Kathleen Wiltraut

I initially put off a colonoscopy due to gastroesophageal reflux disease, but after a positive home screening test, I underwent the procedure and was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer.

I admit that I was putting off a colonoscopy, even though a special perk at my company is free colonoscopy, regardless of insurance coverage. The reason I put it off? Acid reflux. I just knew I would have a terrible time with all that liquid. I have Googled it since: “Physicians’ practices confirm that the prep is difficult for people with acid reflux.”

My gynecologist was the physician to provide a strong recommendation to get screened for colon cancer, and thankfully I heeded the advice, or I might have been too late.

Having heard from my colleague’s mantra that “the best test is the one the person is willing to take,” I chose to take a home-screening test in March 2023. The test came back positive, which I initially dismissed as a false positive, mostly because I didn’t have symptoms. I do not remember receiving any follow-up communication from the home-screening provider or my primary care doctor regarding this test result.

I finally had a colonoscopy in June 2023. I was 60 years old.

It wasn’t easy, but I managed the two bottles of the prep at two different intervals, then followed with 64 ounces of water and Gatorade. It was tough with all that liquid and no solids to keep it down due to the GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), but I was able to do it. The alternative was to have to cancel the appointment and go through the prep all over again. And no one wants to do that.

Ostomy: A surgical procedure that creates an opening in the body to divert the normal flow of bodily waste.

GERD: Stomach acid or bile flows back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.

Neuropathy: Symptoms like numbness, weakness, and pain.

That test, unfortunately, revealed stage 3 rectal cancer. The pace of my care increased dramatically, and I was soon meeting with an oncologist, followed by a surgeon. I began a regimen of three days of chemotherapy every other week.

Once the tumor had shown sufficient shrinkage, I was scheduled for a December 2023 surgery, which involved a prep that was a bit easier on me. My surgeon likes to use Dulcolax and MiraLAX mixed with Gatorade and water. I found that a little easier to manage with my GERD.

The surgery was followed by a temporary ostomy, followed by five more rounds of chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy was tough. I experienced neuropathy in my toes and fingers from it. It went away in my fingers, but I still feel it a bit in my toes.

A month after finishing the chemotherapy rounds, I had a procedure to reverse the ostomy. My prognosis is now good, with follow-up scheduled for the next five years; right now, I see an oncologist every four months and get a CT scan every eight months.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long. I didn’t take it seriously enough, and I don’t have knowledge about my family health history because I’m adopted and have no connection with a birth family. But now I’m working to pass down the gift of genetic knowledge to my daughter and three grandchildren. I don’t seem to have the markers associated with colon cancer, but I did the genetic testing because that data is better in hand than not knowing at all. And I’m reminding my family to eat right, avoid a sedentary lifestyle and to talk to their doctors. If I had pressed my doctor for prep options less difficult for GERD patients, maybe I could have avoided this cancer experience.

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Articles

A patient delayed a colonoscopy due to concerns about acid reflux, opting for a home-screening test that returned a positive result. Despite initial dismissal, a subsequent colonoscopy revealed stage 3 rectal cancer. Treatment included chemotherapy, surgery, and a temporary ostomy, with ongoing follow-up care. The patient reflects on the importance of early screening, especially given the lack of family health history due to adoption. Genetic testing was pursued to provide valuable information for future generations, emphasizing lifestyle changes and proactive healthcare discussions within the family.

Kathleen Wiltraut

GERD Might Cause Colonoscopy Avoidance. But Don’t Let It

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