Taking Control of your Medical Welfare

Cancer.

The word that strikes fear into everyone's heart.

No one is untouched by cancer. Be it a friend, a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker or yourself, you know someone who has or had cancer. You probably even know someone who died from cancer.

I remember the first time that word changed my life. It was spring of my junior year of high school and my parents sat us down for a talk. Dad had been diagnosed with colon cancer through a routine colonoscopy. Stage 1. It was a Friday afternoon. The colonoscopy had been on Thursday. Dad was having surgery on Monday. My dad was 43.

My dad's dad died of colon cancer when he was in his late 50s. My dad was supposed to have his first colonoscopy at age 40. But by some grace of God, he had not gotten one. If he had, they may or may not have found the polyp that caused his cancer.

My dad's brush with cancer was relatively easy on the spectrum of hell that cancer patients are put through. But, it taught me a valuable lesson. Early detection is key.

As the craziness of dealing with surgery, time off work, chemotherapy and screenings died down, my parents asked what my brother and I need to do. Dad's oncologist said that because of the two generations of history, we must start having colonoscopies when we were 15 years younger that Dad was when he was diagnosed...28.

I had my first colonoscopy at 28.

The whole process sounds horrible. You go on a liquid diet of mostly Gatorade laced with Miralax and spend the afternoon and evening pooping. I said it pooping. Then the next day, you go to the hospital, get an IV, and have twilight anesthesia while you have a camera inserted into your colon.

I promise, it is not as bad you think it is. I send my husband to dinner with a friend and let him come home at 9:00. I watch movies I love, go to sleep and then get up and go to the hospital and get to take a crazily enjoyable nap. The worst part is the gas you have for the rest of the day.

My first colonoscopy, at age 28, was clean. I was directed to come back in 3 years.

My second colonoscopy, at age 31, was not. I had a pre-cancerous polyp and another polyp removed. I was directed to come back in 2 years.

My third colonoscopy, at age 33, was clean. I was directed to come back in 5 years.

Apparently, under the new insurance standards, 5 years was standard after a clean colonoscopy.

Now, while I may be the only person in history to ask for a colonoscopy, you have to understand my hesitation to wait FIVE YEARS.

My grandfather died in his late 50s from colon cancer. My dad was diagnosed at age 43. At age 31, I had a pre-cancerous polyp. And now, because I had a clean colonoscopy, you want me to wait until I am 38 (5 years younger than the age my dad was diagnosed) to have another colonoscopy.

My doctor agreed with my concerns and scheduled me to come back at age 36 for a colonoscopy.

Now, I could have accepted the 5 years with no fight and let that sword of Damocles hang over my head for the next 5 years. But I stood up for myself and my health.

I have a year and a half until my next colonoscopy. I will happily eat the yellow Jello and chicken bullion cube broth and I will sort of happily drink the giant bottle of Miralax laced Gatorade, as long as it means I am taking the steps I need to take to protect myself from colon cancer.

#cancer #takingcontrol #life #dad