Check out the Times Union article today on the importance of getting a colon exam. March is National Colon Month, and it should serve as a reminder to all to see their doctor. If there is a family history of colon cancer, you should go before the age of 50. I went when I turned 50, and a polyp was found. Thankfully it was benign, but it had to be removed through surgery due to its size. A year later I had another colonoscopy done, and a small polyp was found, and it was able to be removed during the exam. Thankfully, it too was benign. I am scheduled for another exam this summer. The best defense is a strong offense, and to get the polyps removed before they can get too large, become cancerous, and spread throughout your body. Make sure your family and friends get checked also. Thanks for reading this, and I hope it encourages at least one of you to get the exam done. Jim Porter Manager-WhizKids-47+ Division
colon cancer is called the silent killer -and it is. as i suspect you know, you can feel fine and dandy and still have it. odds increase signficantly for men and women once they hit the 40-45 territory. doctors now recommend a colonoscopy every five years once you get to those ages.
some guys are spooked out by the prospect of having a colonoscopy: the idea inserting a tube with a camera and minature clippers up one's backside tends to give the shivers. but i can speak from experience when i tell you that it isn't so bad - in fact, mine wasn't bad at all.
i had my first one done in november - i'm 59 and i was way past due. it's an in-office procedure; takes about 20-30 minutes. the doctor gave me a light anesthetic, which put me to sleep for about 45 minutes. when i woke, it was done and he said good news, you're no olympian, but you've got a tummy that's younger than you are. see you in five years.
you're supposed to fast for either 12 or 24 hours in advance - that was the hardest part for me - and take an evacuatory drink, which, by the way, really works. so you're advised to take a rest day on either side of the procedure. when i got home, i snoozed, watched a little tv, read the paper, then dug into a big plate of blueberry pancakes, which hit the proverbial spot. later that evening, i went for a long walk with my dogs. beyond the big hunger, i really felt nothing afterwards, fine forward and aft, as they say.
i hope that jim's message and mine induce guys to call their doctors and set up appointments. like mamograms and mri's for women to look for breast cancer, an early colon check for men and women can really make a difference.
