Ok dufes, listen up. You all know the story about my aneurysm a few years back. A slight problem was found during a routine check-up although I had no clue there was a problem. My doctor was EXTREMELY thorough with her follow-up and went beyond what most doctors would have done. Long story short, she saved my life.
Well, 10 years ago I had my first colonoscopy. I received a clean bill of health and cancer doesn't run in our family, so I was scheduled for another check 10 years later ... which happened to be today. Just a routine screening. Sure, we joke about the "Big Anal Probe" and I'll admit the prep work REALLY, REALLY sucks, but it needs to be done. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined.
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonan...key-statistics
Most doctors say to start getting screened at 50 years old. I had my first at 52 and my second today ... at 62. Ten years ago I was clean as a whistle ... NO red flags what-so-ever. Today? TOTALLY different story. The doc found ... and removed TWENTY polyps and they've been sent in for a biopsy. That's TWENTY and he couldn't get a clear view of my complete colon because, evidently, even with all my "cleansing" yesterday/last night ... there was still an area that had "accumulation" ... so it's possible there were more than 20. I'm told that's a LOT of polyps and my doc says he gets pretty concerned when he approaches the TEN mark.
On a positive note, he said they did not LOOK cancerous, but he won't know for sure until he gets the lab results back. If polyps are found during a colonoscopy, then your screenings are moved up to annually (instead of 10 year intervals). So I have this to look forward to a little more often from here on out.
Polyps can be benign but can become malignant over time, so they need to be removed (SUNSHINE!!!).
So, now I'll be on pins & needles awaiting biopsy results. I really didn't need this but at least my doc says he's not overly concerned as they did not show outward, obvious signs of cancer ... but I need to have regular screenings now that I have "history". BTW ... if this type stuff is discovered early, it is highly treatable. Let it go and you'd better make arrangements for a funeral plot.
I've already escaped SURE death by having a normal check-up with intensive follow-up when an anomaly was discovered and I may have escaped another life-threatening problem today ... time will tell. (remember, I had NO symptoms for EITHER of these problems) If you do NOT get regular check-ups, you need to start. If you're 50 or above and have NOT had a colorectal screening ... get your ass (pun intended) to the doctor and get'r done!
So ... THAT is my Public Service Announcement to youse bozos.
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Originally Posted by Chicken Dinner
