March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! If you are age 50 or over OR if you have a history of colorectal cancer in your family, PLEASE GET A COLONOSCOPY! Why am I such a champion of this? Well, let me tell you my story.......Six years ago, my GYN told me that I was at the 'magic age' and needed to have a colonoscopy. In my mind, I was saying "yeah right - I'll get right on that". I had absolutely no intentions of having this test done! NO ONE was going to stick a tube up my butt!
My pap test came back abnormal, so I had to go have a repeat test. I knew my doctor was going to ask about the colonoscopy, and I didn't want to lie to her, so I scheduled an appointment with a gastronologist with every intention of canceling it! (See, I could truthfully say I had an appointment and then cancel it....yep, I'm sneaky like that). SO, I go back to the GYN and SHE NEVER EVEN ASKED ME ABOUT THE COLONOSCOPY. AND, I forgot to cancel the appt.
So, I went ahead and went to see the gastro dr. to "just to talk about it". I ended up scheduling the colonoscopy. The day before the test is the WORST.....just get you a good book and plan to spend the afternoon on the toilet! (Are you just loving this topic -- right????? LOL) You are asleep during the test so you don't feel a thing.
Well, long story short, I had the test performed and I found out I HAD CANCER!!!! I had absolutely no idea! I was told I would have to undergo chemo and radiation before surgery could be done. Talk about getting DOWN ON MY KNEES AND TALKING TO THE LORD! After another biopsy and a sonogram, where some of the tumor was flaked off, it became operable. Praise the Lord, it was in an early stage. I had surgery where they removed a portion of my colon. (that surgery was worse than having a baby -- PAIN!!!!) They were able to get it all so I didn't have to undergo chemo or radiation. I'm telling you it was by the Grace of God and all those people praying for me that I am now officially a "Cancer Survivor" 6 years!
The moral of this story --- MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR PREVENTATIVE TESTING PERFORMED!!!!! JUST DO IT! It could save your life -- it did mine.
10 comments:
Excellent post Kathy!!!
Oh my goodness thank the Lord you did that test. My General Practicioner here in Canada give us every year a test we do on stool, not a pleasant one. If that tests comes back questionable then we go for colonoscopy. Have been doing that test for years now so far so good. I am happy you are Cancer free bless you.
Great story! I am so glad you went, I guess you just never know what can save you! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Thank you Kathy for telling your story. My dad found out he had cancer with a similar screening test two years ago. He ended up having his stomach and spleen removed to get rid of it but he is 78 this year and going on a cruise in September - it saved his life because it was caught early purely by a coincidence like yours. Must be fate - someone is looking out for you. Blessings Cxxx
Thanks for the reminder to everyone. I have my done regularly and so far all is ok. I am so glad you found your cancer early on - Praise God!
I did it - didn't like it but did it anyway. Much of life is like that I think - to get to the good stuff (in this case knowing I was clear of cancer) is well worth the trip. blessings, marlene
I didn't want to have it done either--at that "magic age". But my dr. said it's a lot easier to have the test than not! So I bit the bullet, and yes, he found precancerous polyp. So as much as I didn't enjoy the procedure, it got done!
Wow...that is amazing what you have been through.
I'm almost at that "magic age" and I'll be doing whatever my Dr tells me!
Thank you for sharing this post... my doctor keeps reminding me I need to go too...
And I will!
SheilaC
I need an operation for rectocele , I just keep thinking, my doc said come back to me when you stop thinking--cottonreel
Post a Comment