Cancerous Polyp

Peggy Brooks-Bertram

"The good news is, you are very, very lucky.The bad news is you had a cancer in the polyp removed from your colon.  It was a very large polyp, over two centimeters. Considering its size, it has probably been growing for at least five years.Colon cancer is a very slow growing cancer. More good news is that the cancer was in situ. That means it had not spread beyond the mucosa of the colon. We call that a "stage zero." That means it had not reached the next level where it could establish its own blood supply.  If that had happened it could have spread to the lymph system and could send cells throughout the body. That would not be good. The colonoscopy did exactly what it was supposed to do as a screening tool.  It revealed the polyp and we were able to successfully remove it.  

"What next?  If you want complete assurance that all of the cancer is gone, you can have that part of the colon removed.  However, any invasive surgery carries numerous risks. However, because the cancer was detected at this stage, there is considerable certainty that you just need follow-up. This would include a CT scan of the abdomen, blood tests for elevated tumor biomarkers and a flexible sigmoidoscopy in ninety days to check the site.  If these checks are positive, we will see you again in one year for another colonoscopy.  But you were very lucky."

The message in this dialogue is:

• Give yourself the best 50^th birthday present ever.  Take a friend or loved one for a colonoscopy screening. It takes no time at all and you probably won't feel a thing. I didn't.
• Ask your family if there is a family history of polyps. I did.

• Don't procrastinate. I did.
• If you doctor forgets to recommend a colonoscopy at 50, remind him.  He'll understand.
• Colon cancer is very silent.  Don't wait for symptoms.  Symptoms can mean big trouble.  I did not have symptoms but I did procrastinate.
• Above all, colon cancer is treatable and totally preventable but it depends on you to act in a timely manner.
• What does a cancerous colon polyp look like?  I wanted to share with you the photos of the polyp in my colon. These are not for the squeamish but neither is cancer!  Image 1 is of the intact polyp before it was removed. Image 2 is of the polyp after partial removal.  Image 3 is a check of the site after the entire polyp was removed and the site cauterized.  Image 4 is a photo of the end of the colon.
• No, cancer anywhere is not a pretty sight.  Remember, discovering colon polyps that might become cancerous is in your hands.  
• DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.