Monday, January 28, 2013

How true that colon cancer cell's progression is slow, occurs while young but shows symptoms by age 50's

How true that colon cancer cell's progression is slow, occurs while young but shows symptoms by age 50's?
as i am in my late 30's only(?), my doctor is puzzled that i being younger to exhibit symptoms of the disease...am the youngest in the brood of 5 and the only one in the family to have it (or any cancer for that matter)..the rest of my siblings will follow suit w/ colonoscopy soon...any of them may be positive w/c worries me more...please help me clarify this notion medical people or not...thank you...
Cancer - 5 Answers
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1 :
there are no symptoms for colon cancer, that is why screening is so important
2 :
it is growing dubling, so its later age will be less and exractly it is fast depending cells cound
3 :
As a broad generalization the statement has an element of truth, but as you have experienced there are many exceptions. Many persons, especially those with a family history of colon cancer, have pre-cancerous polyps in their colon. In most individuals these grow very slowly. Some never become cancerous, some become cancerous in the late '40's and beyond. Most still grow slowly, but eventually they spread into the mesenteric lymph nodes and from there to the liver. These pre-cancerous polyps can be removed via colonoscopy. Protocols differ, but one is that persons with no family history of colon cancer should have a colonoscopy every 10 years after age 40; if family history is positive, every 5 years; and if polyps are found, 3 years after that. Your gastroenterologist or the American Cancer Society is a better source of information.
4 :
No one knows the answer to this question. It is possible that malignant cells can remain dormant in the body, this happens to cancer patients who experience relapse. So, it may not be a slow cancer you are describing but a dormant cancer cell that has not yet begun to grow. At some point, perhaps age . . or some carcingoen . . or hormones . . something triggers that dormant cell to begin growing uncontrollably. But, it is not clear why. My son has a rare cancer that seemed to come out of nowhere. He actually had a well physical in December of that year so he could play sports. He had a complete physical and was found healthy. A month later in January he was not recovering from the flu. By early March he was diagnosed with stage IV sarcoma. I asked this same question . . could this have started when he was really little and been growing all along? And, I was told, probably not . . that the cancer can absolutely grow that aggressively and fast in only a few months. Since that time I have met other patients with this disease . . sometimes the cancer grows in as little as weeks . . but sometimes for unknown reasons it will sit dormant and not grow at all.
5 :
Some colon cancers are slow growers and would exist many years before symptoms showed up. Hubby has colon cancer diagnosed at 42, started in the appendix and estimated to have taken 5 - 10 years to grow to the stage where it burst the appendix. Others are faster growing. Even with the slow growers, 50's is not always the age of diagnosis. Talking with others in the chemo ward, many there are in their 60's and 70's and only recently diagnosed. So even if their tumours took 15 years to get going, that means they didn't START until 50's. Colon cancer is rare in the under 60's according to our oncologist. So you and my hubby are rather special :-) They have only just found a genetic marker for higher risk of colon cancer (read the article last weekend). So far, they are still not certain that there is a familial link - research is still ongoing and patients in UK (and I think US) are being asked to participate in a study to give their family history plus blood tests so that the familial links can be investigated. Colon cancer is very treatable if found early. By having colonoscopy when there are no symptoms, there is a good chance that IF cancer is found it will be early stage. But try to focus on the postive - just because you have cancer, does not mean your older siblings do too. Just that they get the chance to have a thorough check-over (oh, how they will be looking forward to that colonoscopy, *ahem*) Hubby's older sister is fine. good luck!

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Scared of colon cancer or something bad

Scared of colon cancer or something bad?
About a month ago I went to the bathroom and when I wiped there was bright red blood on the toilet tissue, nomoral color stool and no blood in the bowl. It only has happened twice in the past couple months. Then this week I had to nights that I woke up about 5 in the am with stomach pains like I was starving, I ate something and it helped but this is not normal for me. Then yesterday cause of the stomach problems I tried taking Peptobismo which helped. Also during this time I couldn't go #2 then when I did it was small I wound up having to go 3 times to feel like I emptyed out. Now today I went and it looked real dark almost black but when I wiped it looked like a very dark green. I am going to see a doctor but any ideas would be appreciated.
Cancer - 8 Answers
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1 :
Bright red blood may be from a tear or hemorrhoids. Usually if you have hard stools or strain when going to the restroom this could be the cause. Usually eating more fiber and drinking water and taking a stool softener can help out. Black stools indicate digested blood which may be from an ulcer, chrons, or other gastro problems. It sounds like you were constipated, but the green indicates some type of infection. I would try to relax until you see your doctor. Or you can do a little research on www.webmd.com hope you get better soon.,
2 :
Bright red blood sounds like a hemorrhoid or a cut from straining, especially if it is just on the paper. You don't say how old you are but I am sure that the doc can put you at ease. I am no doctor but we all go through this kind of stuff. Good luck.
3 :
Don't fear the worst. Could be parasites or burst pollops etc. Definately get checked.
4 :
Colon Cancer takes years to develop. Bright red blood after wiping is probably an indication of hemorrhoids, dark blood is usually an indicator that something "bigger" is going on. My thoughts are possibly IBS, but without diet information etc just a guess. Go to your primary, if he/she is concerned after testing the will send you to the GI. I think you will be OK from your symptoms.
5 :
Go to GNC for a parasite cleansing kit
6 :
If you are as sick as you sound (Your symptoms sound...depressingly...familiar). Don't get scared, get TESTED! I've been to the mountaintop on this, at 29 I had my first visit from "aunt flow", needless to say for a guy in his late 20's this was more than a little disturbing....all things considered. If nothing else, one thing you will develop, is a sense of humor - whether you want to or not. Get your ass to the doctor, let them know what's going on, and get there TOMORROW, take off work/school if you have to , don't screw around. Call your primary, get a referral to a gastroenterologist and get yourself a colonoscopy. Do not get a sigmoidoscopy- that's a waste of time and money, and is literally getting screwed "without the common courtesy of a reach around" (a sigmoidoscopy does not allow access to all the turns and twists of your large intestine) a colonoscopy literally turns and reaches around the 3 bends in your gut. In contrast to what many Americans think, when doctors think something is ACTUALLY wrong with you, the medical system moves suprisingly fast. You will know if you are in the flow if when calling in the morning for an appointment, instead of suggesting the 3rd of next month for your follow-up appointment, they suggest that _you_ can be squeezed in for a 11:30 appointment. A word of advice, unless they ship you directly to an imaging center, you will have about 2 days to prepare for your colonoscopy. They will have you get you two things to drink, First is something called phosphosoda and it costs about 79 cents, and for the most part it's pure EVIL. It tastes like a slightly oily salty mixture - (pretty much that's what it is), and has THE most God awful aftertaste. Your doctor may recommend what we in my chemotherapy group referred to as the "Gallon of Evil" which is a large container with the dehydrated salts inside, (just add water) - this is a MISTAKE of the first order. Unless your doctor explicitly tells you to, MY doctor told me a secret to avoiding the "Gallon of EVIL"....the secret was...the "Jigger of Evil", its a concentrated small bottle of liquid salts, containing about 2-3 shots worth of the stuff. My Dr's recommendation, Drink one shot with a glass of ice cold water (no ice), followed by at least 1/2 gallon of a clear juice or water of your choice (this does NOT include gin, scotch or other booze or any fluid which could possibly look red or blue while in your gut - so most gatorades and such are out), my personal recommendation is clear apple juice or clear grape juice. Repeat until the Jigger is empty. Here's a tip , Have three things, one, unfettered access to a toilet for about an hour or two, a tremendous supply of TP, and three a new appreciation for the term in patience that this too shall pass. Afterwards your gut will be clean and clear. You are now ready for your close up. Having intimate relations with a camera inside what looked to me like a remote control garden hose, is not everything it's cracked up to be but you've just survived the "Jigger of Evil" and afterwards you'll find that pretty after that experience, anything else - short of the doctor giving you the "get your affairs in order" talk is all downhill (so to speak). The second fun-filled fluid is called contrast, this is a more or less unavoidable evil. You can and should load up on fluids that are EASY on your kidneys, since contrast can stress your kidneys (they are not used to having to process either barium or radioactive stuff), so cranberry juice, apple juice or something similarly easy on your GI tract is perfect. They may or may not have you take an MRI before your colonoscopy - which involves you drinking a rather neutral tasting white substance (irradiated barium) which lights up your gut like a Christmas tree for the MRI machine. Please feel free to e-mail me off-line if you have any other questions or comments. And as always , don't believe a word I say without checking with your doctor first, since your mileage may vary, results not guaranteed yada yada.
7 :
Arrange for a colonoscopy, this minor procedure could save your life.
8 :
When you said that your bowel movement was small, did you mean that it was thin? Like a pencil? This is usually means you have a blockage. Mention it to your GP along with your other symptoms. Good luck.

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Colon Cancer questions

Colon Cancer questions?
Well, I have a friend and he has colon cancer. He is worried because his doctor has not told him what stage his cancer is at. He has had blood in his stool once or twice. I was just wondering what stage he might be in. Thanks, for your help(: The doctor has said that it has spread a little on the descending colon. I didn't want to ask much because it really upset him. And he's not a really close friend, but I am worried for him.
Cancer - 6 Answers
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1 :
Unable to tell without knowing about whether it has spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, which is how staging is determined
2 :
Visible blood in the stool is not a sign of cancer. And your friend needs a new doctor if this one did not give any staging information... Colon cancer isn't any fun, but it's certainly one of the preferable cancers to get if you absolutely insist on having cancer, since it is close to 100% fixable.
3 :
if the dr has not told him the dr may not know yet...with cancer fast detection and treatment is the best way to make it through... your friend should be seeking advanced help from a specialist starting NOW regardless of the stage... if he is waiting on the dr for treatment he needs to take control of his health care and move things forward... believe or not you can do that...good luck to you & friend
4 :
You can't tell the stage of cancer like this...he shd ask his doc about the stage as there are diagnostics tests that need to be done to determine how far the cancer has spread.
5 :
Colon cancer is staged on two levels, the degree of spread as evidenced by surgical exploration and/or medical imaging; and the tumor pathology as demonstrated by microscopic exam. Your question cannot be answered with the info you gave, but you should put "staging colon cancer" on your search engine.
6 :
When was he told he had colon cancer and what tests has he had? You cannot find out straight away. Usually a ct scan is done, which determines whether it is confined to the bowel or not. That rules out stage four. It is only after surgery he knows exactly what stage he is at, as they perform a biopsy which looks at how much of the colon wall it has penetrated and whether it has spread to lymph nodes. Then he will be told what stage he is at.

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