Colon Cancer...Carole(HCCA)...long....

[Guest guest]

(Carole...)

I was wondering if you'd be (at all) able to forward us information

from this conference and/or tell us about this HCCA (Hereditary Colon

Cancer Association) or how to join (what that " consists " of when you

do....etc...I know you have a lot to deal with right now...so will

understand if you aren't able to update us about the conference here on

the list...if you have an e-mail addy for the HCCA ??? Thanks, Cheri

Hi all....

I was 13 when my father (HEDS) died of cancer (which of course I

remember...) however I wasn't really ever aware of exactly *what* type of

cancer it was...just that it had " travelled " ...He was 48 when he died

(this was in '69) and had already had some kinds of surgery in the

previous 2 years before his death....Apparently it (the cancer) had

originally " started " in the colon...then went to the small intestine...

and " wherever else " ..and (I think) ended up in his stomach by the time he

died...

Although I never saw the " Couric " shows (back when her husband

died of colon cancer) I had <obviously> heard about it...anyway this

prompted me to question my mother as to <where did> my fathers cancer

(actually) start...So upon finding out and consequently hearing of the

hereditary " connection " . I saw a Gastro and had a colonoscopy performed

within a month...my next one he recommends to be in 5 years...as with the

other info he (the Gastro) gathered I was considered to be in the (second

highest) risk category...

I explain all this only by way of encouraging others that *if* they may

have had a relative die of cancer that although " at the end " may not have

been " actually " colon cancer, that it might have " started out " there

originally and they are therefore at higher risk...worth investigating...

(It also turned out that he had had a cousin die at around the age of 40

of " some type of cancer " ...we don't know what....as well as other members

of my Mothers side of the family had died of various types of cancer...)

Now if only my brother would go for a colonoscopy....oh well.....

btw...I had *no* problems with colonoscopy what so ever....and *sort of*

enjoyed watching it...(weird I guess...but it was kinda interesting

I explained about (and took in info on) EDS which he (the Gastro) sais he

knew about...and he was very gentle...and good at his job...(he's just

about retirement age so guess he's been doing them a long time...)

the worse thing (for those of you haven't had a colonoscopy)...in *my*

experience...was the " clean out " solution...and that part of it ...before

the procedure....the procedure itself was pretty much a very brief and

not even all that uncomfortable...experience....(not for me anyway...)

Cheri