Patty Casey just returned from a 5-day trip to New York City where she saw five plays and enjoyed delicious cuisine. “My family and I had a blast and a half,” she said of the trip. At 71, Patty works full-time as creative service manager at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, and in her free time makes complex French recipes from scratch. She says yes when she’s invited to events, trips, and concerts more than she used to before a health scare five years ago reminded her of how precious life is.
“I just say yes a lot to doing things because you only get one life and I want to do things now while I feel good,” said Patty. She doesn’t take her health for granted after a chance encounter with a colleague proved to be lifesaving.
A Lifechanging Conversation
The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. But Patty put it off for more than 20 years. “I scheduled my annual physical exam and made sure to get frequent mammograms, but other screenings like having a colonoscopy were too easy to overlook,” recalled Patty. “Women are good at so many things, including placing others’ priorities ahead of our own. Unfortunately, this can have serious consequences on our own health.”
It wasn’t until Patty’s colleague encouraged her to take advantage of an upcoming colonoscopy screening event that she felt compelled to take action. “She asked me if I’d had a colonoscopy, and I didn’t want to admit that I had managed to avoid it up to that point. I didn’t have any good reasons for avoiding it, I just felt like I had been too busy taking care of others,” said Patty. “My coworker’s not-so-subtle push that day likely saved my life. Before I left her office, I was registered for my first colonoscopy.”
Colonoscopy Prep: Easy Does It
With no family history of colorectal cancer and no stomach or digestive problems or symptoms of anything serious, Patty assumed that the prep would be the hardest part and anticipated a clean bill of health.
“I had always heard that colonoscopy prep was worse that the procedure, but for me it was easy. I think some tips I got from other coworkers really helped,” said Patty. The tips included:
-
Make sure the prep solution is cold.
-
Drip the solution through a straw.
-
Put a lemon drop in your mouth before drinking to help with the taste.
Doctors also recommend:
-
Follow your doctor’s instructions. Preparation can take one to two days.
-
Plan to stay home during your prep since you will need to use the bathroom often.
-
In addition to medications to clean the colon, you’ll have to be on a limited diet of just liquids (called a ‘clear liquid diet’) before your procedure.
Shocking Results
“When I arrived for the procedure, I wasn’t nervous and just considered it checking off something on my to-do list,” shared Patty. “The procedure itself was so easy but I was in disbelief when I was told that 19 polyps had been found and removed.”
In addition to the polyps, there was another finding – a rare growth in the last part of the small intestine called a neuroendocrine tumor. Patty would need colorectal surgery to remove it and was referred to Dr. Brian Bello. She went home and started doing her own research, but quickly stopped when she read that most patients require radiation therapy or chemotherapy after surgery to remove a neuroendocrine tumor. “Despite reading that information, I wanted to remain positive and didn’t want anything to affect my outlook,” said Patty.
At a pre-surgery consult, Dr. Bello went through each step of the surgery, explaining what the procedure would entail using illustrations in his office, and what the outcome would be. “He patiently explained how my recovery would go and answered a few questions, satisfying my curiosity,” recalled Patty.
After completing pre-operative requirements, including CT and PET scans, the tumor was removed through minimally invasive surgery. The surgery went smoothly, and just two days later, Dr. Bello visited Patty’s room to ensure she was ready for discharge and answer any remaining questions she had. Afterward, as part of her post-operative instructions, Patty saw an oncologist and that brought back her worries about radiation and chemotherapy. “I was so relieved when the oncologist said that I didn’t need any additional follow up care except for a repeat colonoscopy later that year. I felt so lucky I considered buying a lottery ticket,” she recalled.
No More Waiting
"My situation could have turned out much differently, and I wish I would have scheduled a colonoscopy sooner,” said Patty. “If I hadn’t done it when I did, my story could have turned out very differently.”
Since her colonoscopy and subsequent surgery, Patty has followed doctors’ orders to have a repeat coloscopy annually for four years. With clean results each time, she has now graduated to a colonoscopy every two to three years. She’s also gotten married and continues to say yes to gourmet meals and many other opportunities. “I also keep working because I love my job, my coworkers, and being productive, but I don’t let anything get in the way of my health.”
Patty encourages everyone to prioritize a colonoscopy, or any other screenings recommended by their doctor. “We owe it to ourselves to take care of our own health, and if you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones. If I can convince even one person to get a colonoscopy, it’s worth it to share my story. A colonoscopy is just a few hours of your life, but the results can be lifechanging.”
In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth leading cause in women, but it’s the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined.
Take our colon cancer risk quiz and learn more about colonoscopies.