Posted on 08/16/2010 10:46:29 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob
On 23 April I had a routine colonoscopy, and found out that I had cancer. I knew then I’d have to write this column once I knew the outcome. I had 25 days of chemotherapy, simultaneous with radiation therapy, followed by surgery on 11 August.
The pathology reports came back yesterday. They were, as my surgeon said, ‘the best possible, given the circumstances.” They were clean margins and clean lymph nodes. The margins are the areas all around the site of the surgery. The lymph nodes are where cancer usually spreads first, from its original site.
In laymen’s terms, I am cancer-free. Going in my purpose for this column was, and still is, to save some lives. Three of the most common cancers in America today are colon and prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women. All three have a common characteristic. They can be often and easily cured if they are detected early.
Let me repeat that, and pardon me for shouting, but THESE CANCERS CAN BE EASILY CURED IF THEY ARE DETECTED EARLY.
What stands in the way of early detection? The tests for these cancers, especially colon and breast, are obnoxious. Everyone winces and shudders when the tests are mentioned. I know.
I felt the same way when a routine examination with no symptoms showing, saved me from colon cancer once before. That one was only pre-cancerous. But it would have developed to the point of killing me years ago, if I had let it go.
After one time at the rodeo, you get cautious. I got routine exams on a routine basis. The readers of my columns are, I know, older and better educated than most. Many of you are woman or men “of a certain age.” Or, you may have risk factors for cancer in your personal or family history.
If there is any reason in your age or risk factors why you should have a routine exam for any of these cancers, set this column aside and make the call. A day or two’s worth of discomfort, yes, and embarrassment, is a small price to pay for a couple decades of not being dead.
I’ve written about my situation as if it was, or had become, a day at the beach. It isn’t and it hasn’t. Chemotherapy and radiation both tear up your systems. When my father died of cancer, forty years ago, both of those treatments were crude, in their infancy, and nearly as harmful as the cancer itself. Today, the reverse is true. Both treatments have been refined, and are used together to shrink the cancer in advance of surgery. That’s exactly what happened in my case.
With the good news I got yesterday, I ought to be in a good mood. Well, there is this gastric tube down my nose that is continuously draining my stomach. That is to compensate for the fact that my colon has not fully awakened from its slumber. And, did I mention that I’ve given up all pain killers to aid in that process?
Try being stitched up down your front like a baseball. Add to that your must cough to clear your lungs, to avoid pneumonia. Then add that I have refused any pain shots. Since 11 August I have eaten nothing but ice, and two cups of apple juice. Life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue.
I am not, however, complaining. As Maurice Chevalier said of old age. “It is fine, considering the alternative.” The alternative is what I came to talk with you about, today. There are people reading this right now, whose lives can be saved, if you get an exam right now.
Let me repeat that, YOUR LIFE MIGHT BE SAVED IF YOU GET A CANCER TEST TODAY.
I expect and hope that about five people will have their lives saved by my relating my experiences in this column. And, yes, the title of this column was a deliberate pun. If this works for you, please let me know.
Note that I haven’t mentioned my doctors or nurses. There were nine doctors, and many more nurses. I am grateful for the excellence of their medical care.
Changing subjects abruptly, part of the goal of my surgery was to be ready on 12 September to March down Constitution Avenue with 38 of my fellow citizens, dressed as the signers of the Constitution. I get to be Ben Franklin. There should be about a million Americans there. I hope the American press might even notice and cover that event.
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About the Author: John Armor practiced before the Supreme Court for 33 years. John_Armor@aya,yale.edu His latest book, now in print, is on Thomas Paine. www.TheseAreTheTimes.us
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Hard to believe that he is gone just 4 days later.
RIP John.
You will be missed.
It was a true pleasure meeting you here.
God bless.
“Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace”
(May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God’s mercy rest in peace.)
Amen
May God grant eternal rest to this good and faithful servant, and comfort his family and friends in this difficult time.
wow...it was so nice he beat it but the reaper won this time. RIP, you are saved now!
RIP man.
So sorry to hear of your death.
God bless you, John/CBB. May you rest easily in His arms. We miss you.
Just saw this post on your obituary thread. In honor of it...I will schedule a screening. RIP.
George, I am happy to tell you that this information is entirely false.
Find a an excellent Gastro-enterologist in your area who is affilkiated with a top rated hospital. Most colonoscopies are done as in-office procedures, take about half an hour, and are completely safe and painless.
Today’s testing is done with tiny little cameras projecting images on a screen in real time.
Don’t let mis-information and fear stop you from having a diagnostic procedure that could save your life.
The day before cleanse with disgusting liquids is a relic of the past.
There are new prep procedures that while not totally pleasant, aren’t terrible either.
Getting your results right there on the spot, and the peace of mind from that is well worth any monior inconvenience.
RE: “The day before cleanse with disgusting liquids is a relic of the past.
There are new prep procedures that while not totally pleasant, aren’t terrible either.”
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Are you saying Phosphosoda that you buy in the drugstore and mix with liquids is a thing of the past????? That’s what was used in 2003 —
What is the latest thing?
My GI doc takes pics (wonder souveneer of the procedure /sarc) that I get to take home afterwards.
I am getting ready for my 5yr procedure very soon, date is set.
The liqued is not as much to drink and now use two tablets of something as last part of cleansing plan.
I need to due some research for ok/other things to eat the week prior as all the things normally in my diet are as you know a no/no.
Last time I ate meat and stuff and got really sick, not gonna do that this time.
I fast now as part of my regular lifestyle so that will be the easiest prep part.
Let me add, it is worth it to get checked. I checked out fine, no problems and I have the pictures to prove it.
there are risks but not as huge as the polyps that can be cancerous as we age.
I prefer to take a drug nap while getting mine done, I am very sensitive and I could not tolerate the procedure awake.
Find a GI doc who does colonoscopies allot.
Get recommendations. This is not a routine test that a primary care doc can do.
If you get a good GI doc he will snip those polyps off while doing the procedure.
My doc gives me pics. : )
There are specif directions and on is no NSAIDS and certain other meds the week prior to prevent excessive bleeding if he/she does have to snip or bumps the intestinal wall.
My son brags that he can take the black rubber (huge in diameter) with no drug nap.
Well goody goody for you son, not me.
Yep Colonoscopy bump.
I put mine off 8months for my every 5yr.
Have the date set now though. No turning back.
I have known folks who Do put it off and end up with the hell of bowel cancer later in life.
Not something that one should put off.
50 if no history of GI problems or family cancer history.
I am going in for #3 very soon, date set.
I had diverticulitus when younger due to lousy eating habits/lifestyle/stress.
All that is healed and no polyps now for 15yrs.
RE: “I just had a colonoscopy 3 weeks ago. You take 2 pills the day before, clear liquid diet and at 6pm you drink a jug of disgusting Halflytle (sp?). While the new stuff does not taste quite as bad as Phosphate Soda it is every bit as nasty and hard to choke down.”
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Thanks — mine was ‘03 and they told me to come back in 10 years -— maybe in three more years things will have improved some more...........
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