I had a colonoscopy done in dec. And the
doctor found a large polyp and a couple
small ones in the right lower colon. He
could remove the small ones, but only got
about 90% of the large one (a little over
an inch). He is planning on doing
surgery to remove part of the colon.
He'll cut off the end of the small
intestine and the colon above the corner
loop, then attach the small intestine to
the transverse colon. My question is:
is this drastic surgery necessary? I
think he believes that although it wasn't
cancerous yet, it would turn cancer if not
removed. I'm not really worried about
the surgery (i need a vacation!) but just
wonder if i'm doing the right thing. The
smaller polyps were in the same location,
and he said because of the blood supply,
he has to remove a larger section in that
location. I suppose if they tried to
remove just the polyp, there would be a
risk of the bowel lining perforating,
which would cause more trouble.
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snekii
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Australia
Posted: 02-24-04 03:19am
When it could save your life ...... ????
My sister had the same surgery and she is
fantastic ..... Once the polyp was
removed they did a byopsy on it also and
the tip of the polyp was cancerous !
Be brave and good luck !
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cowboy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Michigan
Posted: 02-24-04 10:15am
I had my surgery on feb 9, and after a
week in the hospital, was doing good. I
was lucky to have had the surgery, since
although the earlier biopsy was ok, the
biopsy after surgery had some cancer cells
in the base to the submucosal layer, but
not beyond that. The doctor wants me to
see an oncologist to be sure no further
treatment is necessary.
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snekii
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Australia
Posted: 03-03-04 00:53am
That is great news your ok now, my sister
is sensational now.
She is out all the time, she looks good,
she is feeling good and didnt have to have
any chemo or anything else. It has been
the hardest thing I have been thru in my
life, my sister means the world to me, and
I thank god every day she is fine and
healthy, people dont seem to realise if
you dont have your health you dont have
anything ..
What do you do for a living ???? Have you
got a history in your family of
polips/colon cancer ??? How often do you
have to have a colonoscopy ?
Did your doctor make your whole family
have a colonoscopy ?????
How are you going at the moment ????
Where is your location ??? Us ???
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cowboy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Michigan
Posted: 03-03-04 22:16pm
Snekii, i'm 52, a dairy farmer from
michigan (usa). My mother had the same
surgery in november, 2002, except hers was
on the left side at the bend, so hers
involved cutting the transverse colon and
the descending colon, then joining it back
together. She has had problems with
polyps for over 40 years, so had a
colonoscopy every 2 or 3 years. The
doctor missed a polyp (he said he thought
he saw two, but could only find one to
remove) then on her next test, it was too
large to remove the whole polyp during
colonoscopy, so she had to have surgery.
I had a colonoscopy just to get checked,
since cancer was on both sides of the
family, and that's how we found the
polyps. I had no symptoms, so was
surprised when we found it. I realize
now how fortunate I was that we found it
early. When I read the obits and see
someone in their 50's, I think, "that
could have been me." I don't need chemo
or anything, but am advised to have annual
colonoscopies for 5 years, since cancer
cells were found. I'm still recovering
good after 3 1/2 weeks, although get tired
easily. I see on my blood tests, my rbc
and hemoglobin were a little low following
the surgery, but the doctor never said
anything about it, so it must not be low
enough for treatment. I also get
light-headed when I stand up after sitting
for a while, but figure that will improve
with time.
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snekii
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Australia
Posted: 03-09-04 13:37pm
My sister was only 31/32 when they found
the polyp, so for us it was a massive
shock, as everywhere we read on the net
and in books, it stated people with this
condition are always in there 50's. My
sister is feeling fantastic at the moment,
she goes to the wc a little more
frequently but who cares when it 'saved
her life'. We have never had a history in
either sides of the families for colon
cancer, have had other cancers but not
colon. Something you could try drinking
for your blood is a juice made up of the
following .... Fresh beetroot, celery,
granny smith apples (green citrus apples )
and a carrot in a juice machine this
should help your blood, it looks pretty
off but ..... Taste not bad due to the
apples. My sister looked horrible and
pale just before she got told she had
polyps, but that was because she was
anemic ... And thats what sparked off for
them to check her out .... I said to the
specialist when I went in for my
colonoscopy thanks for saving my sisters
life and I think he was taken back it was
only but luck that he said to her how
about we do a colonoscopy and have a good
look why your anemic .. And if there is
anything more, had no idea and he said to
me, I have changed my whole practice and
life cause of your sister .... Nice to
see there are good doctors still out there
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snekii
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Australia
Posted: 09-21-04 07:08am
Hey how are you going ? Are you well ?
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cowboy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Michigan
Posted: 09-27-04 08:58am
I'm doing well. Back to normal. I'll
check about another colonoscopy the end of
the year for follow-up.