I went through my third colonoscopy recently. My first was in early 2004 after I discovered, as a 64-year-old very healthy and active businessman, some symptoms that I might have a problem. The first results found a malignant tumor — cancer. The Big C word is never fun to hear, and yet I had it. Two months later I had the surgery and have just celebrated being a cancer survivor for more than four years. Two years ago I had a follow-up check, and this last one was routine again, just to be sure all is OK. The latest report was “all clear and lookin’ good.” Praise the Lord.
For four years I have been a campaigner, encouraging men to have a colonoscopy if they are 50 or older. Had I had one at that age, I probably never would have had the cancer. A good friend of mine who is 60 said recently he had not had one, and I got after him. Get it done, now, I almost begged.
Early detection is the best way to fight cancer, and the colonoscopy will do just that. The procedure itself is over and done with in 20 minutes; you are usually released to be driven home in an hour, and that’s it. The hardest part of the whole procedure is the preparation the day before, and there is no easy way to get around it. You prepare by drinking a gallon of a sweet solution. Frankly, it cleans out the colon so that the doctor can get a good picture of what things look like. I drank it while I watched the Olympics, so it helped get my mind off the drink. This little bit of inconvenience is a very small price to pay to have a critical test that could mean life or death.
I want to encourage all the male readers in the 50-and-up age group to get a colonoscopy. Most health plans cover it, and it is well worth the one day it will take you to feel back to normal. If I had not done it when I did, I probably would not be writing this message. Is that reality or not?
Give your doctor a call, get a colonoscopy scheduled, and if you are still wondering why or for what, give me a call, for I have some other stories of folks that didn’t take this advice.
Ron Largent is a Realtor, business owner and longtime Redding resident. He can be reached at ronlargent@yahoo.com or ronlargent.yourkwagent.com.
