What do you know about Colon Cancer?

[tiggerlover]

I looking for first hand information on colon cancer. What are signs and symptoms of the disease?

First let me say I don't know anyone who has colon cancer, but I am worried that my mother might. My mother has had diarrea for close to three months now, she has been surviving on saltines, chicken broth and tea and she has lost a tremendous amount of weight and she is tired and weak. When she first had diarrea she kept thinking it was a bug and it would pass and she kind of blew it off because she was busy. At that time she was getting ready to visit me in Italy and I urged her to go to the doctor. Well the doctor gave her something and she came here, but the pills didn't work. After her Italy visit she went to the doctor again (after waiting weeks to get an appointment) and he said she should see someone who can do a colonoscopy. Fast forward another couple of weeks waiting for an appointment and she finally sees the guy yesterday. Colonoscopy is scheduled for next Tuesday. It angers me that so much time is being wasted waiting to see a doctor and in the meantime mom isn't eating and is wittling away to nothing. I am scared of what they will find and I am just looking for some information. If anyone has anything to share I would love to hear it. (BTW, my mother is 76 years old).

 

[CEDmom]

First let me say that I don't work in the medical field at all. Secondly I'm so sorry your mom has been ill for so long.

One of the horrible things about cancer is it so often strikes w/o any symptoms. Most people with colon cancer don't even know they have it. This may prove a blessing for your mom. Some other possibilities are diverticulitis (sp?), diverticulosus (again sp?) or Chrone's disease. While none of these are pleasant they can be treated or a least controlled with medication and a modified diet. Good luck.

 

[Blondie]

I'm also sorry your mom is going through this.

Does your mom have well water?

Giardia information.

When we lived in Maine, or first Weim had this, and went undiagnosed for almost a year. He looked like skin and bones. One of his Vets tested him for it, gave him an RX for Flagyl, and he was finally cured!

Hope it is as simple as that for your dear Mom.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Boots]

Don't know that much about it, but just wanted you to know that I will be keeping her in my prayers. {{{{HUGS}}}}

 

[Boo'sMom]

a ton of first hand experience...check for a pm coming your way shortly.....

 

[PamOKW]

You are wise to push her to get to the doctor. Whatever the reason, diaharea is not normal and they need to find out the cause. It was the trigger that discovered my dad's colon cancer but it can also be many other things. If it is colon cancer, there is a lot of hope so take it one step at a time. You just have to make sure you take that step!

 

[Robinrs]

I had the same symptoms back in 1999. I lost almost 70 pounds in less than 3 months. I couldn't keep anything in me. I had two colonoscopies and every other kind of oscopy you can image. They bantied around the words "Crohn's Disease" and "colitis" back and forth. I suffered for two years with this until I went to a nutritionist.

I was told to separate my complex carbs and my proteins for three months. I was told not to eat any sugar and no milk. The symptoms WENT AWAY! I have been mostly symptom free for two years. Note, they will come back IF I don't eat lots of vegetables and water. Also, I do eat sugar now but every now and then and only lactose free milk.

I hope your Mom gets some answers. I spent so much time and money on medications and doctors that I was crazy and was so angry that they NEVER once suggested it was my diet.

God bless you both,

Robinrs

 

[tiggerlover]

Thank you so much. I plan to do a little research on some of the alternatives listed.

 

[Jenn]

I went through something similar last summer, and it lasted about 5 weeks. I had nausea and diarrhea nearly every day and lost about 10 lbs. My primary care doctor put me on medications to calm my stomach and medications to control the diarrhea. Finally, I went to a gastro specialist and he suggested laying off dairy for 10 days. My symptoms went away. He thought I could have had a stubborn intestinal bug that just wasn't clearing up.

I went back on dairy after that and have had 2 short recurrances lasting a couple of days each time.

 

[4cruisin]

tigerlover,

First, I'm sending my prayers that your mom is diagnosed correctly and recovers quickly. Blondie had basically the same info that I have. My mom was put on long term, very strong antibiotics for pneumonia and and ended up with the same symptoms you are describing. Both my sister and I thought that she was going to die because the dr would not listen to her or us and she was failing rapidly. Finally, they did a stool test, found out it was something called c-diff (clostridium difficile) and they put her on flagyl. I also gave her acidofolus (sp) pills which can be found in health food stores and is the same bacteria found in yogurt etc., which helps put good bacteria back into the body. She did eventually recover but it took quite a while. Please do not give up and push the doctors to listen to both her and you.

Nancy

 

[Christine]

Back in 1998, I had similar symptoms and I ended up losing 25lbs in just under 2 months. I finally went to a gastroenterologist and found out I had giardia. I don't have a well, either. Believe it or not, my son and I both picked it up when we went to Myrtle Beach. My son got over it in about 10 days (which is normal). My immune system was depressed due to some medical procedures I was undergoing and the giardia took hold. I took Flagyl for 7 days and was cured.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

I was extremely ill with very similar symptoms last August/September/October. Finally had a colonoscopy in October and was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Also extreme pain in the lower left hand side of my abdomen. Still suffer symptoms but thankfully nowhere near as bad as last year and medication has helped to keep it under control somewhat.

Good luck to you all and fingers crossed for a good outcome from the hospital trip.

Jackie

 

[CourtasanSatine]

(((hugs))) and PD and hoping it's not as bad as you think

Here's a site that may offer a clue

http://www.meds.com/colon/frameset12.html