Dick’s maternal grandfather died of colon cancer at the age of 43. He was diagnosed about 18 months before that, and left behind a wife and three children. When I realized that Dick would be turning 33 next month, and that we have three children I cannot raise alone, I started asking about colonoscopies.
My dad is usually my first stop for medical advice (okay, after the internet), and he said that, coincidentally, he was scheduling a colonoscopy for my mom because she just turned 50, which is the age screenings should begin for those with average risk.
If you have a grandparent, parent, sibling, or child with colon cancer, you’ll want to have your first colonoscopy (or other screening) done 10 years before they were diagnosed. Which for Dick meant yesterday.
As others will attest, the preparation for a colonsocopy is much worse than the actual exam. It involves 24-plus hours of a clear liquid diet and nasty-tasting bowel cleansing medicine. But I’m afraid I wasn’t very sympathetic. I have borne Dick three children, after all, and frankly, bodily dignity is not worth forgoing children or a long, healthy life.
For the actual exam, Dick was knocked completely out. Some people don’t actually fall asleep, but if you are at all sleep-deprived or situationally narcoleptic (like Dick), you’ll be out before they have the camera turned on. In the recovery room, Dick was incredibly cheerful and loopy. I mean, more so than usual.
Dick now owes me his life, because they found a polyp in his lower colon. Probably not cancerous, not yet, but they removed it and will do a biopsy. Fewer than 20% of forty-year olds have polyps, and the doctor and nurses all congratulated Dick on having such a loving wife.
While Dick was at the hospital, I cleaned furiously, because:
1. I felt guilty for being mad about something he’d said even after he apologized quite nicely.
2. The house was a serious wreck and no one should have to come home to dishes in the sink after getting their keister probed.
3. I had to take my mind off the fact that if the doctor accidentally perforated his colon and had to perform emergengy surgery and if Dick died from a freak scalpel accident, the last post of mine he ever read would be one where I neglected to mention that, though I would not die for him (unless our children were already dead), if something ever happened to him, I would not be happy to still be alive.
If you or someone you love is at risk for colon cancer (and everyone over 50 is), please schedule a screening or talk to your doctor today. (Liz! This means you! Hie thee to the colonoscopist!).
I promised a Back-to-School Edition of Things That Must Go today (I know, you probably didn’t even notice, or miss it, or care, but just pretend, okay?). And now I’m all posted out. Saturdays weren’t doing much for me anyway, so I think I’ll try posting Things That Must Go on Sunday nights. I have some great (bad) ones stored up, and I hope you do too!
Tags: cancer, colon cancer, colonoscopies, health, katie couric, marriage
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Brad is at risk, his (younger) sister has had polyps removed several times already. But the VA will not pay for a colonoscopy until he turns 50, regardless of the risk. Sometimes I think they want the Vets to die, because funerals are cheaper.
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If you click on my “the internet” link in the post, you’ll get Katie Couric’s spiel on colonoscopies. She says only 19 states require insurances to cover screenings. It’s appalling that the VA doesn’t cover this. (But, unfortunately, I’m not very surprised). I hope Brad’s scheduled for the day after his 50th birthday!
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So glad he survived both the pre-ordeal and the actual ordeal too. Well done for your nagging/persuading his to go get it done. It certainly is not a pleasant procedure, but as you say, such an important screening that can prevent future problems.
Congrats too on blogging openly about it. I have not been so direct/open, but maybe I should have been. I have no family history of it, but it was due to other symptons that I was required to have the test. As I said, all clear with me too.
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I wish I had access to whatever drugs leave you with that “loopy” feeling. I’ve had it more than once with colonoscopies. Never felt so fine.
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You are a great wife! and funny too. Thanks for this important reminder.
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My sister-in-law is going in to have one now that she’s not pregnant. I think she’s 26 or something. Kind of young, but all of her family got checked within the last year because of family history and two of her siblings had “things” that were a concern. (I don’t know the specifics because who wants to ask too many questions about someone’s colon, right?)
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I’m getting in range of the colonoscopy years. I freind of our family was just diagnosed with colon cancer at 52, and my grandfather died of colon cancer at 68. We are big fans of the colonoscopy around here. Fans? That was a little too excited a term, don’t you find?
Anyways, I gave you an award! Go pick it up on my blog!
MereCats last blog post..oooooh! There are prizes!
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wow.just reminds me thati keep needingto remind the DH to have his bum checked. Not good to leave they babies behind with this crazy mom.
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Nice blog very informative. Hope you don’t mind but i have bookmarked it.
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Wayne…
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