Semicolon Stories

A Polypy Family

April 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm Danielle B 2 comments

Last fall, our family tree had a bit of growth.

I’m not talking about more babies or marriages (although that did happen), but genetically speaking, we had some movement in the genetic family tree.

You see, for about 10 years now, I’ve been the odd ball out when it comes to this colon cancer stuff. I’ve had a great-aunt who was known for polyps and a few great-grandparents who supposedly had colon cancer, but nothing that really gave any doctors insight that my colon cancer diagnosis was a family thing. I’ve had to answer “no” every time I’ve been asked if there’s a family history of the disease. And while that’s still the case, things got a little more interesting a few months ago.

My Cousin Eric

Meet Eric

This handsome stud (sorry gals, he’s got a gorgeous wife) is my cousin Eric. He’s lives in Nebraska and texted me out of nowhere several months ago asking me about blood in the stool. I immediately was concerned, as that was my main symptom of colon cancer.

Genetic testing I underwent a few years ago indicated that my mutated gene (commonly found in Lynch Syndrome)  is most likely traveling through my dad’s side of the family. So, when Eric texted me (cousin on my dad’s side), I IMMEDIATELY told him to get a colonoscopy. Good thing his doctor was already headed there, or I would have driven up to Nebraska myself to make sure he got tested.

Colonoscopies Save Lives

Eric’s colonoscopy found that he had polyps growing in his large intestine. This young, twenty-something hunk (sorry again – he’s married, and actually has a baby on the way) indeed had pre-cancerous growths in his colon. Thankfully, they did a colonoscopy right away given his family history (sorry dude) and symptoms, and were able to remove the polyps safely. Now, Eric knows he’s at high risk for colon cancer and can get screened often to prevent an occurance.

Polypy Cousins

A Polypy Family

Don’t get me wrong, while this might seem like I’m excited, I’m bummed that Eric has to deal with this too – yet so relieved that he caught it early. There’s a suspension that a weird variation of Lynch Syndrome is running through our family, thus the importance of everyone getting screened. (That’s right you Ripleys who are reading this – get your rears CHECKED OUT NOW.)

If you are like our family and have someone who’s been diagnosed with colon cancer — and especially someone diagnosed with colon cancer UNDER AGE 50 — get yourself into a gastroenterologist and get your colon checked NOW.

It’s nothing to play around with.

Entry filed under: Colon Stories. Tags: colon cancer, colon cancer in cousins, colon cancer survivor, colonoscopy, family history, genetic testing for colon cancer, Lynch Syndrome, polyps, pre-cancerous polyps, young colon cancer survivor.