One year anniversary

[Mitchell Meeks]

Well, April 16 will make it one year that I had my colon surgery. Had a colonoscopy done and they found a tumor. When it was all over, they removed a tumor the size of a grapefruit and 12" of my colon. In pain for several months due to the large incision that they made. At least there was no chemo or other things that had to be done.

This coming Friday, April 25, I am having my follow up colonoscopy. The doctor told me at my physical a few weeks ago that everything looks great. I only hope that my colonoscopy comes out the same.

[Jerry McCarthy]

Good luck Mitchell. Everybody over 40 should be getting a colonoscopy at least every 5 years and all men, again 40 and over, should have their PSA checked. Hey, we are inspectors, but do we take care of having our aging bodies inspected? Prostate cancer survivor.

[David Banks]

Wish you the best Mitchell.

[John Arnold]

...Everybody over 40 should be getting a colonoscopy at least every 5 years...

That's what I thought, but my doc recently told me 10 years since my first one at age 50.

[John Arnold]

This is from the Johns Hopkins website
Johns Hopkins: Colon Cancer on colonoscopy for colon cancer (http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/colon_cancer/JohnsHopkinsColonCancerHealthAlert_650-1.html)

"Patients who have had a hyperplastic polyp removed have the same risk of colon cancer as the general population and can adhere to the same screening schedule—colonoscopy every 10 years after age 50."

Obviously, if you've had colon cancer, that's an other story.

[Mitchell Meeks]

Well, I had my follow up colonoscopy yesterday. Everything looked good. Had a few small polyps but Dr does not appear worried. Now, hopefully I can wait three years before I have to take that nasty mess again!
If you have never had one before and you are at that age or your family has a history, I highly suggest you have one. Even though I was not due for three more years, they found mine and I still had to have surgery. I can only imagine if I had waited what they would have found.

[Jerry Peck]

I think the time between them depends on what is found or not found.

If they find polyps - 5 years, if they find polyps with stems - 1 year, if they find nothing (like with me this past January 2nd) - 10 years.

[Tom Edwards]

I had my second colonoscopy this year.
First one, the year before, turned up Pre-cancerous cells but no cancer.
That's called "dodging a bullet".

Colon cancer runs in my family too.
Scary stuff.
I'm married to an RN that takes my health very seriously.
Lucky me.

Good luck, Mitchell.