Chapter 30
Recent studies are showing a dramatic increase in colon cancer diagnosis in people under the age of fifty. The same studies are also showing a dramatic decrease in colon cancer diagnosis in people fifty and over. With recommended screening now at age fifty, more people are now having colonoscopies. As well more and more doctors are recommending them to patients once they reach the big five-O.
Still, colon cancer is a worldwide epidemic and the third largest killer cancer behind lung and breast cancers.
At one time not too long ago a colonoscopy would only be performed on patients with either a family history or ongoing severe symptoms. Doctors for whatever reason were reluctant to recommend a scope.
Thankfully that has all changed.
Listen; if rectal cancer can sneak up my ass then it can sneak up anyone’s ass.
Period.
With the increase in obesity, coupled with bad diets, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle, more and more people in their forties, thirties and twenties are being diagnosed. Too many are ignoring the symptoms until it is too late. Many who by the time they are finally checked are facing a stage IV diagnosis and a much bleaker potential outcome.
We as a planet are slowly killing ourselves. Too many are still dying unnecessarily from colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer can be prevented by just having a routine colonoscopy.
Still, colon cancer is a worldwide epidemic and the third largest killer cancer behind lung and breast cancers.
At one time not too long ago a colonoscopy would only be performed on patients with either a family history or ongoing severe symptoms. Doctors for whatever reason were reluctant to recommend a scope.
Thankfully that has all changed.
Listen; if rectal cancer can sneak up my ass then it can sneak up anyone’s ass.
Period.
With the increase in obesity, coupled with bad diets, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle, more and more people in their forties, thirties and twenties are being diagnosed. Too many are ignoring the symptoms until it is too late. Many who by the time they are finally checked are facing a stage IV diagnosis and a much bleaker potential outcome.
We as a planet are slowly killing ourselves. Too many are still dying unnecessarily from colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer can be prevented by just having a routine colonoscopy.
Too many guys with their macho attitude that nobody is sticking anything up my ass needlessly have cost too many lives. Thankfully this macho persona has changed, albeit slowly. Stories like mine are much too prevalent and have scared many into becoming more proactive regarding health issues.
This is a very good thing.
After my diagnosis I quickly became the poster boy for colonoscopies. Amongst my friends and even strangers I was not shy about talking about my rectal cancer. I made it quite clear how miserable living with this disease really is. I continually urged family, friends and strangers within that fifty year old age bracket to get themselves checked out. I literally became a total nag. So much so that most of my hockey buddies and close friends have now had their first scopes.
They all have realized that if cancer could happen to me, then it could just as easily happen to them also. Many convincing their doctors only after relaying my story got the referral. I know of at least one close friend who had three pre-cancerous polyps found during his first scope. Had they gone unchecked they would have eventually developed into colorectal cancer.
He now thanks me for my persistent nagging. He will need to have scopes more regularly now, but a potential cancer was 'nipped in the butt' because of my story and my persistent nagging.
Personally, I still feel a great deal of anger when I think of the events leading up to my diagnosis. Dr. G told me I had a tennis ball sized tumour about three inches from the anal verge. That tumour had been there for years while slowly getting larger. I had a physical every year, which always ended with Dr. B’s gloved finger up my ass.
How come Dr. B never felt the tumour?
This is a very good thing.
After my diagnosis I quickly became the poster boy for colonoscopies. Amongst my friends and even strangers I was not shy about talking about my rectal cancer. I made it quite clear how miserable living with this disease really is. I continually urged family, friends and strangers within that fifty year old age bracket to get themselves checked out. I literally became a total nag. So much so that most of my hockey buddies and close friends have now had their first scopes.
They all have realized that if cancer could happen to me, then it could just as easily happen to them also. Many convincing their doctors only after relaying my story got the referral. I know of at least one close friend who had three pre-cancerous polyps found during his first scope. Had they gone unchecked they would have eventually developed into colorectal cancer.
He now thanks me for my persistent nagging. He will need to have scopes more regularly now, but a potential cancer was 'nipped in the butt' because of my story and my persistent nagging.
Personally, I still feel a great deal of anger when I think of the events leading up to my diagnosis. Dr. G told me I had a tennis ball sized tumour about three inches from the anal verge. That tumour had been there for years while slowly getting larger. I had a physical every year, which always ended with Dr. B’s gloved finger up my ass.
How come Dr. B never felt the tumour?
Maybe he had tiny fingers, I don’t know, but we are only talking about three inches here.
Why hadn’t Dr. C agreed to perform my first scope when I was sitting in her office at age forty-seven?
Was she lazy?
Probably not, but it was more likely she was just looking to collect her $81.60 visit fee at my expense.
I also had the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) every year as part of my physical, but I never got my results in the mail like I was supposed to. When I contacted the Ministry of Health regarding why I never got my results after I was diagnosed, I was told three of my last four tests had to be destroyed.
Why?
Dr. B’s office each time had never put the requisition into the envelope with my completed test. However, my last test was done correctly just over a year prior to diagnosis. It was only because I had put the requisition in the envelope and mailed it myself.
It was indeed negative normal.
The only thing negative normal proves is there was no trace of blood in my feces. Less than 50% of all colorectal cancers will test positive for blood in feces.
Therefore the FOBT is not a reliable test.
Why hadn’t Dr. C agreed to perform my first scope when I was sitting in her office at age forty-seven?
Was she lazy?
Probably not, but it was more likely she was just looking to collect her $81.60 visit fee at my expense.
I also had the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) every year as part of my physical, but I never got my results in the mail like I was supposed to. When I contacted the Ministry of Health regarding why I never got my results after I was diagnosed, I was told three of my last four tests had to be destroyed.
Why?
Dr. B’s office each time had never put the requisition into the envelope with my completed test. However, my last test was done correctly just over a year prior to diagnosis. It was only because I had put the requisition in the envelope and mailed it myself.
It was indeed negative normal.
The only thing negative normal proves is there was no trace of blood in my feces. Less than 50% of all colorectal cancers will test positive for blood in feces.
Therefore the FOBT is not a reliable test.
I am living proof.
I was negative normal with a tennis ball sized rectal tumour within a year of diagnosis. Nothing but a colonoscopy can detect colorectal cancer. You are only fooling yourself if you think otherwise.
Seriously, the worst part of a colonoscopy is the day before prep.
The actual colonoscopy itself is an examination of the large bowel and the outer area of the small bowel. A lighted fibre optic camera on a flexible tube is passed through the anus. It can provide a visual diagnosis and can allow for the removal of polyps, also allowing for biopsy of suspected colorectal lesions. Polyps as small as one millimeter or less can easily be removed. After microscopic examination, it can be determined if polyps are precancerous or not. It can take up to fifteen years for a polyp to turn into a cancerous tumour.
A colonoscopy takes twenty minutes and a colonoscopy can save your life. Everyone age fifty and over needs to have a colonoscopy.
Please get your ass into your doctor and request a scope. If your doctor is reluctant, tell them my story.
If your doctor is still reluctant, then
FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!
Do it now!
It can save your life.
Seriously, the worst part of a colonoscopy is the day before prep.
The actual colonoscopy itself is an examination of the large bowel and the outer area of the small bowel. A lighted fibre optic camera on a flexible tube is passed through the anus. It can provide a visual diagnosis and can allow for the removal of polyps, also allowing for biopsy of suspected colorectal lesions. Polyps as small as one millimeter or less can easily be removed. After microscopic examination, it can be determined if polyps are precancerous or not. It can take up to fifteen years for a polyp to turn into a cancerous tumour.
A colonoscopy takes twenty minutes and a colonoscopy can save your life. Everyone age fifty and over needs to have a colonoscopy.
Please get your ass into your doctor and request a scope. If your doctor is reluctant, tell them my story.
If your doctor is still reluctant, then
FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!
Do it now!
It can save your life.