Get checked for Colon cancer!

[Jockstrapguy]

As most of you know, I was diagnosed with colon cancer back in November of 2019. Colon cancer, if detected early is curable.

Here in Canada, when you turn 50 your family doctor will recommend you do yearly colon cancer tests. They are free and easy to do. We jokingly call them the Poop Smear Test - as you simply have to smear your poop on a cardboard card and send them into a government health service and you're done.

Although they are not 100% accurate, for anyone with no history of cancer in their family it's the best way to go. I'm not sure how it works in the USA but I'm sure they're readily available there and hopefully covered. It's way less invasive than a colonoscopy.

Unfortunately for me, my cancer wasn't detected early so now I'm dealing with reoccurrences - I'm calling it whack-a-mole.

As much as I love my family doctor I am a bit pissed off as he never recommended me getting a colonoscopy. He simply had me do these yearly poop smear tests starting when I was 50 - and they were coming back negative. However, there's a huge history of cancer in my family so I should have been sent for a colonoscopy instead of relying on these poop smear tests.

To make matters worse, the earlier tests (which I was doing) were testing for blood in the stool and weren't very accurate. The new tests are done using DNA and are much more accurate and would have more likely determined I had colon cancer. But even still, if there's history in the family then a colonoscopy is the way to go.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is..

When you turn 50, started getting regular testing done. If there's no history of cancer in your family then do the DNA fecal tests. If there is history of cancer in your family, insist on a colonoscopy. They're a nuisance but it's worth knowing.

Also: Although Adrian (husband) had no history of cancer and was also doing the poop smear tests and they were coming back negative, when I ended up with colon cancer he told our doctor to get him set up for a colonoscopy. He did it, it came back negative and he's good now for 10 years.

John.

 

[The Bike Man.]

Had y 10 year check up last month clean bill of health.

 

[Jockstrapguy]

Had y 10 year check up last month clean bill of health.

Awesome news!!

 

[Redsucked02]

As most of you know, I was diagnosed with colon cancer back in November of 2019. Colon cancer, if detected early is curable.

Here in Canada, when you turn 50 your family doctor will recommend you do yearly colon cancer tests. They are free and easy to do. We jokingly call them the Poop Smear Test - as you simply have to smear your poop on a cardboard card and send them into a government health service and you're done.

Although they are not 100% accurate, for anyone with no history of cancer in their family it's the best way to go. I'm not sure how it works in the USA but I'm sure they're readily available there and hopefully covered. It's way less invasive than a colonoscopy.

Unfortunately for me, my cancer wasn't detected early so now I'm dealing with reoccurrences - I'm calling it whack-a-mole.

As much as I love my family doctor I am a bit pissed off as he never recommended me getting a colonoscopy. He simply had me do these yearly poop smear tests starting when I was 50 - and they were coming back negative. However, there's a huge history of cancer in my family so I should have been sent for a colonoscopy instead of relying on these poop smear tests.

To make matters worse, the earlier tests (which I was doing) were testing for blood in the stool and weren't very accurate. The new tests are done using DNA and are much more accurate and would have more likely determined I had colon cancer. But even still, if there's history in the family then a colonoscopy is the way to go.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is..

When you turn 50, started getting regular testing done. If there's no history of cancer in your family then do the DNA fecal tests. If there is history of cancer in your family, insist on a colonoscopy. They're a nuisance but it's worth knowing.

Also: Although Adrian (husband) had no history of cancer and was also doing the poop smear tests and they were coming back negative, when I ended up with colon cancer he told our doctor to get him set up for a colonoscopy. He did it, it came back negative and he's good now for 10 years.

John.

Here in US, I get a blood test every year and I've had 2 colonoscopies in last 10 years since turning 50, 10 years ago. Definitely worth having these done guys!
Thanks for sharing your story with us! You got this!

 

[GingerBear]

Due to family history I have my colonoscopy every 5 years. When the standards were changed stating with a good report it would be ten I said no. I am very proactive about my health (since I plan to be at least 114 ) and refused the at home tests as well as the ten years period. My GI doctor was very proud and supportive of my decision. So this September or October I will prep once again and bare my butt, grateful for the chance to do something good for my health. Too many guys put off testing until it’s too late.
Due to Barrett’s Esophagus, I have an endoscopy every two years. I had that one done a couple of months ago with awesome report. I could now wait 5 years if I wanted but I choose to remain at two years. I little of my time and preparation is worth health and piece of mind.
I continue to pray for our friend John and know many of our brotherhood do as well, sending encouragement and positive thoughts. I want to see cancer in all forms defeated!

 

[Jockstrapguy]

Due to family history I have my colonoscopy every 5 years. When the standards were changed stating with a good report it would be ten I said no. I am very proactive about my health (since I plan to be at least 114 ) and refused the at home tests as well as the ten years period. My GI doctor was very proud and supportive of my decision. So this September or October I will prep once again and bare my butt, grateful for the chance to do something good for my health. Too many guys put off testing until it’s too late.
Due to Barrett’s Esophagus, I have an endoscopy every two years. I had that one done a couple of months ago with awesome report. I could now wait 5 years if I wanted but I choose to remain at two years. I little of my time and preparation is worth health and piece of mind.
I continue to pray for our friend John and know many of our brotherhood do as well, sending encouragement and positive thoughts. I want to see cancer in all forms defeated!

And here's another reason to like you!

So many guys are afraid of getting checkups, it boggles the mind. My brother who is two years older than me, with cancer in the family, his wife, a god damned cancer nurse, and is seeing what I'm going through... has never had a colonoscopy. I've given up asking him to.

Thanks GingerBear for the positive thoughts! We're getting through it one day at a time.

 

[BillyC]

Due to family history I have my colonoscopy every 5 years. When the standards were changed stating with a good report it would be ten I said no. I am very proactive about my health (since I plan to be at least 114 ) and refused the at home tests as well as the ten years period. My GI doctor was very proud and supportive of my decision. So this September or October I will prep once again and bare my butt, grateful for the chance to do something good for my health. Too many guys put off testing until it’s too late.
Due to Barrett’s Esophagus, I have an endoscopy every two years. I had that one done a couple of months ago with awesome report. I could now wait 5 years if I wanted but I choose to remain at two years. I little of my time and preparation is worth health and piece of mind.
I continue to pray for our friend John and know many of our brotherhood do as well, sending encouragement and positive thoughts. I want to see cancer in all forms defeated!

We’re not praying guys, but positive energy for @Jockstrapguy’s wellness are always on their way from the Pacific to the Northeast.

 

[greggers]

Colonoscopies are easier than going to work. Knowledge is power!

 

[ScottTheJockGuy]

I need to get checked. It turns out it runs in my family on my dad’s side. To make things worse, I have chronic gastrointestinal issues, which may put me at a higher risk. The joy for me is that I’m only 34, so I have to convince my insurance that I need this done

 

[easlgrundle]

I'll have to ask about a fecal smear. I wouldn't mind a scope, but as I so often look at a primary care physician's job as permission gatekeeping, I doubt they'll do one at mid-30's withiut a history. My diet and waistline could be much better. Oh also medicaid lied about renewal application dates so technically I have no coverage at all until it reprocesses, and the state is actively trying to kill as many poor and homeless as possible reduce upfront expenditures at the cost of an imploding economy and declining workforce and an unviable healthcare post-treatment collapse. &$%¢ers.

 

[JockbudNYC]

In the US we start now at 45 for a colonoscopy. Some opt for the cologuard poop in a box and ship it. The hemooccult smear and look for blood has gone out of favor, as have prostate exams unless there is a 1st degree relative history. In major cities can take 6-9 months to schedule a colonoscopy for screening so plan accordingly.

 

[easlgrundle]

In y'all's exoerience or knowledge, what's the trend for having colonoscopies done awake vs with general anesthesia? There *can* be perforation safety issues and that's the main reason I'm spooked about them, butt ingress and fragile masculine ego being the very least of my worries, copays are probably top of list really. Are they painful, is it necessary to immobilize people, or are they trying to placate butt anxiety?

I'd wondered if patient feedback wasn't helpful in avoiding or detecting early, or maybe just making them slow down, but the replies I'd gotten when I'd asked previously indicated the inner gut didn't have useful enough pain perception to detect perforations and just ended in more people moving and causing problems.

Obviously anesthesia adds to cost.

I had my wisdom teeth extracted without general anesthesia. I specifically hunted for a dentist who'd perform it that way, I needed all four out, anesthesia added at least a thousand bucks per surgery. It's very sensible to do left and right sides in separate surgies so the patient can eat safely during recovery. The dental clinic office wasted the remaining partial-coverage period on my dental insurance from my job I no longer worked at (seasonal so the terms covered summer and winter breaks) by refusing to approve a payment plan until the very last second so putting it off was a massive financial hazard to me and I had to negotiate for all 4 teeth at once.

Either the assistant didn't know or tried to unilaterally change the surgery while I'm on a lorazepam and supposed to be chill about it but she'd only done the topical and injected local anesthetics on one side when the dental surgeon comes in and asks if we're ready. I explain my insurance is about to run out, I scheduled it for NOW, my unemployed ass *scavenged* cash for a downpayment and payment plan to do it NOW, we're doing all four NOW. So she shoots up the other side but it's barely had time to kick in by the time they start the extraction on that side and have to cut through the tooth to break it up it's grown in sideways and can't just pull up. Deep breathing was helpful. Strictly speaking the injection is much more painful but it's also briefer.

My stitches ripped out while eating immediately, I got painful dry socket immediately that lasted for months, didn't heal for at least a month after the hydrocodone ran out, I got spooked by the weird mouthwash they made me buy staining my teeth so I was both too poor and out of my mind on hydrocodone and going back to school to just buy listerine so I had a bad time, probably sent a bunch if bacterial infection proteins straight to my brain ready for early dementia. On the plus side it doesn't hurt to smile anymore.

Tangentially, I haven't had a dental followup for 12 years since I had them out, if anybody has leads on a great plains medical tourism driving range covid-safe dentist (n95 respirators in waiting room and on staff, high mechanical ventilation/filtration, etc) please for the love of god hit me up. Still don't know how to pay for it.

 

[JockbudNYC]

In y'all's exoerience or knowledge, what's the trend for having colonoscopies done awake vs with general anesthesia? There *can* be perforation safety issues and that's the main reson I'm spooked about them, butt ingress being the least of it, well maybe copays. are they painful, is it necessary to immobilize people,, or are they trying to placate butt anciety?

I'd wondered if patient feedback wasn't helpful in avoiding or detecting early, or maybe just making them slow down, but the replies I'd gotten when I'd asked previously indicated the inner gut didn't have useful enough pain oerceotion to detect oerforations and just ended in more people moving and causing problems.

Obviously anesthesia adds to cost.

I had my wisdom teeth extracted without general anesthesia. I specifically hunted for a dentist who'd perform it that way, I needed all four out, anesthesia added at least a thousand bucks per surgery. It's very sensible to do left and right sides in separate surgies so the patient can eat safely during recovery. The dental clinic office wasted the remaining partial-coverage period on my dental insurance from my job I no longer worked at (seasonal so the terms covered summer and winter breaks) by refusing to approve a payment plan until the very last second so putting it off was a massive financial hazard to me and I had to negotiate for all 4 teeth at once.

Either the assistant didn't know or tried to unilaterally change the surgery while I'm on a lorazepam and supposed to be chill about it but she'd only done the topical and injected local anesthetics on one side when the dental surgeon comes in and asks if we're ready. I explain my insurance is aboot to run out, I scheduled it for NOW, my unemployed ass *scavenged* cash for a downpayment and payment plan to do it NOW, we're doing all four NOW. So she shoots up the ither side but it's barely had time to kick in bty the time they start the extraction on that side and have to cut through the tooth to break it up it's grown in skdeways and can't just pull up. Deep breathing was helpful. strictly speaking the injection is much more painful but it's also briefer.

My stitches ripped out while eating immediately, I got painful dry socket immediately that lasted for months, didn't heal for at least a month after the hydrocodone ran out, I got spooked by the weird mouthwash they made me buy staining my teeth so I was both too poor and iut of my mind on hydrocodone and going back to school to just buy listerine so I had a bad time, probably sent a bunch if bactetial infection proteins straight to my brain ready for early dementia. On the plus side it doesn't hurt to smile anymore.

Tangentially, I have 't had a dental followup for 12 years since I had them out, if anybody has leads on a great plains medical tourism driving range covid-safe dentist (n95 respirators in waiting room and on staff, high mechanical ventilation/filtration, etc) please for the love of god hit me up. Still don't know how to pay for it.

You can totally do it . there is no pain other then a gas like pain. Even if the cut a polyp there is no sensory nerves in the colon. It is more common in Europe to have it unsedated. And you can leave right afterwards and recovery is instant. Because it is not the norm they will try to scare you into the usual way. The anesthesiologist told me if I moved during I could perforate, I told her if they are that unskilled then they should not do it. She wanted to bill for her procedure. I didn’t even need the IV.

 

[easlgrundle]

You can totally do it . there is no pain other then a gas like pain. Even if the cut a polyp there is no sensory nerves in the colon. It is more common in Europe to have it unsedated. And you can leave right afterwards and recovery is instant. Because it is not the norm they will try to scare you into the usual way. The anesthesiologist told me if I moved during I could perforate, I told her if they are that unskilled then they should not do it. She wanted to bill for her procedure. I didn’t even need the IV.

IV what now?

 

[JockbudNYC]

IV what now?

IV intravenous needle in the arm to give you sedation

 

[GingerBear]

I need to get checked. It turns out it runs in my family on my dad’s side. To make things worse, I have chronic gastrointestinal issues, which may put me at a higher risk. The joy for me is that I’m only 34, so I have to convince my insurance that I need this done

You are your greatest advocate brother, keep on your doctor and call your insurance company. Keep them on the line until you get answers. I’ve done this on a couple of occasions until I was able to explain and convince them of the need for procedures. It’s amazing how going directly to them to talk can make a difference. Good look and great health to you!

 

[steve]

I have had several now, I have had polyps removed every time that I have that they did one! Next one due in 2027.

 

[CCMBike]

Got mine done yesterday. As I have colitis I get it done every 5 years. I am kind of a pro now, and the prep and procedure is getting easier and less invasive. I was in and out of hospital in 2 1/2 hours. Sedation is very light so you don't feel a thing, yet get to watch the monitor. I was A-OK this check-up.
Sorry esgrundle you have this issue with money and coverage. The doctor has to be pretty incompetent to perforate your colon.
Here in Canada this was all part of our no cost universal health care system. The one that Republicans like to site as a socialist horror.

 

[Redsucked02]

In the US we start now at 45 for a colonoscopy. Some opt for the cologuard poop in a box and ship it. The hemooccult smear and look for blood has gone out of favor, as have prostate exams unless there is a 1st degree relative history. In major cities can take 6-9 months to schedule a colonoscopy for screening so plan accordingly.

1st degree? My dad had prostate cancer so how often should I get prostate exams?

 

[Autobear76]

Got mine last year. Not one polyp, but now I know. It's an easy procedure. I needed a driver and it was over quickly.

 

[JockbudNYC]

1st degree? My dad had prostate cancer so how often should I get prostate exams?

Yearly at least

 

[engjock]

Thanks John for bringing this topic up And good luck to you for the future.
Here in the UK we have a two-yearly Poop Test courtesy of the NHS.
I’ve also had two colonoscopies for other cancer related symptoms, one of which was passing blood and the other to try and determine why my bowel habits had change. Fortunately I was fine on both of them.
Yes, it can hurt, but in the intervening 5 years I found that the new camera probes are a lot less painful. A friend who had it done said it didn’t hurt at all. He did enjoy being fisted, though!
Regardless of the pain guys, get it done if told that it might help, and insist on it if you’ve got a family history of bowel cancer.
As one nurse told me in answer to my question of pain before my first test, she had had it done and, having had three children she said for her that it was worse than giving birth. That didn’t exactly fill me with confidence, until she said that, like childbirth, you instantly forget the pain and all that you feel is relief that it’s over.

 

[BillyC]

Thanks John for bringing this topic up And good luck to you for the future.
Here in the UK we have a two-yearly Poop Test courtesy of the NHS.
I’ve also had two colonoscopies for other cancer related symptoms, one of which was passing blood and the other to try and determine why my bowel habits had change. Fortunately I was fine on both of them.
Yes, it can hurt, but in the intervening 5 years I found that the new camera probes are a lot less painful. A friend who had it done said it didn’t hurt at all. He did enjoy being fisted, though!
Regardless of the pain guys, get it done if told that it might help, and insist on it if you’ve got a family history of bowel cancer.
As one nurse told me in answer to my question of pain before my first test, she had had it done and, having had three children she said for her that it was worse than giving birth. That didn’t exactly fill me with confidence, until she said that, like childbirth, you instantly forget the pain and all that you feel is relief that it’s over.

Except that with childbirth, those effects last a lifetime!

 

[Redsucked02]

Yearly at least

Thank you I will insist upon it

 

[Jake]

As most of you know, I was diagnosed with colon cancer back in November of 2019. Colon cancer, if detected early is curable.

Here in Canada, when you turn 50 your family doctor will recommend you do yearly colon cancer tests. They are free and easy to do. We jokingly call them the Poop Smear Test - as you simply have to smear your poop on a cardboard card and send them into a government health service and you're done.

Although they are not 100% accurate, for anyone with no history of cancer in their family it's the best way to go. I'm not sure how it works in the USA but I'm sure they're readily available there and hopefully covered. It's way less invasive than a colonoscopy.

Unfortunately for me, my cancer wasn't detected early so now I'm dealing with reoccurrences - I'm calling it whack-a-mole.

As much as I love my family doctor I am a bit pissed off as he never recommended me getting a colonoscopy. He simply had me do these yearly poop smear tests starting when I was 50 - and they were coming back negative. However, there's a huge history of cancer in my family so I should have been sent for a colonoscopy instead of relying on these poop smear tests.

To make matters worse, the earlier tests (which I was doing) were testing for blood in the stool and weren't very accurate. The new tests are done using DNA and are much more accurate and would have more likely determined I had colon cancer. But even still, if there's history in the family then a colonoscopy is the way to go.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is..

When you turn 50, started getting regular testing done. If there's no history of cancer in your family then do the DNA fecal tests. If there is history of cancer in your family, insist on a colonoscopy. They're a nuisance but it's worth knowing.

Also: Although Adrian (husband) had no history of cancer and was also doing the poop smear tests and they were coming back negative, when I ended up with colon cancer he told our doctor to get him set up for a colonoscopy. He did it, it came back negative and he's good now for 10 years.

John.

.....i`m so very-sorry you had to go through all that, John!...and, I`m wishing (and praying) for your "complete-recovery" from all-that!...and, you have given some *most-excellent* advice here concerning that!...I too, have used that poop-smear testing, and I have always really-hated getting a colonoscopy!...and, you-are-correct!...your-Doctor SHOULD-have *advised-you* to get-a-colonoscopy to avoid your having to go through all you`ve been-through!...especially, with a Family-History of it!...I never-knew that you are in Canada until-reading your most-recent-posting!...I was in Toronto several years-ago for my Neice`s wedding and visited Niagara-Falls...VERY NICE!