No one is going to be a bigger or better advocate for your health than YOU. The days of doing a trust fall into a white coat might be over. You know you. No one will fight harder for your life than you.
https://www.curetoday.com/view/cancer-taught-me-some-unexpected-lessons
You’ve had a colonoscopy and now you start reading the report and grow a little worried seeing the word “polyps” in the text. Does that mean you definitely have colorectal cancer?
For starters, no. The vast majority of colorectal polyps are harmless growths that sprout on the lining of your colon or rectum. They’re pretty common, especially in adults age 45 or older.
But that doesn’t mean polyps should be ignored, says colorectal surgeon Rebecca Gunter, MD. Colorectal cancer begins in polyps, after all. Finding and removing those polyps decreases your risk of developing the disease.
So, what’s the difference among polyps, and are some more worrisome than others? Dr. Gunter explains.
The smaller the polyp, the less likely it is to be on the road to cancer, says Dr. Gunter. Polyps can range in size from the less-than-5-millimeter “diminutive” category to the over-30-millimeter “giants.”
To put those sizes in perspective, a diminutive polyp is about the size of a match head. Larger polyps can be almost as big as the average person’s thumb.
Studies show that few smaller polyps are cancerous. As polyps slowly grow, however, the cancer risk rises. It’s estimated that it takes about 10 years for cancer to form into a colorectal polyp.
Polyps come in three basic shapes, says Dr. Gunter. They are:
Doctors examine removed polyps under a microscope for a close-up look at their cells. The review is to determine levels of dysplasia, a term used to describe how cancerous polyps appear on a cellular level.
Polyps with signs of high-grade dysplasia have disorganized cells with a larger, darker center. These dysplastic cells often grow wildly, a sign that cancer may have been close to forming in the polyp.
Your healthcare provider may recommend a follow-up colonoscopy sooner than normal if they find polyps with high-grade dysplasia. “It’s a finding that warrants increased attention,” notes Dr. Gunter.
Polyps with cells that look only mildly abnormal are labeled as having low-grade dysplasia and are of less concern.
Adenomas are polyps made from tissue that looks like the usual lining of your colon but isn’t. There are three kinds of adenomas, which doctors can determine by looking under a microscope. The types are:
Serrated polyps look like saw teeth under the microscope. They’re subtle, pale and without much form, making them easier to overlook during a colonoscopy. About 25% of colon cancers come from serrated polyps.
The answer is simple: Yes.
Though not all polyps turn into cancer, all colorectal cancers start as polyps. Removal eliminates the threat posed by a polyp. Keeping up with your colonoscopies allows your doctors to do just that.
Colonoscopies are recommended for everyone starting at age 45, or earlier if you have higher risk factors such as a family history of colon cancer. (Stool tests also are an option to screen for colon cancer, but colonoscopies remain the recommended method.)
“The reality is that colon polyps are fairly common,” says Dr. Gunter. “The good news is that removing them decreases your risk of colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy is a safe and effective procedure that could be life-saving. Don’t delay getting it done.”
You always have a choice, even when you don’t think you do.
If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will.
https://www.curetoday.com/view/after-a-cancer-diagnosis-i-became-a-patient-from-hell-
During National Hereditary Cancer Awareness Week, we wanted to highlight our information about Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition that increases the risk of bowel cancer.
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/risk-factors/family-history/
Cons:
*The results are not suitable for clinical use
*Sharing your genetic and health data with a large company
*Smaller ancestry database than some larger companies
Would you like to share your views on treatments for depression for patients with cancer?
LYNKED IN is a free annual, one-day educational conference for individuals with Lynch syndrome, their families, and caregivers, hosted by the Lynch Syndrome Center within the Division of Cancer Genetics and Prevention at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
This conference provides attendees with updates on guidelines for screening and prevention, strategies for communicating with your family, and advances in the treatment of Lynch syndrome. The goal is to connect and empower Lynch syndrome families.
Register here:
https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=P4CC3W9THRCXA9EH
“Your diet is not only what you eat. It’s what you watch, what you listen to, what you read and the people you hang around, be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually and physically.”
https://www.curetoday.com/view/having-a-hereditary-cancer-syndrome-has-changed-my-life
Check out this valuable source of information: https://thisisgo.ie
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 