I just got diagnosed with colon cancer last week and I am lucky I will have the operation to remove it on Tuesday - a very good Kaiser surgeon got me in quickly. It's not clear if it has advanced - I hope not- so we will see.
I had a CT scan for the CLL in March when they saw something in the colon and because of other health issues I had to wait til last week to have the colonoscopy.
The point of my message is for all of you who are the "right" age to have a colonoscopy asap.
They have developed a liquid called MoviPrep which is so much easier to take than the horrible old liquid they used to prescribe, so for me it was easy to go through the whole procedure this time, And I'm glad I did. My oncologist thinks the colon cancer could have developed because of the CLL but we can't prove if of course.
I hope I can report good news next week, thank good ness I have a great team watching out for me at Kaiser and a very good, experienced surgeon. Thanks for letting me share :).
Written by
angelikab
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Wishing you only the very very best outcome…thank you for sharing the importance of colonoscopies. Nice to hear they have improved the prep as to me that was the worst part! Please do keep our community in your loop! Best of luck and may your doctor have nothing but good news for you!!
Just sending good luck for your op, hope all goes well and thanks for reminding us all to have checks for secondary cancers. The bowel cancer UK routine screenings end at age 75 unless you opt in.
Gosh! Good they found it, (did you not have any symptoms?) even better that you have a prompt treatment plan activated.
Never easy to embrace a 2nd cancer, let's hope this one is an "amenable" one, easily resected and not spread. Bowel cancer can be relatively "self contained" and resected effectively.
CLL does expose us to higher malignancy rates due to immunity impairment, more so after FCR chemo.
I am sorry this is happening to you, but very very glad that you have the diagnosis. I am having a colonoscopy on Friday, in my dad's family there is a huge amount of bowel disease and bowel cancer. I hope your op goes well on Tuesday.
Just had a discussion with my PCP. I was concerned that since my colorectal surgeon who performs my routine colonoscopies doesn't feel that I need my next one until 5 years that I wanted a script for cologuard in the meantime. PCP vetoed that idea saying colonoscopy is the gold standard. Schedule one in 3 years if I am worried, watch for symptoms. I was surprised that she disapproved of my vigilance plan, especially my having had a resection in 2016.
Hoping for the best outcome for you, good that you and your doctor are getting right on this!
Thanks for the tip, never told about MoviPrep. I need a script to prevent vomiting from prep, wonder if this eliminates the need for that?
Since today is the operation I had to do the Moviprep in one day. It was not easy. I recommend starting the afternoon before and ending it the morning it’s what I did for the colonoscopy. But it was more doable than the previous liquid. Good luck to you !!
Just curious, how long had it been since your last colonoscopy that this cancer recent was discovered?? I had a colonoscopy where they removed a couple of polyps. I was told to return for another colonoscopy in 3 years.
Hi Angellikab I had colon cancer in 2004 had operation and 30 weeks of chemotherapy which I blame for losing lots of teeth, getting, CLL, diabetes etc etc. The chemo will be a lot gentler now so don’t worry about it, I was just commenting on life after colon cancer here I am still causing trouble 20 years later and just about to start treatment for CLL 10 years after watch and wait. My very best wishes to you and try and remain positive 🧘♀️ Cliff
Good luck tomorrow and I hope it goes well for you. I developed a suspected tumour in the ascending colon so had a right hemi-colectomy, done laparoscopically. Recovery was rapid, no problems re-estalishing normal bowel function. The laboratory testing of the excised bit of colon revealed it was a benign polyp but was bleeding into the gut so could/would have become malignant if left. I'm now on a 3-year cycle of colonoscopy.
Hi, after 17 years with CLL and having finished Venetoclax last December I now have a malignant tumour in my colon. I had a CT scan in February to assess my lymph nodes and they never spotted anything in my colon. I was diagnosed via a regular bowel cancer screening (poo on a stick!) and subsequent colonoscopy. It hasn't spread and I'm having it removed tomorrow. Will be taking my bottles of pre-op nutrients this evening and early tomorrow. Hopefully in a week or so I can go back to enjoying my CLL remission.
yeah, 'poo on a stick' rules! A friend of mine was diagnosed with colon cancer after taking the FIT test, luckily was caught in time, and is now cancer free😊.
All the very best for your quick recovery and a worry-free Christmas.
I have actual visible blood in my stool so my GP said we already know there's blood there, no need to do the FIT. This comes after 3 month of new and acute pelvic pain so I am waiting on a GI referral for a colonoscopy. Anxious times. 😔
I understand theses are anxious times, Amberesque.
However, just to put your mind at ease a bit, although visible blood in the poop looks dramatic, it may very well be just an indication of hemorrhoids or anal fissures, both conditions are totally benign.
Did your GP give you a digital rectal examination? this usually discovers the culprit.
If he did this rectal examination and found nothing, then he just wants to be on the safe side by requesting a colonoscopy.
I fully understand your anxiety, and hope your colonoscopy is scheduled soon, and you will regain your peace of mind.
I had a digital exam, found nothing. Just had an MRI today to look for cause of pelvic pain. I will schedule a colonoscopy as I think I have the years and risk factors to do so preventatively. One day at a time, as hard as that can be. Thank you for your reassuring words. The anxiety is challenging.
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CLL and Secondary Cancer
Gastroscopy/Endoscopy 
Feeling scared, nervous, you name it.....
