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nightowl
New User
Joined: 26 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: Fecal Blood test questions |
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My Mom recently died of colon cancer. It was a late diagnosis. Bypass surgery proved to be too much for here and she never recovered to the point where chemo could be started. As I learn more about colon cancer, I wonder why, despite her having two check-ups per year, she was never given the fecal blood test.
Further, she had the sigmoidal (?) scope test thing done years ago but that test only sees 1/3 of the colon. Why would her doc choose that test when a full colonoscopy could have been done? What is it about this test that a doc would choose to only look at 1/3 of the colon instead of the whole thing? Odds are she'd be alive now if we had caught this sooner with readily available tests.
Thanks for any info or comment. |
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DJL
Regular
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Fecal Blood test questions |
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Nightowl,
I'm sorry you lost your Mother to colon cancer. It's a terrible disease. How old was your Mom?
I can't answer your questions because I don't understand why this cancer isn't diagnosed sooner for so many of us.
My doctor treated me for hemorrhoids for over a year and I finally said "I want a colonoscopy".
It was discovered that I never had hemorrhoids, it was anal cancer the entire time.
I still question why he didn't do further testing on me instead of just 'assuming' it was hemorrhoids.
My mother passed away at age 52 of lung cancer. I do know the pain you are feeling and my heart goes out to you.
Hugs,
DJL
_________________
55 year old Female
Diagnosed with rectal cancer 10/02/2007
Chemo & Radiation
Permanent Colostomy & Rectum Removed 01/21/2008 |
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Rotorhead
Regular
Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 33
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: Fecal Blood test questions |
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I'm very sorry for your loss. I wish I had an easy answer. I don't know what the discriminator is between sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.
When I had a little bit of redness in my stool, I talked to my doctor during an annual visit. Since hemmoroids are common in my profession (pilots sit on their butts too much) we both figured it was just 'roids...but something told him to get me checked. He got me the occult fecal test, which was positive, and two weeks later I had my scope showing cancer.
I tell people now, when they ask me how I found out, that they need to get anything remotely unusual checked out and to not be satisfied with the easy answer. Fortunately I had a doc who really cared and went the extra mile.
The best advice I can give you is, when talking to family and friends about your mom, to be sure and spread the word about getting checked, getting a 'scope especially if one is over 50 years old, and being a "difficult patient" regarding a doctor's "easy answer". Second and third opinions can be costly, but peace of mind (or early diagnosis) is priceless.
Aloha,
RH
_________________
Diagnosed Stage 3 rectal cancer Nov 07
6 weeks chemo/rad Dec 07/Jan 08
Surgery (TME) 11 Feb 08
6 months FOLFOX started March 08
My blog: http://rotorheadsblog.blogspot.com/ |
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sheila
Experienced user
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Fecal Blood test questions |
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| Nightowl----I too am sorry for your loss. I believe alot of reasons are they are told to do minimal proceedures on one hand -then I swear if they think you have a really good insurance co-they do too many. few out there I believe really care about the patient-sure 40% genuinely want the best for their patients because they do care -to others its just the money and prestige. I obviously am losing my faith in alot. One of the major problems is because they are so limited in their feilds of practice (too many broken down to the minimum specialties)-,I believe they get case overloads and dont have enough time to actually know their patients. As a result assembly line.....NEXT.... since we are so individualized with symptoms and pain-they just treat what the patient tells them they feel is wrong. somethings definately wrong with the system. Thank God so far me and my mom have found caring individuals that really seem sincere and take time out to explain things and listen-we are very fortunate. |
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nightowl
New User
Joined: 26 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Fecal Blood test questions |
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Thank you all for your kind replies. My Mom was 82 but was quite active and otherwise healthy for her age. I feel she could have had another 10 years of quality life if we'd caught this sooner. It was only about 18 days from the time we got her to the hospital to the day we brought her home for hospice. She died after 31 hours at home. But at least we had those days in the hospital to say our goodbyes, talk, look at family photos, etc. I say 'we' but it was just me; no siblings.
My heart goes out to you as well in reading your sig lines. I cannot even imagine what you've been through and have yet to face. I wish you the best of luck in recoveries.
So now I'm dealing the grief and seeing the hospice counselor. I plan to see a paid therapist as well. I've read the stories about grief coming back to haunt those who bottle it up and I don't want to end up there. Gotta gace it. On that note, does anyone know the better cancer bereavement forums? I know, I can Google, but I thought I'd ask.
Thank you and best wishes
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4202
Location: Tennessee
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