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Millions Skip Test for Colon Cancer
FOXNews.com ^ | Tuesday, February 16, 2010 | Associated Press

Posted on 02/16/2010 10:35:56 AM PST by metmom

WASHINGTON — Nearly half the people who need potentially lifesaving checks for the nation’s second-highest cause of cancer deaths - colorectal cancer - miss them, despite years of public efforts to make colon screening as widespread as tests for breast and prostate cancer. The dreaded colonoscopy may get the most attention but a cheap, at-home stool test works, too - and when California health care provider Kaiser Permanente started mailing those test kits to patients due for a colon check, its screening rates jumped well above the national average.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Miscellaneous; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: cancer; colonoscopy; health; medicine
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To: metmom

You were lucky, you could choose another doctor.l have had the same sadistic doctor six times.l am always awake and it hurts so much.l also have to make an appointment a year in advance.l have to mention that l am Canadian.


61 posted on 02/16/2010 1:45:09 PM PST by lindsay
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To: lindsay

Ouch.....

Do you live near the border?


62 posted on 02/16/2010 1:51:44 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: JPG

The procedure vs the prep was a toss up for me. The procedure hurt like h-e-double hockey sticks because I was only lightly sedated.

That’s why I switched gastros.....


63 posted on 02/16/2010 1:56:08 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: steveo

I understand the concern. Age is a factor in that statistic, though.

Still..........


64 posted on 02/16/2010 1:57:14 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: brewcrew

“Hunger is not a disease. Deal with it. “

I don’t have to deal with it, thank you very much. As another poster noted dehydration becomes a problem getting an IV started . People react differently to low blood sugar. You start to shake, feel dizzy, get chills. A little planning ahead to get a morning appointment can make an already stressful procedure more tolerable.


65 posted on 02/16/2010 2:18:35 PM PST by heylady
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To: heylady

Geez. You’d think the world was coming to an end if you missed a meal.


66 posted on 02/16/2010 2:59:03 PM PST by brewcrew
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To: brewcrew; heylady

Not everybody has the same kind of metabolism and can deal with blood sugar issues. Some people are diabetic, some are hypoglycemic, and some cannot tolerate changes in their blood sugar well.

Just because you find something easy to deal with, doesn’t mean everybody does.

Quit being so arrogant.


67 posted on 02/16/2010 3:16:44 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

There is supposed to be pills you can use instead...I can’t take the liquid makes nasty sores in my mouth. For that matter the clear liquid diet the day before and a couple of laxative tabs would probably do the same thing. Drink lots of fluids ... water especially all day. Could do the laxatives for a couple of days in a row just to be on the safe side.


68 posted on 02/16/2010 3:42:55 PM PST by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, disabled,seniors & retired Military)
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To: metmom

l live about 150 miles from Duluthl would have to pay for it myself and it is very expensive.The last time l had the colonoscopy l was polyp free and don’t have to have a colonoscopy for three years.l took 90mg aspirin every day for three years and did not have any polyps.My Sister who has had numerous polyps in the last 20 years also took the aspirin and she was polyp free as well.l may consider going to Duluth.l guess that would make me less anxious.We pay so much money in taxes for our FREE healthcare and l hate it.


69 posted on 02/16/2010 4:02:22 PM PST by lindsay
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To: GailA

You have to be careful of sodium and potassium loss when cleaning yourself out like that, more so than just with fasting.

Doctors recommend Gatorade or Pedialyte to deal with electrolytes.


70 posted on 02/16/2010 4:02:31 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: lindsay

Every year is a bit much, isn’t it? Or is there family history?

I know someone who has Crohns and they only have to go every two years.

Every five is recommended if there’s colon or breast cancer in the family and 10 if you’re clear with no family history.


71 posted on 02/16/2010 4:05:35 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: All

Found an old Dave Barry thread about colonoscopies....

Enjoy...

Dave Barry: A journey into my colon — and yours (funny but serious)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975542/posts


72 posted on 02/16/2010 4:13:21 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom
Don't skip a colonoscopy.

It's too important to catch it early, and if you have a family history of colon cancer, it's good to stay on top of it.

I had my first this year. Can't say it was fun, but it wasn't anywhere nearly as bad as I feared it would be. And I was digestive trouble at the time.

Your life is too important to skip such an important and effective screen.
73 posted on 02/16/2010 4:16:56 PM PST by mysterio
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To: mysterio

I have to have one soon.

I was OK on my first one, but have had some really elusive food allergy problems and there are some tests that they can run, with biopsies, to check for certain conditions.

That is why I changed my gastro. Not doing that conscious in any way, shape, or form.

Not looking forward to clean out day cause I’m allergic to so much, I don’t know how I’ll react to the Pedialyte or the clean out stuff.


74 posted on 02/16/2010 4:35:52 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom
You'll do fine. Don't dread it.

The more unpleasant clean out day is, the better. Mine was pretty mild (they just had me take a lot of dulcolax), so the immediate cleanout right before the test was more involved than I was comfortable with. However, I made it through, and I don't consider myself tough or anything.

As for the procedure itself, I had the standard sedative. They said count back from 20 and you'll probably be asleep. I remember thinking, "Oh no, I made it all the way from 20 and I'm wide awake." The next thing I remember, I was post procedure and they were telling me "You might feel slightly intoxicated for a while and have trouble walking."

I went home (had someone kind enough to drive me), slept a few hours, and then got up and had dinner.

I have to have another in a few years. Hopefully not before then, but if I do, at least I know now that it's nothing to fear. Good luck with yours.
75 posted on 02/16/2010 4:45:29 PM PST by mysterio
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To: Red_Devil 232

Is the dread colonoscopy related to the Dread Pirate Roberts?


76 posted on 02/16/2010 4:52:52 PM PST by MortMan (Viscous rumors are thickening.)
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To: MortMan

77 posted on 02/16/2010 5:00:01 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: metmom
Quit being so arrogant.

As soon as you come down off your high horse.

What a typically ugly American response.

78 posted on 02/16/2010 5:31:37 PM PST by brewcrew
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To: mysterio

If it weren’t for the allergy factor, I wouldn’t.

It’s the reaction to whatever may be in the clean out stuff that concerns me.


79 posted on 02/16/2010 5:43:07 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: brewcrew

Truth hurts, eh?

Just because you don’t have a problem with blood sugar levels, doesn’t mean others don’t. It’s the height of arrogance to sneer and look down on someone simply because they react differently than you.


80 posted on 02/16/2010 5:45:02 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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