Yesterday I was at a health fair with a major corporation. This company has excellent health benefits, and i found that a large number of people with whom I spoke had already had a colonoscopy.
I was astounded, then, to hear that so many of these good folks had received bad advice. Listen:
"I went the doctor when I was 50 and she told me that screening for colon cancer is optional, that even if I wanted to do it I could easily wait until I am 55 or 60. I was sure relieved that I don't have to do that now."
"When I had my colonoscopy, they removed several polyps that turned out to be pre-cancerous. They told me I need to get another colonoscopy in 5-7 years."
"My Mother and Uncle both had colon cancer. I had polyps removed. Now my daughter is 41 and is having some bleeding and pain. The doctors tell her not to worry about it, she doesn't need to get a colonoscopy."
When I hear these stories I think of the faces of people I have met. Of the woman in Nashville whose husband was told he could wait until he was 55 to get screened. He was diagnosed with metastatic cancer when he was 53. Of the many, many people I have met who were told they were too young to worry about colon cancer, despite having a family history and having pain and bleeding. Every one of them have colon cancer. Every one was misdiagnosed for months or years while the tumors grew.
This week a handful of people are now educated about the best way they can reduce their risk of getting colorectal cancer. It makes me forever grateful to the hundreds of Colon Cancer Alliance volunteers who go out into their community to tell the story, to sound the alarm, to offer comfort and help and information and support.
Sometimes it feels like a voice crying in the wilderness. But enough of us joining our voices together can create a roar that the whole world can hear. Now that is good news.
