I'm 59, almost 33 years post SCI. Just had my fourth colonoscopy in about 17 years. Had minor polyps removed during two of them. This time everything was fine. However, after the recent experience I think I may just never have another one. The prep, although it was done properly, was just too difficult for myself and caregivers, the facility, though forewarned three times did not have any patient lifting equipment in the unit, and the Ambulette service was almost an hour and a half late taking me home.
I asked myself, what am I doing this for? Should bowel cancer be found am I, after 33 years living with an SCI (38 years by the time the next one is done), going to subject myself to colon resection, lengthy hospitalization, this scan, that scan, this test, that test, chemotherapy, etc., all the while trying to manage the myriad of other complications we live with on a daily basis. One of my recent caregivers, who was unable to return to work after such a diagnosis, went through such an ordeal and I witnessed her decline. She had a recurrence to the liver, additional surgery required, and additional chemotherapy, and now has an implantable chemo pump. Her abdomen has more suture lines than a railroad switchyard. Personally, I don't think I can go through what she went through.
Now perhaps he may find something minor. But at what point after living with our difficulties for so long does one say no more difficult testing for something which I am not going to treat anyway?
But my concern is this. Should I be asymptomatic when such cancer is found and I do not want to treat it what does one do when it starts to get bad? Hospice and pain control really only pertain to end-of-life, not to a sustained period of deterioration. You know what were talking about?
Any thoughts?
I asked myself, what am I doing this for? Should bowel cancer be found am I, after 33 years living with an SCI (38 years by the time the next one is done), going to subject myself to colon resection, lengthy hospitalization, this scan, that scan, this test, that test, chemotherapy, etc., all the while trying to manage the myriad of other complications we live with on a daily basis. One of my recent caregivers, who was unable to return to work after such a diagnosis, went through such an ordeal and I witnessed her decline. She had a recurrence to the liver, additional surgery required, and additional chemotherapy, and now has an implantable chemo pump. Her abdomen has more suture lines than a railroad switchyard. Personally, I don't think I can go through what she went through.
Now perhaps he may find something minor. But at what point after living with our difficulties for so long does one say no more difficult testing for something which I am not going to treat anyway?
But my concern is this. Should I be asymptomatic when such cancer is found and I do not want to treat it what does one do when it starts to get bad? Hospice and pain control really only pertain to end-of-life, not to a sustained period of deterioration. You know what were talking about?
Any thoughts?
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