Symptoms and finding out.

Many have asked about symptoms and how I knew. Until this, I too wondered how people knew to get checked for cancer. What were they feeling or experiencing? What are the signs? The quickest answer is to listen to your body. If something is just not right - question it. And don't put it off. My issues are intestinal, so I prefer not to go into great detail - and I'm sure you'll appreciate that - but if you have concerns and would like to talk to me personally, I'm here. Already in conversations with close friends, there's been a few who were experiencing similar symptoms but weren't sure if it was serious enough to pay attention to. Please do! The best thing that can happen is you have nothing wrong and can be relieved that you had the colonoscopy that you needed to get done anyway! A place to start..., call:
RMGA (Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Assoc.), Aurora 303-671-5553

What I will tell you is the colonoscopy itself was a piece of cake. These days they put you under enough to not give a $@#! (no pun intended). It's the preparation the day before that I'll remember as the worst - having no solid foods and the drinking of 64 oz. of Gatorade with the Miralax in it. Uuggghhh. Not even the other part that is involved was that terribly bad. I could not stomach the 10th glass of it, no matter how I tried, my body would not let me drink it.

Going into the procedure, the doctor was quite sure that he will just discover internal hemoroids and we'd just need to deal with them. Imagine my surprise as I came out of the groggy state to see him explaining to Doug what was found. I remember wondering "why are they saying these things, and why does Doug have the look of shock and awe on his face." The next day's visit with the surgeon confirmed the findings. I actually asked "How quickly could it get removed because next week I start my deadlines again." He paused and said, "Uh, it's not going to be that easy." In his office, he began discussing Radiation, Chemotherapy, Surgery. "Wait!" Again, what's this you're saying!?? I presumed this was the worst-case scenario, and that there's a lot less "worse things" we'd actually have to go through. So far, that's not the case.

I've had a few days off from doctor appointments. Tomorrow (Friday) I have a couple more, one of which is a P.E.T. Scan which will tell in more detail the extent of this cancer, if there's any others lurking anywhere else, and will give the Radiation Oncologist the precise information he needs. Then next week sometime the treatments will begin. Hopefully not Thursday, as we'll be taking our oldest daughter to college and getting her set up in her dorm. Just this week our youngest started high school! So very much to think about, do and feel. But God wouldn't give me more than I can handle. Right? Right!!