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How to get a colonoscopy scheduled promptly?

Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: Jan 5 2:26pm | Replies (20)

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@verol65

@marimodesta First, sending you a hug.
Last year, I was in a similar position: over the months of june, july, and august I had noticed ocasional blood when wiping my anus and in the toilet bowl, not much. Had an appointment early in September with a colorectal surgeon, who touched a polyp. Had the colonoscopy late October 26. They found two polyps and sent samples for biopsy. One came back as pre-cancerous. Since I had to travel to take care of my parents the whole month of November, I had a transanal resection on December 17 with a new biopsy, this time of the whole polyp, which revealed positive margins. The surgeon sent me to an oncologist, and the plan of action was no new surgery because the polyp was close to the sphincter and they had taken out everything they could see. We went for the lowest dose radiotherapy (with oral chemo, because I chose the long course RT rather then the short course one).

Now I have a rarely occuring rectovaginal fistula because of the RT, and I have a new polyp or a regrowth of the resected polyp. I consulted with the surgeon to fix that but had doubts about her proposed solution, so I consulted with another more experienced colorectal surgeon and with a cancer investigator, who both said I should have had a second surgery because of the positive margins and should have waited before getting RT. So make sure you have experienced doctors on your team.

Make a good emotional support network around you. When I had the cancer diagnosis, I chose relatives and friends to tell them my story. Those in town gave me the opportunity of hugs and a shoulder to cry on, literally, and those out of town kept in touch by messages, phone calls or video calls. It really helped. With my new situation, I first decided only to tell my kids, my brother, my sister-in-law and three friends. But the emotional turmoil kept growing. I started therapy and last week I decided to tell everyone what is going on: someday one of them or someone they know may face a similar situation or a similar surgery to the one I will have in late January. And I let everyone know they can put those people in touch with me if they want to talk to someone who's had the same experience, which is what I'm missing very much.

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Replies to "@marimodesta First, sending you a hug. Last year, I was in a similar position: over the..."

Thank you for sharing! Good to know about a support group. So far I have only told 1 person. Right now I know I had a positive ColorGuard. My colonoscopy is 1/08/23. I am supposed to go on a trip - 2/28/23 and thinking maybe I ought to postpone. Reading your share, I get the impression that if it is cancer, I could still go on my trip and have whatever procedure at the end of March.
Thank you for your comments. ❤️