Colonoscopy....

[Broomd]

Had a great friend I met while he was slowly dying of colon cancer. Thought he had hemorrhoids causing bleeding, diagnosed finally with liver mets. Met him after that, went through conventional and clinical trial chemotherapy as well as chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation of mets. Took 3 years but he finally passed, took some bucket list fishing trips with him in between treatment sessions. Regret not meeting him earlier in his life, could have avoided the disease completely with screening.

Wow, sad deal for sure. Kudos for seizing the good times with him at the end, he literally did the bucket list.

How old was your friend?

 

[yfarm]

62 at death. No other health issues,father still alive, completely preventable death with screening

 

[Ferrulewax]

Haven’t read through the threat, but I’m a nurse on a mostly post surgical and colon/rectal floor. It seems like we are seeing more and more GI tract issues and cancer and in younger people. I have no idea what it’s tied to but I’d be willing to bet it’s related to our Diets here in the US. Colon cancer is so treatable it’s just so under diagnosed because people are reluctant and dismissive of possible symptoms.

I had an Uncle, incredible man and big deer Hunter pass away in his 40s leaving 3 kids behind- no prior family history that I’m aware of. Please get your diagnostics done, it’s worth it.

 

[yfarm]

In reference to previous posts by 2 physicians, had long discussions with hospital administrators about why I could get colonoscopy done at a joint venture owned by the hospital and gi group for $900 or done at the hospital by the same gi group for $5000. Said makes no sense, reply was it's all about how medicare calculates our overall reimbursement, we match the oupatient rate and medicare cuts everything so no deals in the hospital. Second issue is about safety of sedation in different settings, I’ve been scoped in a University GI Endoscopy center with sedation by CRNAs supervised by an anesthesiologist and in the above mentioned joint venture outpatient endoscopy center with the Gastroenterologist directing the sedation by a nurse. Had no issues with either but there are definable safety and cost issues with both styles of practice. Both of the GI docs I used were excellent but I had the luxury of a long professional relationship with one and second hand professional knowlege of the other. I was referred patients occasionally for evaluation of post endo possible perfs and they never came from GI docs that were calm professionals always from the hurry up guys or non GI docs. Choose wisely like wives.

 

[Broomd]

.. I was referred patients occasionally for evaluation of post endo possible (perforations) and they never came from GI docs that were calm professionals always from the hurry up guys or non GI docs. Choose wisely like wives.

Thanks for sharing that. Worth reading.

 

[CoStick]

Haven’t read through the threat, but I’m a nurse on a mostly post surgical and colon/rectal floor. It seems like we are seeing more and more GI tract issues and cancer and in younger people. I have no idea what it’s tied to but I’d be willing to bet it’s related to our Diets here in the US. Colon cancer is so treatable it’s just so under diagnosed because people are reluctant and dismissive of possible symptoms.

I had an Uncle, incredible man and big deer Hunter pass away in his 40s leaving 3 kids behind- no prior family history that I’m aware of. Please get your diagnostics done, it’s worth it.

I believe diet matters. I cut out most red meat and processed food and my polyp count dropped significantly over the past 20 year average.

 

[Still Hunter]

Loss my Mother-in Law to Colon Cancer. My wife and her siblings have to go like every two or three years and all three of them have had polyps removed.

All three of mine have been easy and quick. The only problem I ever had was with the Anesthesiologists Group. My last scope ( since this thread started) the Tech and the doctor had a "incident" with a previous patient. So the Tech took his anger out on me when he went to disperse the dose and he just about blew out my vein slamming it in. I sat all the way up on the gurney grabbing at my arm and asking him WTH he was doing and said " your about about to blow my vein out " but about that time I dropped out like a brick. I had a big ole nasty bruise in my left arm the size of a softball. It literally took over three weeks to clear up.

I pressured a coworker to have one. He was only 50. The found cancer during the process. Very early stages. In short, they fixed him up. He tells me all the time my pestering saved his life. The Simple procedure saved his life.

 

[Marble]

I've said it in this thread but I'll say it again .

Any career first responder should be screened at 40. Also, if you have family history, earlier, if you chew, smoke, drink in excess or have a shit diet, get screened.

I just finished my second go around with cancer at 46 and this one seems to be stealing my career after 22 years. I am so thankful I'm alive and have other options, but early screening helps.

Even I was out if the recommended age of 40. I was 37 and it was on the verge of metastasis.

Don't wait!!

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[405winash]

I have my first on the 24th. Not looking forward to tomorrow but I guess it’s all better than the alternative.

You would think they could find something other than all that crap you have to drink!

 

[CoStick]

You would think they could find something other than all that crap you have to drink!

You can take pills instead now if preferred.

 

[405winash]

You can take pills instead now if preferred.

I’m going ask for them next time.

 

[yfarm]

If you dont see clear yellow water coming out you arent cleaned out enough. Be a shame to miss that polyp hidin’ in there. Screening intervals are based on how long it takes to go from polyp to cancer in the average patient. Miss a polyp, get a negative report in a low risk patient and go ten years before the next scope.

 

[Tbonespop]

These screenings are so important and the prep work is no big deal. I recently went in for my first (51 now) and had no issues, all clean no polyps. Doc told me I'm likely good for up to another 10 years given no other family history, but I'm going in every 5 years no matter what. Just not worth risking it for such a simple, easy screening.

 

[Broomd]

The young man that I've been sharing with over the last week laid his wife to rest yesterday.
She was 38 and such a sweet, well-loved gal based on all that I've read.
Believe it or not, she had worked many years at a colon health/oncology clinic, almost too ironic to even fathom.

I assured him her loss would not be in vain, her passing will help to save lives.

 

[Broomd]

..

I just finished my second go around with cancer at 46 and this one seems to be stealing my career after 22 years. I am so thankful I'm alive and have other options, but early screening helps.

Even I was out if the recommended age of 40. I was 37 and it was on the verge of metastasis.
...

Thanks for sharing, man. You've been through a lot. That earlier age bracket can be the problem for some based on your experience and the story of the woman I shared.
It comes down to watching for symptoms at that point, but they don't always present themselves!

 

[Paul J]

Tomorrow....for both wife and me. Our first. Colon issues run in my family so I'm overdue.
Just chugged round one of the purge juice, good lord--gack! Waiting for the purge now....

Anyone else gotten the probe lately?

I have not and probably never will. Hope it all went well for you.

 

[Crghss]

I watched my uncle, a very proud and self reliant man, die from colon cancer over 25 years ago. What a horrible and painful way to go. It’s humiliating too lay in bed and have your wife clean you because you can’t get to the bathroom.

I realize medicine & treatment has come a long way since but I got checked at 50. First chance I could. It is just no way to die.

 

[Mike Islander]

Just a reminder that there are many organizations that collaborate with doctors and facilities to provide cololonoscopies for $1075 - $1275, INCLUDING LAB WORK AND UNLIMITED POLYP REMOVAL AND BIOPSIES. All you need to do is self pay (I.E. Don't bill an insurance company). For some, this costs less than using your own insurance. For uninsured, this is a fantastic deal, especially considering it includes anesthesia and everything else.

I used ColonoscopyAssist.com for my first colonoscopy last year. Easy to do. I think I paid $1175 all in, including labs. They handled all payments. There are several other service providers. I found them completely by accident. I have absolutely no affiliatuon with any of these organizations, just believe they are a great option for many people.

 

[Marble]

Thanks for sharing, man. You've been through a lot. That earlier age bracket can be the problem for some based on your experience and the story of the woman I shared.
It comes down to watching for symptoms at that point, but they don't always present themselves!

That's exactly correct. I only had symptoms one time about 4 months prior to diagnosis. Blood in Stool. But it was after several days of heavy partying, drinking and eating shitty food while on vacation. It went away immediately so I wasn't concerned.


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[ksaubier]

At 45, I realized even though I’ve always had great health insurance I never established a regular doctor. Always used urgent care or specialists for injuries, sickness, etc. I started trying to find a doctor for regular checkups, screenings, and all that… it is harder to find than I thought. A lot of places aren’t taking new patients. It took a lot of calls and several months to even get an appointment.