My prayers are with the person who posted the first comment. Sometimes we do everything we are supposed to do, and we still don't find health issues in the earliest stages. Cancer is never "fair" and is has affected too many of my own friends and relatives. One of my healthiest friends has stage IV lymphoma (going on 7 years). I have two friends who were diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, 9 and 8 years ago respectively. Both are still alive. And a friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1993--still alive and going strong.

moi49moi

3 months ago

I ama a female and just turned 60, and have always gone in for my annual physicals, or any other time I was not feeling well. Two years ago I got my first colonoscopy and was told no polps all was clear. Last year I noticed my energy level droping and a feeling like there was something in my lower abdomen. I thought it was my female organs having a problem. I had no pain. My doctor said I was a little anemic and could not feel or see anything with the exam. Around February I started having pain in my lower right side. I thought it was my ovary. I was still feeling tired a lot. In March I went to the doctor again complaining of pain when I bent ove to put my shoes on. I had a pelvic ultrasound and nothing howed up. However, my blood test showed that I was iron deficient. My doctor sent me for a CT scan, which showed I had a mass in my colon! On June 1 I had a surgery to remove 12" inches of my colon. The mass was cancer, stage 3. The only reason why I had pain was because the cancer started in my appendix then went through to the colon. The doctor took 24 of my lymph nodes out and 4 were positive for cancer. My margins were clear. The surgeon said they got all the cancer, but I would need six months of chemotherapy as a preventative measure. When I say the oncologist he ordered a PET scan, which unfortunately for me, showed 3 cancer spots on my liver, one just outside my liver and some small spots near my stomach which they were not sure of. So now I am on a chemotherapy schedule, just finished my second session. So even though I did was I was supposd to do, annual exams, my colonoscopy, somehow this cancer was missed. How upsetting this has been for me and my family. Two years ago if the doctor had found it during the colonoscopy, maybe it would have been a stage 1 or 2 and not spread to my other organs. My prognosis? I don't know. I will be starting a 3rd medication with my 3rd chemo session. The medication is Avstin, which I hear is a very good life saving drug.