Dear Friend, boss and student lost his fight today

Oh, hon, so very sorry.

I know someone who just had a colectomy bc she was at risk for colon cancer. She felt healthy as a horse, but made the brave decision to go for a J pouch bc she wants to be around for her young children. Such a brave decision. She is hoping to be released after nearly 2 weeks due to complications.

Skn69, so very sorry for your loss. Yes if only people realized how early detection for CRC is so important. My hubbie is 46 and I tell you the day he turns 50 he will be getting his exam!! And, Kia tell your friend to hang in there , hopefully she will be released soon. I too had complications from both of my surgeries.

Thanks, Holly. Yeah, I had complications too. It's not an easy surgery. We all hoped it would be smoother for her since she's healthy.

Agreed, my hubbie will be hauled in as soon as he's 50, too!

Sharon, very sorry to hear about this. It brings back the very sad memory of Tony Snow (press secretary for President Bush) who died of colon cancer, although he had UC for 25 years. His mother also died of colon cancer. I try to stay on my parents to have colonoscopies done regularly. Unfortunately, I think one reason colon cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death in the USA is many people think the procedure is horrifying and is more trouble than what it is worth, not appreciating that the procedure is tolerable with sedation.

There is an attorney at my office who is a highly intelligent 45 year old female and she has never had one done, ever. I have tried to talk to her about the importance of colonscopies, and she is dismissive of the importance. As bright a lady as she is, I feel like her thinking is that "nobody is sticking something in my ass that does not need to be stuck up there." Her own brother died from cancer, and she eats a terrible diet.

Anyway my sympathies to GG's family.

And with the prep being so much easier / tolerable now with the ducolax and miralax duo it is almost a no brainer!!! Everytime I talk to someone and they tell me the horrible prep their doc told them to take I tell them about this one and they thank me so much for the advice afterwards. All we can do is keep trying to get the word out and hope people listen.

Thanks guys,
During the service His son's read a beautiful Eulogy that was sweet and eloquent...talking about how they had also just lost an uncle and 2 aunts to the same cancer...4 siblings in less than 2yrs!! How much more do people need to hear??? I am so pissed off because whenever I speak to people about it I get shut out, brushed off and shusshed..."we don't talk about that sort of thing in Our family" is the usual response...My hubby had his first ever colonoscopy last year at 65! Fine, there is no family history but who cares??? For a country that speaks so openly about everything sex, bathroom humour and what we call "cacca-boudin" (pee&poop) they sure have a colonoscopy phobia...
Such a waste of a life! And so preventable...we need a better press agent for colon cancer and colonoscopies...something like "you can get 1 tube up there today or have dozens up there tomorrow"....
which would you prefer?
Not so sure that the national Cancer society would approve but I am so sick of seeing those that I love die from this...
Enough of this...I am sad and ranting...
Sharon

So sorry for your loss Sharon. My husband's cousin died from colon cancer at the age of 50. He had the signs and symptoms that something was wrong but chose to ignore it until it was too late. It could have been totally avoided. I just had this conversation with a co worker yesterday. She is turning 60 and never had a colonoscopy. I told her I am driving her there myself. People need to stop being so damn stubborn about this.

Anyway, you and your friend's family are in my prayers.

Sharon,
Sorry so for your loss.

I even posted this on my facebook page and told people I would take them if they didn't have a ride.

Sharon, am so sorry for your loss....pls know you are in my thoughts.

(((hugs)))

I am very sorry, Sharon.

My husband was supposed to have a colon scope five years ago and just brushes me off every time I bring it up. So sad.

So sorry you lost your friend.

G'day Sharon,
just saw your post,I am sorry for you, losing a good friend. You know blokes are strange creatures, we always seem to bury our heads in he sand, and if the problem goes away we just forget it.

My Specialist Surgeon, told me that it is rare to see a woman with terminal bowel cancer, as women tend to talk about things and will get advice if they think there is something wrong. Blokes on the other hand don't seem to want to talk about their health, especially their butt, it doesn't seem manly to do so. I know blokes that have symptoms and are reluctant to get checked by the Doc, seem such a waste of life.
Anyway Sharon, keep your chin up and my thoughts are with you
Regards
Bob

Thanks all,
Just got the 'thank you' card from his widow and children...that hurts even more...what a bloody waste of a wonderful life...
Guys, please (and yes, you are right guzzunder) it is much less 'manly' to have colon cancer than to have a colonoscopy! 1 tube up your wazzoo 1xs every year or 2 is much less uncomfortable than surgery to remove body parts!
Please insist if you must on those that you love having things checked out down there!!!
Sharon