My name is Dee. Although I never had colorectal cancer, I was diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) when I was 22 years old. I had a total colectomy IRA surgery when I was 23 as my colon was carpeted with polyps. I accepted my diagnosis and went with the flow of getting my scopes (Both gastro and sig. scopes) every 6 months. It was just an adjustment I had to make with watching what foods I ate.
Ten years later I found out both my kids (my son age 3 1/2 and my daughter age 1 1/2 at the time) tested positive for having FAP. It was then that I started doing research on FAP. What an eye opener that was. My kids went for blood tests and ultrasounds alternating every 6 months till they hit 7 years old. Next year my son will be 11 and will need to start going for a colonoscopy once a year, followed by my daughter 2 years later. They will keep an eye on their colons for polyps until they need surgery to remove their colons. They are my main reason I would LOVE to start a foundation/organization to raise money for research to help my kids and others with FAP.
I am in the very beginning stages and just finding my way as to what to do. For now I am looking into helping raise money for colon cancer with the help of “piggy backing” FAP awareness at the same time. I use Facebook to share everything possible from your page and many other colon cancer pages. I know in my family colon cancer is very high unless our colons removed, but since colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable if caught early enough, if it can save someone’s life or quality of life I am happy to have re-posted something that can help them.