Honestly, even if you are under 45, ask your doctor if you have any indication whatsoever to get a #colonoscopy now because a) I have seen metastatic #colorectal cancer in some very young patients (20s-30s) b) RFK Jr = "if you get cancer, you deserve to die, no cancer screening for you"
We can launch people into outer space, but colonoscopy prep still sucks. Not as badly as what it can catch early, but the prep still SUCKS 😖
I didn't think it was that bad (due to really bad family history, I've watched family members get colonoscopies ever 3 years, so lot of experience lol) - I used #CrystalLight mixed with the prep, and it worked great, I didn't taste the prep at all. And excuse to stop working and relax for 2 days 😂
I don’t mind drinking the stuff, but I do NOT appreciate sleeping on the toilet overnight to be clean for 0’dark:30! I’d rather not eat food for a whole week than have to sit on the toilet for a night 😂
Fortunately mine was completely clean so I don't have to get it again for 10 years. My bro, who I had to coax a bit to finally get it in late 40s, wasn't so lucky, he got the high risk genes and is going to have to be on the every 3 year cycle
Good for you; ugh for him. I had a “gnarly huge” (surgeon’s description, I kid you not 😂) polyp at 45 that was BENIGN (whew), so I dodged the more frequent schedule — whew! But let me do my dang prep earlier so I don’t have to NOT sleep with my behind on the toilet all night 😂
Yeah, you probably had hyperplastic polyp - they can look big and scary but harmless. adenomatous polyps, even if they are small, are big problem. We've had 2 second degree relatives die of GI cancer and first degree with high-risk adenomas for >40 years, so we'll be keeping GI clinics humming lol
So sorry for the family hx, but glad y’all know & can stay on top of screening! LOL — I knew the histopath at some point, but “gnarly & huge but benign” is so much more fun 😂 I loved that doc — he was a keeper! He’s sadly moved from here so I’ll have someone new next 🤞
When I was much younger (maybe in my late 30s early 40s) my doctor said if he had it his way, he would screen people of color earlier for colorectal cancer.
Generally, indications for someone to get screened before age 45 (I had several of these, hence being approved at age 38): - #anemia (Hemoglobin less than normal for your gender) - #irondeficiency (low iron, ferritin levels) - family history of either GI cancer or pre-cancerous colon polyps
I will need to get one when I turn 40 (in 2 years) based on my family history
Yes, generally we recommend if someone in family was diagnosed with a colon cancer before age 65, family members should start screening 20 years before age the person was diagnosed But seriously, if you have family history, just ask your doc now. Who TF knows where #publichealth will be in 2 years
I will bring this up at my annual check up in 8 weeks or so!