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I need to start this post by saying I'm fine and everything worked out OK. It's important to keep that in mind.

2 1/2 weeks ago I was in the process of getting a physical exam and a couple of my lab tests had unusual results. I didn't know this until I went to see the doctor and he told me about them and said they suggested colon cancer. (for Dr Paul and Dr Nase: I was positive for occult blood on 1 out of 3 cards and presented mild anemia, though it was so close to the lower borderline that it was considered unremarkable)

The following week I had a follow-up exam for my physical and everything else was fine. Then I had my first appointment at the gastroenterology clinic, where they told me I'd have to have a colonoscopy. They originally were trying to schedule me for sometime in mid-August but I wanted it sooner because a) if I have cancer I need to start treatment and b) if I'm fine, I need to get all the medical reports back to my educational exchange people so they'll clear me to go overseas in November. They managed to schedule me for one 8 days later.

I didn't tell anyone about this until a few days before the procedure. Hey, no reason for anyone else to worry, right? Anyway, I told Adrian because we had been planning a party for the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, and we'd have to cancel that (the colonoscopy was that day and I didn't know what condition I'd be in) and I told Stan because I was asking him to be my ride. No one else got the word until I knew how things turned out.

So, last Thursday was "preparation day" (I'll leave that to the reader's imagination) and Friday I had to be at the hospital at 8am. Stan took me there, as I needed someone to drive me home because I would be sedated (actually, they knocked me out completely, which I did not expect). The procedure went fine and was over in about half an hour. They discovered two polyps and removed them, which may have been the cause of my symptoms. They are doing a biopsy of the polyps, but when I asked him flat out "do I have colon cancer" the doctor finally looked at me and said "no, you don't have cancer, and with these results you can go ahead and go to Singapore in November."

So, yay for not dying of cancer, yay for going to Singapore later this year, but boo for needing another colonoscopy in 1 year and every 5 years after that.

Still, it gets me out of work for a day.

Labels: Life