nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
It has been a few years, so it is time to revisit this. Today is the end of colon cancer awareness month and, chances are, you didn't even know that. That's cool. No pink ribbons or pink everywhere. The butt is not as attractive part of the body, however it still affects a lot of people, and I'm one of them. Please don't skip this post. Took me a while, so you owe me to read a little. Might just save you or someone you know.
A few quick facts:
-140,000 people are diagnosed with it each year, and 50,000 die from it.
-The rate of younger people diagnosed has been increasing every year. I was diagnosed at 43, but had signs for years. My own Oncologist was working with 3 others my age.
-Easily one of the most preventable cancers, just needs to be detected early.
-People with an immediate relative who has colon cancer have 2-3 times the risk of developing the disease. This includes you Tommy Erwin.
How to get checked:
-Get screened every 10 years once you turn 40. Yes I said 40. Insurance won't cover a screening until age 50 but the ACS recommends getting one at 45. Others folks, including me, recommend 40. If you have family history, start at 35. Two people I personally know have followed this early age advice and have needed it.
-The screening, called a colonoscopy, isn't all that bad, it just puts a damper on a few days of your life. You'll fast all day, drink some nasty stuff in the evening, spend a few hours on the can, than go checked the next day. You'll be asleep and won't even know what happened.
-Colon cancer often starts as a polyp and progresses over a few years. The colonoscopy is crucial because it can detect a polyp prior to it becoming cancerous. They simply remove it during the screening, and mostly likely tell you to come back in 3 years. Bam, no colon cancer like I had (90% preventable).
If your insurance doesn't cover a colonoscopy because of your age, you have some options:
-If you have any of the symptoms below, your doctor should be able to get it approved.
-If you want to pay outright, it will cost 2-3K. If they find something during the test, insurance will then cover it.
-You can also get a fexlible sigmoidoscopy at a doctors office. It is basically the first half of the colon, but where many of the cancers start. You'll be awake for this, it is not as thorough, but should only cost 200-300 bucks if not at a hospital.
-There is a new test called Cologuard. You sent a stool sample and it detects 92% of colon cancer. It does not detect pre cancer polyps very well. Do not do this if you have a family history.
Reasons to get a screening:
Do not delay acting on any of this. Do not think it is because you are just getting older. Do not say "it can't happen to me". Do not say "I don't want to know." You WILL KNOW eventually, and it will be bad day.
Some links with more information:
https://stopcoloncancernow.com/colon-cancer-prevention
https://piedmontcolorectal.com/news/colon-cancer-awareness-month-2017/
https://www.cologuardtest.com/meet-cologuard/how-effective-is-cologuard
A few quick facts:
-140,000 people are diagnosed with it each year, and 50,000 die from it.
-The rate of younger people diagnosed has been increasing every year. I was diagnosed at 43, but had signs for years. My own Oncologist was working with 3 others my age.
-Easily one of the most preventable cancers, just needs to be detected early.
-People with an immediate relative who has colon cancer have 2-3 times the risk of developing the disease. This includes you Tommy Erwin.
How to get checked:
-Get screened every 10 years once you turn 40. Yes I said 40. Insurance won't cover a screening until age 50 but the ACS recommends getting one at 45. Others folks, including me, recommend 40. If you have family history, start at 35. Two people I personally know have followed this early age advice and have needed it.
-The screening, called a colonoscopy, isn't all that bad, it just puts a damper on a few days of your life. You'll fast all day, drink some nasty stuff in the evening, spend a few hours on the can, than go checked the next day. You'll be asleep and won't even know what happened.
-Colon cancer often starts as a polyp and progresses over a few years. The colonoscopy is crucial because it can detect a polyp prior to it becoming cancerous. They simply remove it during the screening, and mostly likely tell you to come back in 3 years. Bam, no colon cancer like I had (90% preventable).
If your insurance doesn't cover a colonoscopy because of your age, you have some options:
-If you have any of the symptoms below, your doctor should be able to get it approved.
-If you want to pay outright, it will cost 2-3K. If they find something during the test, insurance will then cover it.
-You can also get a fexlible sigmoidoscopy at a doctors office. It is basically the first half of the colon, but where many of the cancers start. You'll be awake for this, it is not as thorough, but should only cost 200-300 bucks if not at a hospital.
-There is a new test called Cologuard. You sent a stool sample and it detects 92% of colon cancer. It does not detect pre cancer polyps very well. Do not do this if you have a family history.
Reasons to get a screening:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Blood in stool (me). Do not let someone tell you it is just hemorrhoids. Mostly likely that is the cause, but HAVE IT CHECKED.
- Fatigue (me)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- You've turned 40.
Do not delay acting on any of this. Do not think it is because you are just getting older. Do not say "it can't happen to me". Do not say "I don't want to know." You WILL KNOW eventually, and it will be bad day.
Some links with more information:
https://stopcoloncancernow.com/colon-cancer-prevention
https://piedmontcolorectal.com/news/colon-cancer-awareness-month-2017/
https://www.cologuardtest.com/meet-cologuard/how-effective-is-cologuard