Of flinches and words...can we say 'rectum'????

KathiM

Ok, now that I said it...not so bad, right?

I am so happy that this word, along with it's cousin, "colon", is getting more play in the outside world.

And it's all the semi-colons that refuse to remain part of a 'silent' group!!!

If I ever questioned the advancement of cancer treatment...well, all I have to do is look at the refining in the past few years with Avastin, 'treat first/cut later' protocols, even the 'customized' chemotherapies.

We cannot rest, we need to keep the word out there!!!! It's CRAZY that in 2007 in California alone, over 2,000 people are going to die from colorectal cancer needlessly...just because they have never been educated. Ewwwww, Ouch! Rectum!!!

Hugs, kathi

JoyceCanada

When I was undergoing chemo/radiation I invariably was asked the question while waiting for treatment... what cancer do you have, "breast"?

I always wanted to answer "rectum"!!
However, I never had the nerve and would always say "colon".

Stage III rectal cancer
NED October 2006

StacyGleaso

Rectum (wrecked 'em) ? Damn near killed 'em! lol

Stacy

Unknown

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KathiM

unknown said:

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One for sure for me. His wife told him about me...with NO symptoms to speak of...he had been refusing to go for a few years....

The scope revealed 3 polyps, 1 cancerous, 2 pre-cancerous. He sent me flowers for 'saving' him!!!

Hugs, Kathi

jams67

I tried to tell people even in the grocery store and gym after mine. Some of them went on to have a colonoscopy.
Part of the problem is the scope. A colonoscopy is so much trouble, when you have no symptoms. You just assume that you are ok. I was in great shape physically and felt fine. No bm problems at all, and I had stage iv. As soon as researchers figure out another way to test for it people will be more apt to have it done. Until then, we will just have to encourage everyone and get the word out, that it is a silent **** (can I say that?).
Jo Ann

usakat

JoyceCanada said:

When I was undergoing chemo/radiation I invariably was asked the question while waiting for treatment... what cancer do you have, "breast"?

I always wanted to answer "rectum"!!
However, I never had the nerve and would always say "colon".

Stage III rectal cancer
NED October 2006

Hey Joyce!

I had the same thing happen to me more than once. I would always reply, "I have coloRECTAL cancer...colon cancer. And you should go and get a colonoscopy too!"

I wonder if this is why most folks picked up a magazine and ignored me after that?

Colonoscopy the video...staring ANUS, RECTUM AND COLON! Lights, camera, action!

robinvan

jams67 said:

I tried to tell people even in the grocery store and gym after mine. Some of them went on to have a colonoscopy.
Part of the problem is the scope. A colonoscopy is so much trouble, when you have no symptoms. You just assume that you are ok. I was in great shape physically and felt fine. No bm problems at all, and I had stage iv. As soon as researchers figure out another way to test for it people will be more apt to have it done. Until then, we will just have to encourage everyone and get the word out, that it is a silent **** (can I say that?).
Jo Ann

Hi All...
"...it is a silent ****" It sure is that! Silent... but deadly. I had no symptoms other than periodic blood in my stool. It was too easy to minimize that. No pain, no blockage, no fatigue.
The language around it is tough. "Metastatic Colorectal cancer" Yeecchhh!! It even sounds nasty! I guess reclaiming the language is part of understanding and caring for this important part of our body. Thanks for helping us to do that Kathi and all.
Rob