Colon Cancer

Is anybody else on this site, worried about colon cancer? Do you all have regular colonoscopies?

I have been feeling really negative about my colitis the last few months, my symptoms have been really flared up, no meds are working, my diet fell apart, and i am so worried because i only weigh 98Ibs.

I need to stop worrying so much, which is easier said than done

I think if you have had this disease for a longtime like myself and you were unable to take medication then you maybe more concerned.

I am not so sure I need therapy, I think that I am long overdue a bowel exam and maybe that would give me some piece of mind.

Still can't take meds though so I am now using the heal your gut book by jini patel Thompson which is all about healing using completly natural suppliments and diet. So this either works for me or it's surgery.

Maybe if I were unable to take any meds, I might be a bit more worried. But, I don't think I'll be any more worried about it in 20 years (assuming I haven't had surgery). I don't worry about things that are out of my control, and whether or not I develop colon cancer is one of them. Yeah, there are things one can do that might decrease the chance, but in large part, there's not a darn thing that can be done. Getting regular c-scopes is the best way to find colon cancer at a very early stage, so I plan on doing that.

The reason I asked about therapy is because you've made numerous posts where you mention how worried, etc you are. I suffered from postpartum anxiety, and ended up seeing a therapist and going on Zoloft to control it. Now that I can look back on the weeks that my anxiety was uncontrolled, I wish I'd realized how bad my anxiety was earlier and how much it was controlling my life. I just don't want that to happen to others. So if you don't feel better after your exam, please consider it!

Like subdued, I'm actually more "worried" (even though I'm not worried about it...I guess the better phrase is "consider myself at risk for") about a different form of cancer...for me, that's ovarian cancer. My mom had it (and survived, thankfully!) at 30. It's such a hard cancer to detect, whereas colon cancer is relatively easy to detect.

If you're having thoughts like that, I think you definitely need to see someone. You should NEVER feel as if your family would be better off without you.

I was in the ER last week, and the 2nd doctor who came by suggested getting a colectomy because we have a higher probability of cancer. However, my GI, who I do not trust and is a little money grubber, says for Crohn's there is no surgery.

I agree, a little anxiety med might help you put your life in perspective. At least you could talk to someone about it.

Mercury28 said...
Maybe I do need some kind of therapy or somebody to talk to as I am having a hard time getting my head around this disease. The last month I have been feeling really depressed and thought my family would be better off without me, it's like it has complete control over every aspect of my life and I have just given up.

Don't think like that. I too have had thoughts about suicide, but after having two family members commit suicide, I would never do it. I now know what it feels like to be on the other side. So instead of thinking about suicide, I now think about how I can support and help my family. I also try to think about positives and not deal on negatives.

I joined a positive thinking psychology group earlier this year. It was great. Each week we had a different assignment. We all felt happier from doing the assignments. These may help you feel more positive. Here are some of ones we did:

1. Three Good Things
At the end of each day, write down three things that went well that day and why you thought they happened.

2. Have a Good Day
Keep track of your activities each day, and at the end of the day, rate each activity and the day as a whole. At the end of the week, determine which activities are most meaningful and pleasurable. Try to reduce the time spent on activities that are not meaningful and pleasurable and increase the time spent on those that are meaningful and pleasurable.

3. Savoring
Once per day, take your time and enjoy something that you typically rush through. Briefly write down your experience in doing so.

4. Gratitude Visit
Think of a person to whom you feel very grateful. Write a letter to this person, telling them why you are grateful and then invite this person somewhere and read him/her the letter.

5. Active/Constructive Responding
Respond both positively and enthusiastically to good news from another person. Do this at least once per day to a person whom you feel close to.

6. Write Your Own Biography
Write a brief biography discussing what you would like to be most remembered for in life. Think about ways in which you can begin moving toward these goals in your day-to-day life and then carry them out.

7. Positive Service
Volunteer and write down your experience.