Colonoscopy Anyone?

15 years 2 months ago #23460 by TheWifeAgain
Replied by TheWifeAgain on topic Colonoscopy Anyone?
Thank you all so so so much. The waiting is the hardest part and now the time is here.
I will update later once we are back home and hubby is hopefully comfortably resting or sleeping or eating - yes he is very hungry!

Love
Pamela

Age 53 Currently
Bladder Cancer Diagnosis October 2006 T1G3
2011 Finally made it 6 month between Cystos
8/22/2011 Cysto in the OR
(BCG and BCG Maintenance over the years)
Graduated to yearly Cystos
Tumor found at first one year Cysto - TURBT 4/26/2013
Kidney pain - CT scan 5/1/2013

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15 years 2 months ago #23459 by wsilberstein
Replied by wsilberstein on topic Colonoscopy Anyone?
While colon cancer causes blood in the stool, it doesn't usually cause bright red blood in the bowl. I cannot promise you that it isn't cancer, so the colonoscopy is essential, but bright red blood is almost always anal bleeding unless there is profuse bleeding from higher up.
Please keep us posted on the outcome and best of luck.

-Warren
TaG3 + CIS 12/2000. TURB + Mitomycin C (No BCG)
Urethral stricture, urethroplasty 10/2009
CIS 11/2010 treated with BCG. CIS 5/2012 treated with BCG/interferon
T1G3 1/2013. Radical Cystectomy 3/5/2013, No invasive cancer. CIS in right ureter.
Incontinent. AUS implant 2/2014. AUS explant 5/2014
Pediatrician

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15 years 2 months ago #23458 by eddiek
Replied by eddiek on topic Colonoscopy Anyone?
Pamela,

It sounds like this may be your husband's first colonoscopy? I don't know how familiar you are with the procedure, but the doctor will speak with you because your husband will be given drugs that will affect his memory. You're the only one that will remember everything that the doctor says; even if he tells your husband, he might not remember everything.

Both of my parents had colon cancer and I've been through many colonoscopies with them. Given that there are several possible causes for the bleeding, the doctor may or may not be able to give you a definite answer following the procedure. If the doctor does find something like a polyp, it can be removed during the procedure, but as with any other type of suspicious tissue, only a biopsy can determine whether or not the tissue is cancerous.

To answer your question regarding what to ask the doctor, it of course depends upon what is found during the procedure. Usually, doctors schedule several of these endoscopic procedures in series, so they don't spend too much time discussing what they've found. In both my parent's cases, the doctor didn't need to see the biopsy to know that they had colon cancer.

The worst part of a colonoscopy is the preparation. He's just about finished with the preparation step, so let's hope that whatever is found can be either corrected during the procedure or is something other than cancer.

We'll be thinking about you folks tomorrow, so please let us know how he's doing whenever it's convenient!


Ed K.

Edward J. Kinsella
American Bladder Cancer Society
Board of Directors - Treasurer/Secretary

& Caregiver

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15 years 2 months ago #23457 by Rockyiss
Replied by Rockyiss on topic Colonoscopy Anyone?
Hi Pamela , My neighbor had alot lot of beeding also. The Drs. found some non cancerous polyps that was causing it.( they took them out and the bleeding stopped) I know how hard it is to wait and pray for the best,but we will be keeping you guys in our prayers. Rocky

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15 years 2 months ago #23456 by balihigh
Replied by balihigh on topic Colonoscopy Anyone?
I was diagnosed with bladder cancer last January. Like most folks, I discovered blood in my urine. I had a TURB to remove 4 tumors and that was followed by 12 BCG + interferon treatments. About May I began to have constant diarrhea. Never a normal movement, only watery diarrhea. I didn't have blood but it scared me to death. One of the symptoms of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits. It took me close to 2 months to have my colonoscopy and those were long months, believe me. In that same time, I discovered blood in my urine again after a clean cysto only a month earlier.

Ending for me-my colon was fine except for mild colitis and a radical cystectomy in Sept. I had to have the bag because of the colitis. I think stress may have been a factor here. I firmly believe that it can cause many things so the blood in the bowels could be something very benign. BCG could also be a contributor. Think positve.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you.
Nancy

female 60
1/08 dx 4 tumors TURB
T1 G3
12 BCG + interferon
5/08 another tumor/TURB
9/08 RC illieal conduit

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15 years 2 months ago #23454 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic Colonoscopy Anyone?
Pamela,
The time waiting for test results is always the most terrifying because in that time period anything is possible and our minds somehow always go to the worst don’t they? I wish there was a way I could buy us a magic wand that would make us stop that but we are human and that is just the way it is with all of us I imagine. None of us can tell you what is going on that is why they are doing the colonoscopy tomorrow. Until then the possibilities range from the benign to the serious and only time will clarify the situation. When the doctor comes out he may have a good idea of what is going if that is the case the question will be what is next. If not then you will possibly be waiting for pathology to bring clarity. No matter what tomorrow brings if you face a battle you will do what you have done before. You will go to battle station and find out everything you need to know to stack the cards in your husband’s favor. And never forget you forum family will be with you no matter what. Please let us know as soon as you can what you two find out tomorrow.

Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society

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