Yay!
I went down to Houston last night to take my Mom in for a colonoscopy today. Which may not seem like a happiness-inducing thing to most of you but today she marked TEN YEARS cancer-free! Her initial diagnosis was way back in 1974, she had a fairly aggressive recurrence in 2000, and now...nothing!
Hallelujah!
< onsoapbox>Colo-Rectal cancer is generally slow-growing and, when found early, is absolutely treatable. Mom was diagnosed early because her older sister was dying of it at the time. Sib 2, who has been in remission for 18 years, was diagnosed early because of Aunt Anna and Mom. I had pre-cancerous growths removed before I was 45 because I take my risk very seriously. If you don't have a known genetic risk you can probably wait until you are 45 or 50 to have an intial colonoscopy but PLEASE - don't be afraid of the test. Early detection can save your life!
Also, my mother is HILARIOUS when she is all hopped on Valium. It was worth the trip just for that (but of course teary, happy huggles are good, too!)
Hallelujah!
< onsoapbox>Colo-Rectal cancer is generally slow-growing and, when found early, is absolutely treatable. Mom was diagnosed early because her older sister was dying of it at the time. Sib 2, who has been in remission for 18 years, was diagnosed early because of Aunt Anna and Mom. I had pre-cancerous growths removed before I was 45 because I take my risk very seriously. If you don't have a known genetic risk you can probably wait until you are 45 or 50 to have an intial colonoscopy but PLEASE - don't be afraid of the test. Early detection can save your life!
Also, my mother is HILARIOUS when she is all hopped on Valium. It was worth the trip just for that (but of course teary, happy huggles are good, too!)