(((Kathy)))

Here I was, wondering why Alffe kept making reference to hubby over in SOS. I'm glad I found you here.

Maybe this will help you a little, I don't know. We can talk about it in September when I trip out to see Mr. and Mrs. Alpo. I've had Ulcerative Colitis for 30+ years now. I've had more colonoscopies than I could possibly remember and had hundreds of polyps removed.

I had them every year, sometimes twice a year when the UC was really active, lots of pain and blood. Now I'm 'quiescent'. Then, I started seeing a specialist and he pushed me to a colonoscopy every 2 years. I can't begin to tell you how nervous that has made me as I know UC is basically considered a precursor to colon cancer...and a colon cancer that pops up all over the colon, not just one spot.

When he switched me to every other year, I immediately voiced my concern. His response was that when polyps are considered premalignant lesions, the 'evolution' to cancer is a slow process that can take up to 7 to 8 years and an exhaustive removal of all 'adenomatous' polyps isn't necessary.

I guess that made me feel a little better, but when colonoscopy time comes around, I always get a little nervous. Mine is due this fall, and I'm concerned because I've been 'trying' to flare for about a year now, and flares are when the aggressive changes take place in the cells. There was a time when they would take as many as 75 small biopsies from my colon. Now they take about 10-12 from 4 different quadrants, and I always wonder...well, what about the rest of the colon.

So, I'm thinking that 3 months is probably okay and that the polyps showed a change in cells, not necessarily a full blown cancer. If it was a full blown cancer, he certainly wouldn't have shoved hubby out the door with a 'see you in 3 months' statement.

It's a GOOD thing he had this done. Maybe I didn't catch this, but was this just a routine colonoscopy for him or is he having other symptomatic problems? Probably the polyps just showed some pre-cancerous cells and in 3 months they'll take biopsies in the areas where the polyps were.

But, I'm no expert. I only know UC and UC brings about an entirely different type of colon cancer.

The other good things about this is that he had it done! More people should take heed of having colonoscopies done. We're a nation of a lot of fat/meat/preservative/chemical eating people, and our colon cancer rate is really high.

Colonoscopies are a piece of cake folks! Well, the prep for them is not exactly fun. And they can save your life.

((Kathy)) My thoughts are with you and hubby.