Thackston's Colonoscopy Results
- FOX’s Lindy Thackston beat colorectal cancer and is currently cancer-free; a recent colonoscopy shows she has some radiation damage, however.
- Thackston was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in May 2020 and finished her chemotherapy treatment this spring.
- She thanked her nurses in a recent Instagram story after the results of her colonoscopy, saying she was emotional during that time.
In a story posted to Instagram, Thackston writes to her fans and followers:
Read MoreThe anchor also shares with her fans an adorable family update, saying that her son is off to his first day of kindergarten. In a photo posted to Instagram, she hugs her son Lachlan as he’s all decked out with his backpack for school.
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What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a screening test that looks for signs of cancer in the colon. During the colonoscopy, the doctor is looking for polyps small white growths on the colon which can become cancer.
Related: Getting Cleaned Out for a Colonoscopy
95% percent of polyps are precancerous which means they can turn into cancer. If a polyp is detected during a colonoscopy, the doctor will send it to a lab to be biopsied.
Radiation damage, like Thackston’s, can also be detected. Radiation therapy for cancer treatment can injure the colon and/or the rectum. According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, symptoms of radiation damage may include: Diarrhea, urgency, incontinence, and rectal bleeding; they can occur weeks or even years following radiation. Thankfully, treatment is available for radiation damage.
Looking for Polyps During Colonoscopy
Lindy’s Colorectal Cancer Journey
Thackston was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in May 2020 and finished her chemotherapy treatment this spring. She had 10 rounds of chemotherapy.
As a result of her treatment, Thackston lost her hair. She shared pictures of her changing look on Instagram, highlighting colorectal cancer and creating more awareness around this disease and its treatment.
Related: Complete Guide to Wigs for Cancer Patients: Cost, Types and Where to Buy
Thanks to new technology like cooling caps, some side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss, can be mitigated. Other side effects of chemo can include pain, fatigue, and nausea.
Not Your Parents' Chemotherapy: New Solutions for Nausea, Hair Loss, and Other Chemo Side Effects
Staying Grateful Through Cancer Treatment & Post-Treatment
We love how Thackston continuously stayed grateful during her cancer fight, even in the most difficult moments of her disease. As she publicly thanks her nurses for their emotional support after her recent colonoscopy, it’s clear that gratitude is a way of life for her. And gratitude, our experts say, can positively impact the cancer journey.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, says in an earlier interview, "My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they're diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK."
"Now doesn't that mean I'm good at saying that the cancer won't grow," he says. "But I'm pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life."
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