 years. I think they usually remove them when they find them.
ReplyDeleteJane,
DeleteI am glad you are aware and following the doctor's orders. That is scary. I wonder why I have to be tested in three years. It's probably my age. Thanks for the comment.
I asked to be tested 5 years ago at my mother's request. She wanted to make sure we were all right. Normally at my age I would only have to be tested every 10 years. Because of my family history they have dropped it to 5. If any other close relative gets colon cancer, they will drop it further. Hopefully that doesn't happen.
ReplyDelete