nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
I know it seems like I post this every year, but it is every 2nd year. Once again it is Colon Cancer Awareness month and because it is not a joy to look at, the whole month has gone by and you've heard nothing. As I'm writing a whole new post, I ask that you read it entirely as I pour a lot into this. For what I've gone through, it is the least you can do. Feel free to share it as well.
I'd research how much Colon and especially Colorectal Cancer is trending earlier but I did that last time. So this time I'm going to point out that even superheroes aren't immune. Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, died last year at age 43 due this trending cancer. He was diagnosed in 2016 (age 39) with stage 3, but the disease spread to 4 and finally took his life. I was upset at first because he could have used his celebrity status to cast more light, but I quickly learned he would not have been a celebrity or gotten another job because of his diagnosis.
While it is true that 90% of Colon Cancer diagnosis occurs above age 50, that is also the age that insurance starts to pay for the procedure to check. If insurance paid for earlier, they probably would catch a lot more a lot sooner. So many younger people were getting the cancer that the American Cancer Society updated its recommendation for adults with average risk to begin screenings at age 45 three years ago. This has gone unnoticed by the bean counters and the procedure still isn't paid until age 50.
Now, if you have symptoms or family history, that is a whole nother case. Insurance will pony up if you go through the correct channels. Symptoms include blood in stool, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, dark stool, or even just strange bowel movements. If you have any of these, you have to start by going to your primary care physician (PCP). If you don't have one, search around, but it will take a while to get an initial appointment. Once you get to this point, they are just general physicians, so make them refer you to a Gastroenterologist. At this point discuss the problems you've been having and demand a colonoscopy. It is their job to then work on your insurance company to pay for the procedure. You will need to get it pre-approved.
My diagnosis was stage 3, same as Mr Boseman, but fortunately my response to radiation was good and it has not returned. Unfortunately I'm still dealing with after-effects of constant nausea that is medically keeping me from my flying job. I loved that job, and this sucks, but at least I'm still around to help a little with my daughter. I'm also lucky for being white.
No, this is not political, this is statistical. Colorectal cancer rates are 20% higher in African Americans. The rate of death is unfortunately 40% higher for this same group. So to all my fellow black friends, please make it a point this year to heed Simone Ledward Boseman's advice. Get checked ASAP and sooner if you have symptoms. Here is a link to those statistics as well as other general information: https://www.samc.com/about-us/news-and-media/what-we-can-learn-from-chadwick-bosemans-cancer-battle
I'd stop posting these but fortunately it saves lives and I hope it saves more. I have a friend younger than 50 diagnosed with stage 4 Colon cancer with no symptoms. I have another friend in their 30s with blood in their stool, but I can't seem to urge enough to get checked out. Probably got caught up in the hassle or things the procedure is too invasive. I have an In-law over 50 AND family history, who just outright refuses.
So the procedure sounds bad, but it isn't. The night before in the bathroom kind of sucks, but that is private and beats the hell out of getting cancer. They prescribe a liquid and you drink in the evening. Since you haven't eaten all day, you basically pee out your butt for a few hours. Then you do it again later that night. No worse than diarrhea. You get 5 or 6 hours of good sleep and get your colonoscopy. They give you IV, then sedation, then 5 seconds later you wake up in recovery with no memory of the procedure.
You've probably seen commercials for a new product Cologuard (or as I say poop in a box). It works, but does not work well enough if you have symptoms. If this is your only choice, so be it. I'm guessing this technology will only improve with time, but that is many years in the future. I'm not really sure why, but it is still prescription only. Maybe easier for your PCP to prescribe.
In summary, eat healthy, get checked as soon as possible. While this is the 3rd highest cancer killer, it is also the most preventable. When caught early in a colonoscopy, it is a quick snip and you're good for 3 to 5 years.
Here are a few articles this year from advocates like myself:
https://www.wowt.com/2021/03/26/col...maha-man-into-advocate-for-health-screenings/
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/03/23/early-onset-colorectal-cancer
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/sa...h-colon-cancer--urges-others-to-get-screened-
https://youtu.be/-a4zH0kmPFo
I'd research how much Colon and especially Colorectal Cancer is trending earlier but I did that last time. So this time I'm going to point out that even superheroes aren't immune. Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, died last year at age 43 due this trending cancer. He was diagnosed in 2016 (age 39) with stage 3, but the disease spread to 4 and finally took his life. I was upset at first because he could have used his celebrity status to cast more light, but I quickly learned he would not have been a celebrity or gotten another job because of his diagnosis.
While it is true that 90% of Colon Cancer diagnosis occurs above age 50, that is also the age that insurance starts to pay for the procedure to check. If insurance paid for earlier, they probably would catch a lot more a lot sooner. So many younger people were getting the cancer that the American Cancer Society updated its recommendation for adults with average risk to begin screenings at age 45 three years ago. This has gone unnoticed by the bean counters and the procedure still isn't paid until age 50.
Now, if you have symptoms or family history, that is a whole nother case. Insurance will pony up if you go through the correct channels. Symptoms include blood in stool, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, dark stool, or even just strange bowel movements. If you have any of these, you have to start by going to your primary care physician (PCP). If you don't have one, search around, but it will take a while to get an initial appointment. Once you get to this point, they are just general physicians, so make them refer you to a Gastroenterologist. At this point discuss the problems you've been having and demand a colonoscopy. It is their job to then work on your insurance company to pay for the procedure. You will need to get it pre-approved.
My diagnosis was stage 3, same as Mr Boseman, but fortunately my response to radiation was good and it has not returned. Unfortunately I'm still dealing with after-effects of constant nausea that is medically keeping me from my flying job. I loved that job, and this sucks, but at least I'm still around to help a little with my daughter. I'm also lucky for being white.
No, this is not political, this is statistical. Colorectal cancer rates are 20% higher in African Americans. The rate of death is unfortunately 40% higher for this same group. So to all my fellow black friends, please make it a point this year to heed Simone Ledward Boseman's advice. Get checked ASAP and sooner if you have symptoms. Here is a link to those statistics as well as other general information: https://www.samc.com/about-us/news-and-media/what-we-can-learn-from-chadwick-bosemans-cancer-battle
I'd stop posting these but fortunately it saves lives and I hope it saves more. I have a friend younger than 50 diagnosed with stage 4 Colon cancer with no symptoms. I have another friend in their 30s with blood in their stool, but I can't seem to urge enough to get checked out. Probably got caught up in the hassle or things the procedure is too invasive. I have an In-law over 50 AND family history, who just outright refuses.
So the procedure sounds bad, but it isn't. The night before in the bathroom kind of sucks, but that is private and beats the hell out of getting cancer. They prescribe a liquid and you drink in the evening. Since you haven't eaten all day, you basically pee out your butt for a few hours. Then you do it again later that night. No worse than diarrhea. You get 5 or 6 hours of good sleep and get your colonoscopy. They give you IV, then sedation, then 5 seconds later you wake up in recovery with no memory of the procedure.
You've probably seen commercials for a new product Cologuard (or as I say poop in a box). It works, but does not work well enough if you have symptoms. If this is your only choice, so be it. I'm guessing this technology will only improve with time, but that is many years in the future. I'm not really sure why, but it is still prescription only. Maybe easier for your PCP to prescribe.
In summary, eat healthy, get checked as soon as possible. While this is the 3rd highest cancer killer, it is also the most preventable. When caught early in a colonoscopy, it is a quick snip and you're good for 3 to 5 years.
Here are a few articles this year from advocates like myself:
https://www.wowt.com/2021/03/26/col...maha-man-into-advocate-for-health-screenings/
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/03/23/early-onset-colorectal-cancer
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/sa...h-colon-cancer--urges-others-to-get-screened-
https://youtu.be/-a4zH0kmPFo
