About Debra:
Debra is a healthcare professional who lives in Greeley, Colorado. She's 52 years old and is a widow with two adult sons and a wonderful daughter-in-law.
About Debra's Colorectal Cancer Screening:
Debra agreed to a colonoscopy at age 44 when a routine blood test showed she was severely anemic. Her grandmother had died of colon cancer 25 years before, so Debra knew this was nothing to mess around with. Debra said she was sedated for the test and felt no pain during or after the procedure. She said her insurance covered the colonoscopy; her out-of-pocket cost was $200.
Debra's Colonoscopy Results:
Turns out Debra had stage 3 colon cancer resulting from an inherited condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). She had surgery one month later that removed all but nine inches of her colon, leaving just enough that she didn't have to use a colostomy bag. Debra completed chemotherapy in May of 2000 and lives a healthy, active life. She receives annual colonoscopies (and endoscopies, which go from the top down instead of bottom up) to check for new polyps that form because of her FAP.
Thoughts from Debra about Colorectal Cancer Screening:
Get your butt in there -- literally! This disease is curable, if found in time. The very minor inconveniences of doing the colonoscopy prep and taking a day off work are well worth the peace of mind I get every year. Knowing my risk of recurrence is high, I'm relieved to know that the new 'crop' of polyps is gone. If we did happen to find cancer again, at least I would know soon enough to successfully fight it.
If you'd like to submit your own screening story, please complete the Screening Story Submission Form.
Source: Screening Story Submission Form, Coloncancer.about.com; Debra, 26 Mar. 2007.