Connect
← Return to Preventing sessile serrated adenomas
Discussion
Preventing sessile serrated adenomas
Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Jul 15 9:24am | Replies (19)Comment receiving replies
thanks again for your calm and sensible tone. Today is my birthday and I am a basket case. Philadelphia does have great healthcare , including Penn like you Mentioned. I am connected with the Bryn Mawr hospital group and that’s who did my Colonoscopy. I feel so confident in their abilities.
When was your first colonoscopy? Did you
Notice anything different before and after they removed the polyps.
They want to do my repeat colonoscopy in 3 years. I wonder if I should go
Back next year instead?
Replies to "thanks again for your calm and sensible tone. Today is my birthday and I am a..."
Hello @suzannebowers,
I've been following your posts with @peacefish. I'm glad that his comments have helped you feel a bit more at east with your situation. That is the great thing about Connect, we don't have to feel alone when we are dealing with a scary health issue.
I see that you feel confident about your current hospital group, however, please know that it is always your right to seek a second opinion. A second opinion might help you to be more at ease with your current treatment plan.
I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract for a rare form of cancer. My first two surgeries were at a local hospital which certainly had a decent reputation. However, when I got my third diagnosis, I decided to go to a university medical school in my area for another opinion. My experience there was overwhelmingly positive. I had a much better surgical experience and quicker recovery.
Might you consider a second opinion at a multi-disciplinary health system?
Connect
My first colonoscopy was in November 2023. Of course there were no symptoms beforehand, so I was shocked they found anything at all (also given the lack of risk factors). I noticed no difference whatsoever after the removal of the adenomas. If they hadn’t shown me the before/after photos of every location, I would have had no indication that anything had transpired at all.
The recommended monitoring frequencies for these things are pretty formulaic, and the number and size of SSA’s have a lot to do with the interval each person’s doctor will set. I definitely encourage sending a message to your doctor if you want to ask about the interval they’ve set for you. They can at least explain it, and that may set your mind at ease.
I stressed myself out initially, and I read too much. I think the thing that helped most mentally was that first ‘anniversary’ colonoscopy after the adenomas had been removed when they could ‘check their work’ and look for anything new. Once you pass that anniversary without anything particularly bad showing up, it becomes easier to conceptualize it all as a thing to be managed.