Ask your doctor about colorectal cancer screening

[MillCreek]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/27/colorectal-cancer-guidelines-change-start-screening-45-not-50/6040304002/

The recommended age to start screening has decreased from 50 to 45.  I did the initial colonoscopy at age 50, but since turning 60 this year, now do the annual FIT card testing instead.

[K Frame]

Had my first steel eel 2 years ago. What fun that was.

[charby]

Had my first at 29, history of colon cancer in the family and I had some GI issues, they did remove a cancerous polyp. Had one every six months for a while, then yearly, then every 3 years, now I am at every 5 years.

I think they need to do it younger than 45. I'd probably have stage 3 or stage 4 colon cancer now if they didn't find it 17 years ago. Friend of similar age lost his wife 18 months ago from colon cancer. My Boy Scout buddy was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer on Sept 1 of this year, he's one day older than me.

[HankB]

Had my first screening in 2013 - no problems, come back in 10 years.

My mother has now been battling the disease for 3 years - she refused to get a screening when I did. 

With a 1st degree relative having the disease, docs told me I should go on a 5 year screen screening schedule. Got one this past February - all clear, come back in 5 years.

Believe me, the screening is MUCH preferable to the disease.

[charby]

Believe me, the screening is MUCH preferable to the disease.

Prayers for your Mother.

[Brad Johnson]

My first wast two years ago, a 50th birthday present from my doc. One small non-cancerous polyp. Back in three years.

Brad

[Cliffh]

Believe me, the screening is MUCH preferable to the disease.

I pray all goes well for your mother.

I'm on a 10 yr schedule, (DW is on a 5yr for non-cancerous).  Last time I was like "Yippee!, that was the last one!".  Then the doc told me they'd extended the tests out to 75 years old.   

[French G.]

I am 45 and just tried to get one last week. Doc was of the opinion that it wouldn’t be covered unless ordered as a diagnostic.

[Ben]

I did my first one at 47 due to a concern by my doctor at the time. Polyps found and removed during the procedure. I had a ten year wait till the next one. Polyps found and removed during the procedure. Now I'm on the five year plan and reckon I'm due in two years.

I just wish there was a less invasive way to do it. I don't like that stuff poking around my insides with the potential for damage that is worse than polyps. I will probably stop colonoscopies when I hit 70 and just let the slow growing polyps grow. Unless the medical community comes up with less invasive ways to both check for and remove polyps by then.

[Cliffh]

I did my first one at 47 due to a concern by my doctor at the time. Polyps found and removed during the procedure. I had a ten year wait till the next one. Polyps found and removed during the procedure. Now I'm on the five year plan and reckon I'm due in two years.

I just wish there was a less invasive way to do it. I don't like that stuff poking around my insides with the potential for damage that is worse than polyps. I will probably stop colonoscopies when I hit 70 and just let the slow growing polyps grow. Unless the medical community comes up with less invasive ways to both check for and remove polyps by then.

"Modern" diagnostic methods sometime seem more like torture than medicine.

[charby]

My buddy shared with me his first chemotherapy bill when we went fishing together a week and half ago. He's still in a fog about it and wanted me to translate it for him. The un-negotiated per insurance price was $29,000 for one treatment, the negotiated insurance price was $5,000. I'm not going to share what his share that he has to pay, but he is going through 6 total treatments for this round and then get a scan and bloodwork to see if it is working or not. Then determine more rounds after that. As I said above he has stage 4 colon cancer, he has cancer in his colon, liver and lung. Chemo was his only option.