Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group my colonoscopy

well, the beginning of his story, i was thinking, my story was so not scary in comparison, but then i kept reading, got to the end and this is what i read. and such a good message, i'm pasting it here. thanks for sharing this, not just funny, but an important message too. thanks dow!

"But my point is this: In addition to being a pathetic medical weenie, I was a complete moron. For more than a decade I avoided getting a procedure that was, essentially, nothing. There was no pain and, except for the MoviPrep, no discomfort. I was risking my life for nothing.

If my brother Sam had been as stupid as I was -- if, when he turned 50, he had ignored all the medical advice and avoided getting screened -- he still would have had cancer. He just wouldn't have known. And by the time he did know -- by the time he felt symptoms -- his situation would have been much, much more serious. But because he was a grown-up, the doctors caught the cancer early, and they operated and took it out. Sam is now recovering and eating what he describes as ''really, really boring food.'' His prognosis is good, and everybody is optimistic, fingers crossed, knock on wood, and all that.

Which brings us to you, Mr. or Mrs. or Miss or Ms. Over-50-And-Hasn't-Had-a-Colonoscopy. Here's the deal: You either have colo-rectal cancer, or you don't. If you do, a colonoscopy will enable doctors to find it and do something about it. And if you don't have cancer, believe me, it's very reassuring to know you don't. There is no sane reason for you not to have it done."

so i guess the message is, if you're over 50 and haven't had a colonoscopy yet, go get one.

after finding out that i had 2 polyps, i'm so glad i got mine done, and i'm only 47. glad in a way that i have IBS/IBD symptoms serious enough to have needed a colonoscopy now.