[Congressman Billybob]

Hope this saves a few lives.

John / Billybob

[roaddog727]

Good to hear. Stay well. :-)

[RedMDer]

Prayers for your continued healing and thanks for the reminder.
It is time for me to make another appointment. About 2 years ago I had my first colonoscopy and they found, IIRC, three polyps and removed them. They turned up to not be cancerous yet.

[Zathras]

CBB is right.
The checkup is frankly pretty easy.
Prep is so-so but its only a day of uncomfort and its done at home.

Beats the heck out of the options!

Glad you are still with us CBB!!!!

[Jeff Winston]

Hope you’re totally well soon!

[SuziQ]

I began to be more serious about Mammos and Pap smears after my s-i-l died in 1992, from lung cancer, which originated as cervical cancer. She had neglected to go for a pap smear for over 10 years, and when it was diagnosed, it was treated, and the Doc though they'd gotten it, but three months later, it had moved to her lungs. The pathology confirmed that it was the same cancer.

After that, and after two maternal aunts developed breast cancer. I made SURE I got a pap smear and Mammo, EVERY year. And a couple of years ago, at the age of 55, I got my first colonoscopy. Now there is a baseline, and I don't have to go back for another few years. Yes, they're uncomfortable, but cancer treatment is much worse!

Take good care of yourselves, folks. Even if no one is depending on your presence, there are many who prefer that you are here!!

[chris_bdba]

Here I was just sitting here thinking about my 50th birthday next month and wondering how lng I could stall my Dr insistance on a coloscopy.I’m female but have a family history of that so I already know he’s going to want to send me for one. :( *sigh* Guess I’d better quit wanting to stall it?

[Netizen]

Glad to hear everything has gone so well for you. I’ve had two colonoscopys and found drinking the ‘stuff’ prior was the worst and even that wasn’t that bad.

Last month I had surgery for an incarcerated hernia and had the nasal gastric tube for over a week and no food or drink for 6 days, so I know what you mean about those two things. I, too have that nice long incision.

Ummm, when they remove that nasal tube. It stings real bad. Took my breath away. Felt like they pulled my eyeballs down my throat. Doesn’t hurt for real long, but, it does get your attention.

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. :)

[gimme1ibertee]

Congrats!! Thanks for posting this!

[NavyCanDo]

“THESE CANCERS CAN BE EASILY CURED IF THEY ARE DETECTED EARLY.”

Can't be said loud enough. Colon cancers are one of the deadliest if not caught earlier, but also one of easiest and less evasive ones to cure if caught early.

I had my 50,000 mile check-up last year, and I'm glad to announce I have a colon of a 20 year old.

[spectre]

My best friend and you HAD the same cancer surgery. After wards, she took a routine of chemo pills and 7 years later, she remains cancer free..

From this cancer survivor to you, dear BillyBob...having cancer is indeed a humbling experience. Life is good. God is good.

sw

[Lurker]

I know everyone thinks that routine colonoscopies are 'obnoxious' but having just had one a month ago I have to say it wasn't that bad.

Of course I was completely oblivious to it because of the drugs. The worst part was the 'prep' and with the new stuff even that isn't unbearable.

One thing's for damned sure. It's a lot less unpleasant than a case of fatal colon cancer.

Glad to hear you're going to be ok. Good luck, sir.

[sima_yi]

A day or two’s worth of discomfort, yes, and embarrassment, is a small price to pay for a couple decades of not being dead.

Bears repeating.

Actually, you sleep through the whole procedure, and even after you wake up, you don't remember very much.

Also, please keep in mind, should the diagnosis be bad, that radiation treatment and chemotherapy are much, much better than they were twenty, or even ten, years ago. Much better.

Once you reach "that certain age", or if you have a family history of colon cancer, GO GET THE COLONOSCOPY. You won't regret it.

[little jeremiah]

Good news! I hope you feel all recuperated very soon, and I look forward to seeing your photo, with you dressed as Ben Franklin, on FR!

[Random Access]

Actually once you are done with the “cleansing” phase, it feels really good. People in Switzerland go to clinics and pay $1,500 a day for “colon cleansing” which is just an expensive way to accomplish exactly what the “go juice” does.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I missed your earlier column. I am so glad the first I hear of this is on the side of good news rather than uncertainty. Fantastic news!

[freespirited]

Thanks for taking the time to write this. Am so happy to hear how well you are doing.

[freemama]

All of us cancer survivors know that testing can save your life. If you are reading this and are in a risky group or of a certain age, what are you waiting for? Call your doctor and talk about getting on the schedule.

[2111USMC]

Sounds like you’re gonna be a skinny Ben Franklin.

Congrats!

[George from New England]

I’ve heard that the risk of colon damage from the invasive diagnostic procedure is as great as the risk that you might have cancer.

Anyone else heard this?

[Vermont Lt]

I am turning 50 in a month. I know that is the start date for another whole series of these things.

I am not looking forward to them, but I am not going to avoid it.

Thanks for a nice reminder.