Membership Services
Colon Cancer
Modern medicine is wonderful because of high tech diagnostic tools unavailable even a few years ago. Colon cancer has a high cure rate because of the relatively “low tech” diagnostic tool, the colonoscopy that Jonathan talks about. A colonoscopy is one of those procedures that has two distinct extremes, the best part and the not so best part. For most of us, the not so best part is the bowel prep, sometimes involving a two part process of eating Dulcolax or some other chewable laxative (not known for its great chocolaty taste) and a liquid prep, often with a drink solution scientifically known as magnesium citrate. It’s not a real thirst quencher, and doesn’t have a particularly great taste, but if you drink it cold, that helps a lot. After that comes the part that pretty much dictates how you’ll spend your evening before the procedure.
The best part is the anesthesia, usually a cocktail of Fentanyl and Versed, with maybe a little Valium before you’re wheeled into the procedure suite. You become unconscious in mid-sentence, then wake up an hour later thinking you fell asleep 3 seconds ago. The best part of the best part as Jonathan notes, is when the doctor says “All clear, come back in 5 years and we’ll do it again.”
The most straightforward colon cancers are those that are caught very early as polyps and are excised with a wire loop and cautery during the colonoscopy. Larger or better developed tumors are usually resected surgically through either a laparoscope or “the old fashioned way,” abdominal surgery. Once diagnosed, the FAA considers that you have a disqualifying condition and expects you to self ground. After surgery and recovery, the key to expedient recertification is getting complete medical records to the FAA that includes the hospital admission history and physical, the operative report, the pathology report, and the discharge summary. A current status report from your surgeon or treating physician needs to include a summary of your diagnosis, how it was treated, the ongoing treatment plan, and prognosis. If there is post operative chemotherapy or radiation, don’t apply for a medical until all treatment has been completed.
The FAA certifies cancers with a special issuance authorization that’s valid for a year at a time. Most colon cancers will qualify for a six year authorization that allows your aviation medical examiner to reissue you an annual medical certificate after the FAA grants the initial approval. The follow-up is usually just a status report from the treating physician, so it’s a relatively uncomplicated process as special issuances go. Give us a call if you have any questions about this or any medical certification topic. 800 872-2672.
March 10, 2011
