Based in what I’ve seen in my many years in research universities I can say- “They” are trying like hell to find cures Fuck cancer
After I turned 50, I turned down every colonoscopy that was recommended to me at my annual check up. Then the place that does them would either call me on the phone the same or next day or send the forms in the mail the same or next day. I asked my doctor about four years ago are there any side effects from a colonoscopy? She answered that you can get a perforation. I asked her how you treat that and she said through surgery. I said no thank you, I take my chances of not having a colonoscopy. To minimize the risk of colon cancer I make sure that I am regular by taking 500mg of magnesium a day, get enough fiber, and drink enough water, This guy I used to work with used to be a health insurance salesman and he knew a lot about health and he wouldn't get a colonoscopy either. After he told me about the side effects of a colonoscopy I felt more comfortable about my decision. Read this guy story who got a perforation during a colonoscopy. http://roarofwolverine.com/wolverine This is a quote from his web site. My colon was perforated during the procedure. Refusing to even entertain the idea he could have possibly made a mistake, this cynical moron kept insisting the pain I felt was just a typical discomfort from the procedure and told my wife I was just exaggerating to get pain-killers. Over the next hours the pain became excruciating, so the mad doctor decided to pump me up with dilaudid.
saw a stripper in Atlantic City once with a perforated colon, maybe she had a botched colonoscopy procedure too
It's not unreasonable to "take your chances" even though the risk for a perf during a diagnostic colonoscopy is extremely low. The reason to get a colonoscopy is it's not just a diagnostic tool. If you have pre-cancerous polyps they can be removed during the colonoscopy. That can vastly reduce the chance to get colon cancer. Now is you get colon cancer and don't get colonoscopies your probably going to find out when you are obstructed and in excruciating pain. You're going to have your colon resected by surgery. You're also probably going to get a port surgically implanted in your chest followed by 12 rounds of 5FU chemo therapy. If you get through the treatment you will have neuropathy in your hands and feet likely for the rest of your life. You will be eating a low res diet and probably be admitted to the emergency room several times for bowl obstructions as the result of adhesions during surgery. If you're really lucky, you'll have a 5 year remission. If you're incredibly lucky you'll die from getting hit by a bus crossing the street. Colonoscopy unlike a lot of other diagnostic tests can actually help keep you from getting colon cancer. There's almost no procedure that tests for cancer that can do that. From my POV the risk/reward factor is highly in favor of getting them.
That's your anecdote; here's mine: in the past year I have had three friends diagnosed with colon cancer. The first is a local businessman in his fifties who had his discovered during a routine colonoscopy; short version - stage two, surgery, temporary colostomy, chemo, reversal surgery, now in the clear. Second is a high ranking police official in his fifties, routine colonoscopy discovery, stage one. Minor surgery, clean bill for now. Third an educator in his forties, vague symptoms finally sent for a colonoscopy even though he was "too young," no family history. Stage three. Similar surgery to number one, thirty day follow up determined spread to area near operation site and liver. Now stage four, searching for appropriate trials and gene therapy programs to try to save his life. I put off having one for way too long, had it about a year ago, no big deal. Prep was a bit unpleasant. No problems. Not in the slightest bit scared off by the remote chance of a problem during the procedure, not even if I was looking for an excuse to avoid it.
