Endoscopy/Colonoscopy

bingbing2009
bingbing2009 Member Posts: 177
Funny how many docs we have, isn’t it? I went in for my endoscopy and colonoscopy today with my gastroenterologist and saw my thoracic surgeon sitting in one of the offices. I never saw this man much—I mostly dealt with my oncology surgeon after my Ivor Lewis. But even after over 2 years, my thoracic surgeon remembered me and I got a big hug from him. Believe me, I let him know how thankful I was for the wonderful job he did—I told him our city was fortunate to have a talented surgeon like him. I haven’t even had to have a dilation since my surgery.

Anyway, my endoscopy looked great—no signs of irritation, no signs of the cancer returning. Everything was wonderful. I am very thankful and feel blessed. My colonoscopy also went well (my first)—had a 10 mm polyp removed and sent off for biopsy, but it didn’t look suspicious, so I think all will be okay with that, too.

Despite feeling guilty at times for how very fortunate I am relative to others, I just had to share the good news. Life is sweet!

Melinda

DX October 2009: T3N1M0
November and December 2009: chemo (Cisplatin and 5 FU) and radiation
February 2010: Ivor Lewis surgery

Comments

  • stephikindred
    stephikindred Member Posts: 140
    Glad to hear it
    Hi Melinda,
    Thanks for sharing! We need all the good news we can get around here! Good luck with the colonoscopy as well!
    Steph
  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    Good news Melinda
    Oh Melinda!

    Finally! Some good news - congratulations! Two years is something to celebrate and so glad to hear that things are going good for you. Please do not ever feel guilty because of your good fortune. We love to hear your wonderful news and we like to celebrate with you. Fortunately, we all seem to be able to grieve and celebrate simultaneously. It's the rays of sunshine that you and others can provide us that keep us going.

    Grab that glass of wine and smile and know we smile with you!

    Will be talking with you soon.

    Congratulations!
    Judy & Don
  • AngieD
    AngieD Member Posts: 493
    JReed said:

    Good news Melinda
    Oh Melinda!

    Finally! Some good news - congratulations! Two years is something to celebrate and so glad to hear that things are going good for you. Please do not ever feel guilty because of your good fortune. We love to hear your wonderful news and we like to celebrate with you. Fortunately, we all seem to be able to grieve and celebrate simultaneously. It's the rays of sunshine that you and others can provide us that keep us going.

    Grab that glass of wine and smile and know we smile with you!

    Will be talking with you soon.

    Congratulations!
    Judy & Don

    Super wonderful news,
    Super wonderful news, Melinda!! Did you have your surgery in OK? As others have said, we love good news and it helps all of us to keep on keeping on. Thanks for sharing and bask in the blessed news!
    Hugs!
    Angie
  • captdave
    captdave Member Posts: 153
    Melinda, That is such great
    Melinda, That is such great news! Isn't it wonderful to have such skilled and talented and compassionate surgeons. I know how you feel being so fortunate or as I like to call it blessed. I know I feel guilty sometimes for having had such an early detection and such a great outcome from surgery when most don't have the type of results I have.

    Thanks for sharing the good news.

    Dave
  • jgwright
    jgwright Member Posts: 242
    We Love Good News
    It does us good to hear from people, like you, and William, and Paul, that are doing good. We need some joy among the pain. SO KEEP IT UP! You hear???

    --Jerry
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    Great to hear that things went well
    Melinda,

    Wonderful to hear your good news. I am sure your surgeon was happy to see that you are doing so well. They always seem to find a small polyp when I have my colonoscopy but they always have come back benign. Unfortunately that means we are on a 3 year cycle instead of the 10 year cycle but all things considered not too bad. It great to hear good test results!!!!

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    Melinda, The news is great.
    Melinda, The news is great. I sometimes, also feel quilty over posting good test results. There is so much sadness associated with EC ,we need to post the good,so that others know the battle can be delayed or won.
    I don't take my NED lightly. I don't worry, but I know I am blessed. I thank God for the healing and peace He gives me,

    sandra
  • kaz4eva62
    kaz4eva62 Member Posts: 2
    Endoscopy/Colonoscopy
    Hi All

    I have just joined after punching in Pain between the Shoulder blades in google, and found this site, and I read some of your stories. I have suffered terribly with heartburn, acid attacks etc for the past 10 years. The last couple of years the acid heartburn got worse and I was put on Omprazole by my doctor. This year my doctor decided it was about time I got checked out so went and had Colonoscopy, I knew about the Hiatus Hernia so wasnt surprised about that, they took biopsy and am waiting results now.

    My problem is now I am suffering greatly with pain between the shoulder blades, in the last 2-3 days I think I have had about 6 hrs sleep. I thought it was my mattress so have a new one coming next week, but after reading your stories have started to get worried. I am carer for my finance who suffers from Menieres Disease, and at the moment am also doing the school run for my grandchildren, since their parents split up.

    I have had all the usual tests, heart monitor etc and my heart is fine, I know I should go see my doctor but am scared, should I leave it a little longer and see if it is my mattress (yes I did need a new one) or go have it checked out now?

    My mum died of lukaemia and my uncle (her brother) lung cancer.


    worried Kaz
  • captdave
    captdave Member Posts: 153
    kaz4eva62 said:

    Endoscopy/Colonoscopy
    Hi All

    I have just joined after punching in Pain between the Shoulder blades in google, and found this site, and I read some of your stories. I have suffered terribly with heartburn, acid attacks etc for the past 10 years. The last couple of years the acid heartburn got worse and I was put on Omprazole by my doctor. This year my doctor decided it was about time I got checked out so went and had Colonoscopy, I knew about the Hiatus Hernia so wasnt surprised about that, they took biopsy and am waiting results now.

    My problem is now I am suffering greatly with pain between the shoulder blades, in the last 2-3 days I think I have had about 6 hrs sleep. I thought it was my mattress so have a new one coming next week, but after reading your stories have started to get worried. I am carer for my finance who suffers from Menieres Disease, and at the moment am also doing the school run for my grandchildren, since their parents split up.

    I have had all the usual tests, heart monitor etc and my heart is fine, I know I should go see my doctor but am scared, should I leave it a little longer and see if it is my mattress (yes I did need a new one) or go have it checked out now?

    My mum died of lukaemia and my uncle (her brother) lung cancer.


    worried Kaz

    Kaz, It sounds like you've
    Kaz, It sounds like you've got your hands full! I know my own personal choice would be to have it checked out ASAP. I prefer to know what I'm dealing with then fear the unknown. You cant deal with what you don't know. The other reason I would get it checked out right away is that if it is something like EC the earlier you find it the the better your options and survival rate are generally speaking.

    Good luck with what ever you decide to do and let us know how everything turns out please.

    Dave
  • kaz4eva62
    kaz4eva62 Member Posts: 2
    captdave said:

    Kaz, It sounds like you've
    Kaz, It sounds like you've got your hands full! I know my own personal choice would be to have it checked out ASAP. I prefer to know what I'm dealing with then fear the unknown. You cant deal with what you don't know. The other reason I would get it checked out right away is that if it is something like EC the earlier you find it the the better your options and survival rate are generally speaking.

    Good luck with what ever you decide to do and let us know how everything turns out please.

    Dave

    Thankyou Dave
    Thanks Dave, lucky enough my doctors is one of the walk in centres, so is open 365 days a year and I will be phoning tomorrow to get an appointment. Just dreading going to bed tonight because I cannot get comfortable and unable to sleep.

    Will keep you informed and thanks once again

    Kaz
  • captdave
    captdave Member Posts: 153
    kaz4eva62 said:

    Thankyou Dave
    Thanks Dave, lucky enough my doctors is one of the walk in centres, so is open 365 days a year and I will be phoning tomorrow to get an appointment. Just dreading going to bed tonight because I cannot get comfortable and unable to sleep.

    Will keep you informed and thanks once again

    Kaz

    Kaz, Glad you're getting it
    Kaz, Glad you're getting it checked out! Try posting a new topic or thread here and telling your story so you don't get lost in someone else's thread. If you post a new thread you will be surprised with the great info you will get. There are some very very well informed and educated and experienced people here who make it their mission to help those seeking information and new to this horrible disease.

    Dave
  • Freida
    Freida Member Posts: 182
    Melinda
    I am so happy to

    Melinda
    I am so happy to hear your good news. Don't feel guilty - I think we all love to hear the good news stories.

    Hugs
    Freida
  • bingbing2009
    bingbing2009 Member Posts: 177
    An Addition to My Story--Polyp Update
    I've been out of town, but when we picked up our mail today, the results of the colonoscopy were in the mail. The polyp that was removed was the type that usually becomes cancerous. So now I have two things to be thankful for--being NED so far on the EC part AND catching this polyp before it became cancerous. My grandfather died of colon cancer, so I should have been screened years ago, but put it off repeatedly. Thank goodness my gastroenterologist finally INSISTED on the colonoscopy while doing an endoscopy last year.

    Paul, because of the type of polyp, now I'm on the 3-year colonoscopy schedule like you. My hubby had 6 polyps, but because of their type, he only has to have a colonoscopy every 5 years.

    Just thought I'd update everyone.

    Melinda

    DX October 2009: T3N1M0
    November and December 2009: chemo (Cisplatin and 5 FU) and radiation
    February 2010: Ivor Lewis surgery
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member

    An Addition to My Story--Polyp Update
    I've been out of town, but when we picked up our mail today, the results of the colonoscopy were in the mail. The polyp that was removed was the type that usually becomes cancerous. So now I have two things to be thankful for--being NED so far on the EC part AND catching this polyp before it became cancerous. My grandfather died of colon cancer, so I should have been screened years ago, but put it off repeatedly. Thank goodness my gastroenterologist finally INSISTED on the colonoscopy while doing an endoscopy last year.

    Paul, because of the type of polyp, now I'm on the 3-year colonoscopy schedule like you. My hubby had 6 polyps, but because of their type, he only has to have a colonoscopy every 5 years.

    Just thought I'd update everyone.

    Melinda

    DX October 2009: T3N1M0
    November and December 2009: chemo (Cisplatin and 5 FU) and radiation
    February 2010: Ivor Lewis surgery

    So glad they found it when they did!!!
    Melinda,

    Well having to go through the prep process every three years is certainly not fun, but much better than he alternative of finding the polyp too late. Thanks for the information on the modified prep process, I will know what to look for when I am due in November.

    Glad the news was good news.


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    Grand Blanc, Michigan

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Two year survivor

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!