Diagnosis - Cancer
I started my blog http://lisaschaos.blog-city.com in March 2005 because we began building a house. I mean my husband and I did all the physical labor we were allowed to do by state codes. I had stomach issues for years prior to this although I really didn't share them unless I needed to explain to why I was acting weird. During the whole house building process they got steadily worse and Oct 18th, 2005 I went in for a colonoscopy. I was terrified of the procedure and had actually put it off and cancelled and rescheduled it several times. But things were to a point I knew I had no choice. I had had every other test with no answer other than Irritable Bowel but the bleeding was getting worse and as was the pain. Even in the waiting room I was ready to flee but managed to get in there and the last thing I told the doc prior to the exam was, "Well we know it’s not cancer or I’d already be dead." Boy was I wrong. The doc said, "We found cancer".
My husband and I went home in denial, thinking that the doctor couldn’t know before the biopsies were back so I really just told my family the doctor said it could be cancer and we waited for the biopsies. Even when the biopsies came back that it was cancer I thought they could be wrong. Even when I met with the surgeon I expected him to say, "Oops, we made a mistake, you don’t have cancer." Even when I had surgery I expected him to come into my hospital room and say that now that the mass was out they examined further and I didn’t have cancer. So I guess you could say I was in a form of denial for quite a while but I still did the treatments needed.
I was diagnosed at 38 yrs old, with no family history of any cancer and honestly never expected cancer to be the diagnosis. Back then (prior to diagnosis) I actually didn’t really talk about my issues with anyone. I mentioned in passing to my mom that I sometimes had blood in my stool and it worried me. I told my husband my tummy bothered me often, I had no choice on that one. But I really told as little as possible. This was partly because of embarrassment and partly because I figured it was something minor. I was afraid the doctor would come back with a verdict of hemorrhoids or something equally embarrassing and I didn’t want everyone to know that. So I kept them in the dark as much as possible about my issues. Getting the diagnosis I did has made me come out of the closet and I feel a need to be open and honest about what I went through because I want to help other people. I don't want other people to live in fear and embarrassment, making themselves sicker. If I had allowed a doctor to do a colonoscopy years ago I probably wouldn't be in the boat I am now.
Never was I so floored as the day I was told I had cancer. I had stomach pain, diarrhea and blood off and on for about 6 years and each time I did see a doctor they never found anything and just labeled me Irritable Bowel. So this added to my thoughts that it was nothing but an embarrassing condition. I had every test they could perform except the colonoscopy. I always chickened out for that test and no other test found the cancer so the colonoscopy is a vital test in finding the cancer.
Update March 2007:
It's time for you to get your colon checked. No, your dog's nose doesn't count. It's so important that you get screened. A colonoscopy can find cancer when it's still itty bitty and is easily removed. A colonoscopy can find a small polyp that could turn into cancer before it is cancer and that polyp can be removed right then without major surgery. And, if you do this few moments of discomfort, you can save yourself all the pain I’ve been through.
I have no family history of any type of cancer yet I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC colon cancer or more specifically T3N2M0 (for more information on diagnosing and staging) at age 38. The average person doesn't get their first colonoscopy until they are 50 but I know that I am not alone in having it this young. I don't care what age you are, if you are having any bowel problems I suggest a colonoscopy. If you have a family history of cancer you should also be checked earlier.
I had every test imaginable and cancer was never found. Even my blood did not show a higher CEA level to indicate cancer. Only the colonoscopy found it. The only foolproof test for colon cancer is the colonoscopy. The colonoscopy is vital and you must make yourself do it. Don't assume your cancer would show up on a CT scan as I did. Don't assume that all the other tests would be good enough. Don't chicken out, for fear or embarrassment, like I did. If I had went for the first one I had scheduled maybe I wouldn't be in the boat I am now.
Call today to schedule your colonoscopy. If you are over 50 and your doctor neglected to schedule one then you request it. Today, right now, don't put it off. This is your life and it's too important to lose when you can prevent it so easily. I'll even come hold your hand. I don't want to share my boat with you, you belong on the shore.
Feel free to email me (or comment) anytime, I'm happy to lend an ear of support. I can be reached at lisaschaos at yahoo dot com. Also, I love to hear good results, so after you've had your test please let me know that you're ok.
Dear Lisa, I've been following your trials and tribulations for about a
year now. You and Denis did a wonderful job with the house just amazing!
Then the dreadful loss of dear ZoZe and from there well you wrote it all.
I had the colonoscopy on Oct 19th also the endoscopy but now answers were
found for my IBS. I had previous endoscopy and a motility tests normal.
Cat scans, ultrasounds still nothing.
Can you tell me what other tests you had that maybe I have missed doing?
I'm desperate as this IBS is keeping me bedridden and will see the
specialist again on Thursday. The pain is so intense I'm crying in pain.
Only relief is bed and a heating pad.
Hope your Thursday will have little or no side effects, wishing you all the
best in this battle.
Thank you for making us all understand what you are going through.
I just have to add, your hair color is nice a vibrant and I like the style,
looks good and easy to care for. I have the picture of you and ZoZe with
the pink pepto bismal stuck on face. My heart breaks when I look at it but
It reminds me of how hard you tried to help Zoze the same determanation you
are doing for yourself now.
You are wonderful, always remember that your qualities are hard to find
these days.
Prayers and healing hugs on their way
Love,
Angie & Cucci (sorry for the long reply)
I had upper GI and I think an MRI. Really don't remember but when we moved
to TX I know I told the doctor I would undergo any test that did not
involve putting something into an orifice. :) He was a good doc and tried
to get me to do the colonoscopy but I tied his hands. So, he did the best
he could. He prescribed me lorazepam, just 1/2-1 pill each night and I
could take them more often during stress he said. I was doubtful it would
help but it really did. Previous doctors had tried prevacid and propulsid
and other stomach things but they didn't help.
As a kid, or maybe just Me Mike, I get worried. Since ive been reading your
blog, this has been a very strange thing for me. I dont know anyone with
cancer and because Mel knows you I should too I suppose.
I just stumbled upon your blog, and I'm glad I did. My wife has suffered
for years from IBS, and has been getting a colonoscopy every other year. A
few years back, she had found some info on the internet regarding IBS, and
started taking calcium supplements along with citrucel tablets. And this
is more for Angies sake I guess, but since she started taking the calcium
and citrucel, her IBS hasn't been as debilitating as it had been. I can't
even tell you how many times we had to end an outing because of a flare up,
and in the past 5 years I can remember about a dozen instances where she
had problems.
Dear Lisa, my heart goes out to you. you are dealing with so very much.
my prayers are with you. hope you are feeling better.
Lisa, I just read your post from a long time ago about your diagnosis.
What an ordeal for you. And building a house. You're a tough lady.
I had suffered for years with IBS and really bad BMs. I assume I was just not eating good. But when I started have all kinds of wierd issues back in 2002, I thought for sure I was scheduled to die in a few years. I thought I was just shriveling up and this was it. (the mind is a powerful thing) I went to doctor after doctor, they put me on anti-depressants, nerve medication, and more anti-depressants and sent me to mental health.
I did not get better, just more out of touch. Then one doctor finally asked me if I'd ever been tested for Celiac Disease. Uh, no, never heard of it. Sure enough, my blood showed I was a carrier. They did an upper intestine biospy and determined that I indeed had the disease.
The gluten found in wheat, barley, etc. was killing the little organs that absorbed my food nutrients. My body had begun the shut-down process. My nervous system was being attacked, my bowels were wrecked. Had I not discovered this, major body organs would be attacked next... just like a starving person slowly dies, the body slowly shuts down.
I was a carrier all my life, but the disease had not kicked into gear until around 2002. It took doctors 4 years to diagnose me. I cannot have wheat or gluten.
I have remained faithful to my wheat-free/gluten-free diet for almost 2 years now. Guess what. I have soft BMs, my nervous system issues have resolved, my outlook on life is renewed.
One out of 133 people are estimated to have this disease. But out of that, only 5% are diagnosed they have it. The others go through life, battling one health issue after another, trying to solve it with medications and therapy, but what is really happening, is they are destroying themselves and their body is slowly shutting down (Celiac patients have a very high rate of cancer).
I'm not a expert on this disease at all! I know how discovering it has helped me and I guess what I really want to get across, is ask your doctor to perform a test for Celiac Disease. This is one disease that can literally cause problems everywhere in your body. A blood test is simple. If it shows positive, request an upper biopsy to see if the disease has manifested. There is no cure, but it is manageable by staying away from wheat. (It's a generic disease... it's passed from one generation to the next)
1 in 133 people. That's a lot of people, 95% whom do not KNOW they have it.
Wow! I have been digging around your blog today and found this page. Your
almost the same age as me. I turned 39 in December.
What does this mean for you now Lisa? Are you ok? Is the cancer gone?
Big hugs to you!