Public service announcement!!!!!

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 8:38 am

GET A COLONOSCOPY! Guys, don't put off or say no one is sticking a camera up my butt. I had my first scope when I turned 55. That was clean. Stretched the 10 year window out to 12 years & went on Feb 29. This one they found a couple of polyps & a frigging tumor in my rectum. Doc operated on Mar 30. & took out what he thought was a T1 tumor. When the results came back from the pathology lab it turned out to be a T2. If I do nothing & go on a 6 month monitor schedule, I have a 25% chance of the cancer coming back. Recommendation was for a complete removal of the rectum & go on a colostomy bag. That reduces the re-occurrence rate to 3%. I'm going for my surgery on June 21. So, if you think it is to embarrassing to have a camera, try an 8" ultrasound probe. By now I must of had about a hundred nurses, technicians & doctors checking my butt out. That's besides after the 1st operation running to the toilet 25 times a day. Finally got the trips down to about 6 per day. Started radiation this week & I'm back down to 2 hours between trips. The kicker is the urgency. I have less than 5 minutes to get my butt on the seat. So your choice is get a colonoscopy or go through what I am doing. Al

Spidermw81 · Post by **Spidermw81** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 9:04 am

Al, I am sorry to hear that you are going through this and I wish and pray for your continued health! Thanks for the reminder and sharing your experience. Best of luck and if you need anything please let us know.

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 10:50 am

I too am sorry you're having to go through this and with pray for your recovery. I had my first colonoscopy at 50 and had polyps, since then I've had to have 3 more colonoscopies finding polyps every time. Thank you for the reminder why it is so important.

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Thu Jun 09, 2016 4:01 pm

Yup, My third colonoscopy coming up this month on the 20th. The last time , 3 years ago,they found polyps so I'm all about regular checkups. I can live with the colonoscopies.

retman · Post by **retman** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 7:36 am

Al, good advice as usual. I'm due for my next one this fall. Also, keep a eye on your PSA and don't let your doctor say not to worry until it hits 4. I'm 5 years out and pulling 0's.

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:24 am

Good luck Al.

Blue Label · Post by **Blue Label** » Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:12 am

Good luck, regular check ups and maintenance is not only for the engines.

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 6:57 am

Thanks for the best wishes. The reason I posted this is because I have an older brother who won't go for one. I figured there are others out there like him that MIGHT be persuaded to go after hearing of my experience. Al

RJC2628 · Post by **RJC2628** » Sat Jun 11, 2016 12:54 pm

Hi Al, So sorry to hear of your health issues. It sounds like you are taking all the right steps, and I wish you the best possible outcome.You did all the right things. Ignoring screening and symptoms is a bad plan. I thought I was done 3.5 years ago when I had by open-heart-surgery, but something wasn't feeling right recently as I was jumping off the boat to the dock to tie up singlehandedly. Couldn't be my heart, I got that fixed!! Yeah right ! I am now the proud owner of three shiny new stents in my coronary artery after the vein graft put in there 3 years ago was totally blocked up. Can't wait to see what's coming next. Best wishes, Al !!! Ron and Pat

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Sun Jun 12, 2016 8:19 am

Al... Glad see you are facing the health thing straight on. When I turned 50 my family Dr. in Beverly suggested that I start having them done, but he cautioned me that some guys won't have them for any number of reasons. He and I are about the same age, and I asked him if he had them done to him.. he said yes, and I told him if they were good enough for him they were good enough for me. I have had one pretty much every 4 or 5 years since. Stepping back in time, In the early 60s I was a freshman at Northeastern Univ, and on my co-op semesters I lived with some friends in North Reading. I started dating the girl next door, who was a freshman nursing student. We dated for two years or so, but our relationship was sort of "rocky" for lack of a better term. When we finally broke up I was sort of a dick and wasn't very pleasant to her. Fast forward to about 10 years ago. I went into Lahey Clinic in Danvers for a regular 5 year checkup. After going through the admitting process I found myself in a screened off space with a gurney and a small stand up desk. I was laying there watching traffic on Rt 128 when a nurse came in and stood at the desk, and asked my name, date of birth, reason for being there, and similar stuff. While I couldn't see her I heard something in her voice that was familiar. As she inserted the IV needle into my arm I finally realized who she was.. she was the same girl I had scewed over 40 years ago! She had already started my anesthesia when I finally built up enough courage to ask her name.. yep.. the same girl! All I could imagine as I started to get groggy was her going with me into the OR, where she would say to the Dr.. this guy was a dick to me 40 years ago.. stick another two feet of that black hose up his butt as a way for him to remember what he did to me all those years ago. Later I sent her a letter and found out that she felt she hadn't been nice to me during the breakup, so there wasn't any extra hose for me! Talk about co-incidence! I am sending you all the good vibes that I can muster.

Post by **Admin** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 9:11 am

Al, I had my first last year. Unfortunately, I woke up 15 minutes into the 20 minute procedure... Unpleasant to say the least. On the positive side though, no issues to report.

greysole · Post by **greysole** » Tue Aug 02, 2016 4:17 am

Al, Thank You for the advice. Hope your situation is improving. Take care.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Tue Aug 02, 2016 4:44 am

Good news: I was put on the 10 year program on my last Colonoscopy. Bad news: Time's up, getting mine in November Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA