Wow, that's a solid posting. Good on you.
Here's a story (a true one) to reenforce that you made a good call to push the issue. At about 47, my friend who had an "experience" with colorectal cancer (see post 236 above) mentioned to his internist that he believed he had blood in his stool. Internist sort of made fun of him, which I think eroded my friend's confidence to pursue the matter further, and told him that he needed to address the colonoscopy issue at 50. Long story short, my friend ended up at 50 when he he had his first colonoscopy done with rectal cancer that has been HELL for him. Rounds of chemo and radiation, one surgery with a temporary osteotomy installed, a second surgery to reverse the osteotomy, and long-term less-than-ideal health concerns that will be with him the remainder of his life. (He sh-ts himself fairly frequently at 54.) He told me that in his current condition that if he feels a gas bubble, he'd better get to the bathroom because he can NEVER trust a fart. Guys, that sounds like a tough existence to me. I know, I know - he should have pursued the issue when he was dissatisfied with the internist's response, but he's a lamb and not a lion. He listened to that FJO's advice and let it impede him from "going over his internist's head" to get a second opinion. Bad on him, but his goal is to see his teenage girls walk down the aisle. None of us would EVER trade places with this dude, a prince of a man. Bottom line is get a colonoscopy and get it in your mid-40's.
Damn that's a tough read. Glad he's alive, but what a price to pay! And that internist, a beating would be way too kind.
Want to know the tragedy to that last statement? I used that internist for several years and recommended him to my friend before I left that practice for a different one after he gave me some questionable advice following a big mountain bike crash i had resulting in seven broken ribs. How much guilt should I be carrying for that communication?
