In My Experience - Colorectal Cancer Screening

In My Experience
Colorectal Cancer Screening

An experience from an older member of the Love Your Buns Team for the “In My Experience” blog series.

Background
I made it through my young and middle ages without any concerns about colorectal cancer.  I had my first colonoscopy around the age of 50; I had to do the fecal occult test and there was blood so on to the colonoscopy.  The colon was clean, but I did have lots of hemorrhoids and they did bleed at times.  I knew that, but it was good to have that baseline.  I was awake with local anesthesia so I was able to watch the screen throughout the entire procedure.  It was actually very fascinating to see! 

Seven or so years later, I requested another colonoscopy.  I had more bleeding, but didn’t think it was from the hemorrhoids.   Again I was able to watch the screen.  This time, besides the previously mentioned hemorrhoids, I had a fissure, a tear in the lining, near the opening, but nothing else.  I remember the surgeon who did the procedure told me he made it all the way to the small intestines and even showed me on the screen so that was a very thorough exam.

My Concerns that Triggered the Screening Process
Now, eight years later, I had unusual bleeding again.  It started last August when I was really enjoying raspberries and blackberries that were always on sale in the grocery store.  I started having a small pain in my right side that lasted maybe five seconds.  Just enough for me to know it was there.  It took me awhile to figure out that maybe the berries were causing the slight pain and the bleeding, so I stopped eating them and within a day, the bleeding stopped.  I had heard about diverticulitis and wondered if that was possibly the problem.  I stopped eating the berries that I love and I stopped bleeding.  I still had occasional bleeding from the hemorrhoids, but through taking in more fiber and water, that didn’t happen often.  But in March, I suddenly had a massive bleed that didn’t even have bowel movement associated with it, I thought I was passing gas and instead, passed blood.  And it really scared me.  But it went away in a couple days and didn’t reoccur.

I don’t think it would have concerned me in the past since it went away and didn’t reoccur, but because of what Sara is going through and all the brochures we have from the American Cancer Society and FIghtCRC while setting up Love Your Buns, I knew I needed  to at least find out again what is happening.  With a gentle push from Sara and Jarod to get it checked out, I asked my primary care provider about getting a referral to get a colonoscopy.   We communicated back and forth a few times, but when the bleeding stopped, the concern went away.  So, I brought it up at my annual wellness check, and this time, she did do a referral for me.   

Time for a Colonoscopy
At the time of writing this, I had my third colonoscopy today.  I was up until 1:30 AM this morning with the bowel prep and consequences of the prep. 

[Fun fact for those that haven’t done a colonoscopy, the most common bowel prep is so wonderfully and aptly named “GoLYTELY”]

When I woke up at 3:30 AM and had to go to the bathroom, I did my thing and—uh oh, I had blood everywhere.  Shock!  Everything up to this point was doing exactly what it was supposed to do, all had been going to plan.   I called the Nurse Helpline and she told me to just come in as scheduled and tell them when I talked to the nurses prepping me.  Apparently not a big deal.

This time during the colonoscopy I didn’t get to watch as I was more sedated (less than general anesthesia, but more than local), but I had the most wonderful nap while the procedure was completed. When I talked with the nurse after the procedure was done, she said it was the internal hemorrhoids that were bleeding and that I would be surprised how many people experience that when prepping. 

Colonoscopies are a Very Important Screening Tool for CRC
The results of my colonoscopy are that I have a small area of diverticulosis which means I have the condition, but I don’t have an infection, which would be diverticulitis (notably an apparently much more painful situation).   But they did also find a polyp which was removed.  It will be a few days before I have the biopsy results, but the point is, this was not there eight years ago, and for me, this highlights the importance of the colonoscopy screening process that is the best front-line defense for colorectal cancer.

If Symptoms Persist, Insist
Question unusual symptoms.  Don’t assume your last colonoscopy will stay the same.  If you have a concern, be empowered to defend your concern!  Love Your Buns!