The Importance Of A Colonoscopy
(photo courtesy of the Guardian)
The entertainment world and fans around were devastated to hear that actor James Van Der Beek, most known for his role in the television show, “Dawson’s Creek,” had passed away, complications of colon cancer, at the age of just 48 years old.
Van Der Beek is just one of many celebrities who have lost their lives to what is actually considered a cancer that has a really decent “cure” rate, especially for how prevalant it is compared to other cancers. Chadwick Boseman of the super hero franchise, “Black Panther” passed away a few years ago, also of colon cancer at the age of 43. For those of us older, Kirstie Alley of the television show “Cheers” died of colon cancer. And of more modern times, Randy Gonzolez of TikTok’s “Enky Boys,” died of colon cancer at the very young age of 35 years old. Cancer does not discriminate when it comes to age.
Those that have reached remission or cure, include Sharon Osbourne, widow of the great rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, a living survivor and advocate of colon cancer.
In my world of long term cancer survivors, especially when it comes to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivors of twenty, thirty, or forty years, some have found themselves facing colon cancer due to late side effects caused by their extremely toxic radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Though myself, I have not been diagnosed with colon cancer, as a long term Hodgkin’s survivor, I am watched and screened for colon cancer as part of my survivorship care. More on that later.
I am not going to get overly scientific or lost in the weeds with colon cancer, because I want to make sure everyone understands not just how treatable colon cancer is, but how easy it is to help your own cause. Colon cancer is highly treatable, well over 90% when caught and treated early enough. Success in treating colon cancer is also attributed, because it is a cancer that can be prevented or at the least, the risks reduced. Of course a good diet helps to lower the risk of developing colon cancer, but also does cessation of smoking (quitting), and limited alcohol consumption. But of course, if these lifestyle choices are too difficult, there is one option that actually is very effective in preventing this cancer, a colonoscopy. I know, your rear end likely puckered up just at the mention of that, so, I am going to put that off to the side for a moment.
Colon cancer are tumors that begin usually as polyps, that undergo DNA changes that make the cells grow uncontrollably, eventually into cancer. However, if the polyps can be removed before this growth occurs, the development of the cancer is prevented. A simple formula, a polyp removed = a cancer prevented. How does a polyp get removed? Via a colonscopy. But again, I know that word is scary. I will get back to that shortly.
So what are symptoms that can occur that might be of concern to seek out a doctor’s care, possibly for colon cancer? First, bowel changes. We all have our routines, mine are quite complicated, but in my case, reliable. Any change I would easily recognize. Another noticable concern, would be blood in the stool/toilet, from streaks of blood, to a lot. Abdominal discomfort is another sign that should be looked into, as is not emptying everything during a bowel movement completely. As odd as it may seem, unexplained weight loss is also something that should be looked into by a doctor.
Though age is not discriminated, it is considered higher risk for colon cancer, once someone is over forty years of age. A family history or genetics can also play a role for developing colon cancer. Bowel issues such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other conditions can contribute to a diagnosis of colon cancer. Race, lifestyle, and diet are all factors of developing colon cancer. While I am older, I do not personally have any of the other risks, okay, maybe my diet is not the best, I do have one factor against me when it comes to colon cancer. The treatments I received for my Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, radiation therapy and in particular, the drug Procarbizine from my chemo cocktail, leave me at a higher risk for colon cancer, as has been the fate for many of my fellow Hodgkin’s survivors.
As I said, colon cancer has a very high rate of remission/cure, over 90% when caught early or localized. Now I am getting to the other “C” word, the one that is so important, it has the power to prevent the cancer from developing, the colonoscopy. There are some unpleasant stereotypes which I am not going to get into, because they are, well, just stupid, especially if they prevent you from doing something that might just save your life.
So what is a colonoscopy? It is a PAINLESS medical procedure, where a very thin tube with a camera at the end, travels up your butt, while you are anesthetized (via twilight sedation or general anesthesia). YOU HAVE NO IDEA THIS IS BEING DONE AS YOU ARE OUT COLD!!! While the doctor is looking around, if they see a polyp or polyps, the doctor removes them, and likely sends them to pathology for further study. Regardless, because that polyp(s) was removed, it will not progress to cancer. A polyp removed is a cancer prevented. When you awaken, YOU HAVE NO MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED!!! You will likely let out the post-colonoscopy fart, audio and visual now available as a montage on TikTok, have some crackers and a drink, get dressed, and go home. If pathology determines the polyps were something more, well, you cross that bridge if you get to it.
If you are fortunate to not have any polyps, then it will likely be recommended not to have another colonoscopy for ten years or more. But, if as in my case, I have polyps every scope, I have to get a colonoscopy every two to three years. In the last fifteen years, I have not only had five colonoscopies, but I have an added procedure called an endoscopy done, where they go down my throat, again, looking for polyps. I get both done at the same time since I will be out cold anyway. I call it my “pig on a spit” procedure (there is a visual for you). To keep my sense of humor, I always make sure to remind the doctor not to mix up the two tubes, so that I do not wake up with my breath smelling like shit.
So that is all there is to a colonoscopy for the most part. And it literally can save your life. And as I said, it is painless! So why all the fuss? There are some inappropriate stereotypes which I won’t address as they are just ridiculous, unfounded, and untrue. But there is one hurdle, that everyone seems to struggle with, “the prep.” What is the prep? It is a high powered laxative, necessary to clean your entire bowels out so that the camera can get its clearest pictures. Think of it as medicinally induced diarhea. While there are various forms of this “prep,” I am only sharing my routine, which, by itself is bad enough. But I have to do what is called a “super prep” as I have a complicated bowel system (which I am not going to get into). But I will explain it as just the normal “prep.”
You start likely about a week before, changing your diet to limited to easily digestable foods and avoiding “colored” foods especially with red dye. The day or two before, I am on clear liquid, like drinking chicken broth. Then, the night before, I pop a couple of stool softeners, wait a few hours. While this is happening, I mix the “prep” solution, incorrectly called “Go Litely”, often a flavored powder, mine is citrus, with any clear liquid. I choose Sprite. Then I put it in the freezer (it is an entire gallon, so it will not freeze in the two hours it chills), as the colder it is, the easer to get down. The instructions are clear, drink 8 ounces every fifteen minutes. You can either just swallow regularly, chug it as I do, or use a straw. At first, that it seems that it is no big deal, that first glass going down. Then as you finish the second glass, you can tell something is happening.
I want to stress, there is no pain! You are just about to experience something somewhat uncomfortable, really no different than any bout of diarhea you may have experienced, other than, for the next four to five hours, until you are emptied out completely, and you will empty out. Like I said, inappropriately called “Go Litely”, should be called “Go Quickly!” By the third glass, you find the need to coordinate between continuing to drink and run to the bathroom. As you finish the last glass, it is just a matter of another hour waiting for the urge to go to the bathroom to finish. Then it is off to bed, wake up the next morning, in some cases you may have to do a little more prep, and then it is off to the colonoscopy.
Literally, that is all there is to it. I am not sure how Van Der Beek or the others discovered their colon cancers. But they were all too young. Cancer does not care about age. Van Der Beek leaves a wife and six children behind. I have two adult daughters, and I know the increased risks I have for colon cancer and I want to make sure they do not have to mourn me for something that is preventable for the most part.
I am known among my fellow long term survivors for always pushing them to get colonoscopies because we have that extra risk. And we have several who do end up being diagnosed with colon cancer, and we have had some who have passed away.
But on this post, I want to encourage you reading this, if you were born at a time when music was the greatest, the mid ’80’s, you should really consider a colonoscopy. You are in your forties, young, the time when the concern increases, and prevention is key. Please consider getting a colonoscopy. James would be one of the first to encourage you to do so.
(photo courtesy of People.com)
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