1. < LGBTQIA Health

Colorectal cancer or other GI Issues - let's talk about this

Posted by cheekycharity @cheekycharity, Jan 24 5:13pm

Hi, I'm a gay male and want to start a dialogue with anyone in the LGBTQ+ affected by colorectal cancer (patients, survivors, caregivers) or any other GI issues.

I have a long family history of colorectal cancer, I have IBS and have had precancerous rectal polyps at 32, and I run a nonprofit called Cheeky Charity devoted to preventing and advocating for people with colorectal cancer.

Is anyone willing to chat about this with me?

What are you going through? What is going well & what are your biggest struggles?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the LGBTQIA Health Support Group.

danny5 | @danny5 | Feb 9 7:50pm

i'm a 65 yo gay male. i was diagnosed with Crohns disease back in 2006. i was put on Remicade infusions. right now i'm in remission. but this disease has no cure. so, there is a possibility it could flare up again. so i have to be careful about what i eat. i don't tolerate spicy food.

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1 reply
bobbie4481 | @bobbie4481 | Feb 10 1:41pm
In reply to @danny5 "i'm a 65 yo gay male. i was diagnosed with Crohns disease back in 2006. i..." + (show)
@danny5

i'm a 65 yo gay male. i was diagnosed with Crohns disease back in 2006. i was put on Remicade infusions. right now i'm in remission. but this disease has no cure. so, there is a possibility it could flare up again. so i have to be careful about what i eat. i don't tolerate spicy food.

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I'm a 70 year old transgender person, MtF. My father had colon cancer at 50, removed surgically, with radiation therapy. He passed away at 84 of bladder cancer. I've been checked since age 35, every three years due to familial potential. My exam last November showed no polyps, so I can defer the exam for five years.

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1 reply
danny5 | @danny5 | Feb 10 4:52pm
In reply to @bobbie4481 "I'm a 70 year old transgender person, MtF. My father had colon cancer at 50, removed..." + (show)
@bobbie4481

I'm a 70 year old transgender person, MtF. My father had colon cancer at 50, removed surgically, with radiation therapy. He passed away at 84 of bladder cancer. I've been checked since age 35, every three years due to familial potential. My exam last November showed no polyps, so I can defer the exam for five years.

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i'm very happy for you. curious though. are you going to skip the exam for five years? considering your fathers history?

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1 reply
bobbie4481 | @bobbie4481 | Feb 12 10:28am
In reply to @danny5 "i'm very happy for you. curious though. are you going to skip the exam for five..." + (show)
@danny5

i'm very happy for you. curious though. are you going to skip the exam for five years? considering your fathers history?

Jump to this post

Not really, I've gone two three year exams with no polyps.

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1 reply
danny5 | @danny5 | Feb 12 11:43am
In reply to @bobbie4481 "Not really, I've gone two three year exams with no polyps." + (show)
@bobbie4481

Not really, I've gone two three year exams with no polyps.

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well that's very good news. the longer without polyps the better. right?

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dustin2017 | @dustin2017 | Jun 13 9:23am

Hello -

I am a gay male, married to my wonderful husband since 2017 (together since 2012). I am currently battling rectal cancer. I was diagnosed as of Januarya 29th, 2024. Went through six weeks of chemoradiation treatment (Xeloda pills twice per day) and radiation five days per week - both for six weeks. Those finished on April 8th, 2024, and as of April 22nd, I began my eight cycles of chemo (Folfox) which is a three day chemo treatment where I am in the clinic on the first day for about six hours and then leave with a pump for 46 hours. I just turned 43 years old this past May.

Like you, I have a strong history of GI related cancers on both sides of my family - predominately on my father's side. I was trying with my old PCP to get a colonoscopy scheduled for two years since I turned 40 due to this familial history of mine. He refused as "there really is no concern for you since there are no signs" - I finally switched to a new PCP in September 2023 and she immediately referred me out to a GI physician and I made contact with them in October and scheduled my colonoscopy for January 29th. I did have signs with bleeding and obstructions when relieving myself. These signs really started around May 2023. I have had a long history of hemorrhoids so I kept brushing it off as that. By October, I could tell something was wrong.

Said all that to say - if you ever feel the strong need for something to take place (such as I did the moment I turned 40) - do NOT give up on it and do whatever you have to, to get what you want, done.

This has all been a huge shock (as it is with anyone) and a huge interruption to life and life's plans. I am launching two new businesses while trying to juggle all of these treatments - that, in and of itself, is a task and undertaking I wish on no one - not even the greatest enemies out there.

I look forward to dialogue with you and any others out there that may wish to join! I hope you are doing well!

REPLY
2 replies
danny5 | @danny5 | Jun 17 8:00pm
In reply to @dustin2017 "Hello - I am a gay male, married to my wonderful husband since 2017 (together since..." + (show)
@dustin2017

Hello -

I am a gay male, married to my wonderful husband since 2017 (together since 2012). I am currently battling rectal cancer. I was diagnosed as of Januarya 29th, 2024. Went through six weeks of chemoradiation treatment (Xeloda pills twice per day) and radiation five days per week - both for six weeks. Those finished on April 8th, 2024, and as of April 22nd, I began my eight cycles of chemo (Folfox) which is a three day chemo treatment where I am in the clinic on the first day for about six hours and then leave with a pump for 46 hours. I just turned 43 years old this past May.

Like you, I have a strong history of GI related cancers on both sides of my family - predominately on my father's side. I was trying with my old PCP to get a colonoscopy scheduled for two years since I turned 40 due to this familial history of mine. He refused as "there really is no concern for you since there are no signs" - I finally switched to a new PCP in September 2023 and she immediately referred me out to a GI physician and I made contact with them in October and scheduled my colonoscopy for January 29th. I did have signs with bleeding and obstructions when relieving myself. These signs really started around May 2023. I have had a long history of hemorrhoids so I kept brushing it off as that. By October, I could tell something was wrong.

Said all that to say - if you ever feel the strong need for something to take place (such as I did the moment I turned 40) - do NOT give up on it and do whatever you have to, to get what you want, done.

This has all been a huge shock (as it is with anyone) and a huge interruption to life and life's plans. I am launching two new businesses while trying to juggle all of these treatments - that, in and of itself, is a task and undertaking I wish on no one - not even the greatest enemies out there.

I look forward to dialogue with you and any others out there that may wish to join! I hope you are doing well!

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i don't have colorectal cancer. but i have Crohns disease. which is supposed to be in remission. very laughable. because since then it's either diarrhea or constipation.
but i had a brother die of colorectal cancer last April 2023. as far as i know nobody knew he had it. also my father died at the age of 52. from a car accident. and nobody in my immediate family knows if he had it. nor any men in the family. my GI says i'm not due until next year for a Colonoscopy. i might push for one this year really. @dustin2017 , i'm truly sorry about what you're going through. and of course your husband.
you must be having a rough time with also trying to start 2 new businesses??? phew. ones hard enough when you're healthy. i'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. love, Daniel 🏳️‍🌈

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 20 8:19am
In reply to @dustin2017 "Hello - I am a gay male, married to my wonderful husband since 2017 (together since..." + (show)
@dustin2017

Hello -

I am a gay male, married to my wonderful husband since 2017 (together since 2012). I am currently battling rectal cancer. I was diagnosed as of Januarya 29th, 2024. Went through six weeks of chemoradiation treatment (Xeloda pills twice per day) and radiation five days per week - both for six weeks. Those finished on April 8th, 2024, and as of April 22nd, I began my eight cycles of chemo (Folfox) which is a three day chemo treatment where I am in the clinic on the first day for about six hours and then leave with a pump for 46 hours. I just turned 43 years old this past May.

Like you, I have a strong history of GI related cancers on both sides of my family - predominately on my father's side. I was trying with my old PCP to get a colonoscopy scheduled for two years since I turned 40 due to this familial history of mine. He refused as "there really is no concern for you since there are no signs" - I finally switched to a new PCP in September 2023 and she immediately referred me out to a GI physician and I made contact with them in October and scheduled my colonoscopy for January 29th. I did have signs with bleeding and obstructions when relieving myself. These signs really started around May 2023. I have had a long history of hemorrhoids so I kept brushing it off as that. By October, I could tell something was wrong.

Said all that to say - if you ever feel the strong need for something to take place (such as I did the moment I turned 40) - do NOT give up on it and do whatever you have to, to get what you want, done.

This has all been a huge shock (as it is with anyone) and a huge interruption to life and life's plans. I am launching two new businesses while trying to juggle all of these treatments - that, in and of itself, is a task and undertaking I wish on no one - not even the greatest enemies out there.

I look forward to dialogue with you and any others out there that may wish to join! I hope you are doing well!

Jump to this post

@dustin2017, I'd like to add my welcome. You may also wish to join in some of the discussions in the Colorectal Cancer Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/colorectal-cancer/

Thank goodness you insisted on getting a colonoscopy given your strong family history. May I ask what stage your cancer is? How are you doing on chemo? How is your husband doing? It must be scary for him too?

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