Getting awareness out there

spongebob said:

Denise -

Good on ya! I wear my CRC Star pin on my uniform ballcap in the back (not really authorized) and I wear my Lance Armstrong band with my uniform as well (DEFINITELY not authorized!) to do just what you're doing. I'll never forget the time an admiral stopped me in the elevator to admonish me about my LiveStrong bracelet; "Commander, why are you wearing that bracelet?" My immediate reply was "Admiral, when was your last colonoscopy?" by the time we got off the elevator, he was going to get a scope and I was "authorized" to keep wearing my yellow band!

Cheers!

SpongeBob

Bob - I can't imagine you doing anything "unauthorized"! Hey - the more unauthorized the better - I'm putting my yellow bracelet back on and never taking it off.

Betsy

kmygil said:

The level of denial out there is amazing. My coworkers have seen me go through all of this, but when I ask those at age 50 or over if they have ever had a colonoscopy, the usual answer is either a)"No need--it doesn't run in MY family", or b)"I don't want to know."

In the face of PERSONAL denial on that level, how can we dent societal denial? Is it the poop factor? Is it that bowels are involved? Sure, my cancer is genetic and I was dx'd before age 50, but a simple colonoscopy at age 50 is part of the general wellness plan. How is it so different from getting your PAP done or checking for prostate disease? It's a mystery to me!

You know, it's funny you should mention your co-workers. I had a good friend whom I worked with from the time I was diagnosed through chemo and into aftercare. Good officer and very smart guy. We often talked about my disease.

The irony is that he was in denial of his colon cancer symptoms even then. I came across his webpage just last night - SeaDetail. Chris' rationalization of his symptoms and lack of early treatment cost him his life.

- SB

I believe that we all MUST speak up!!! We have a particular beast that is truly preventable...or treatable if CAUGHT early...that's the point, I guess.
I use humor to break the silence when I mention "colon" or "rectum"....seems to warm the room! Especially the mention of the "semi-colons"....In regards to my resection and hyster surgery...."I came with a colon, left with a semi-colon, and lost my period. So are the punctuations of MY life!". This is the description of MY fight with CRC....gets them every time (lol)!

Hugs, Kathi

kerry said:

You are right about awareness of CRC, symptoms and early diagnosis. Why can't people understand that by being aware and having your colonoscopy, you can many times prevent colon cancer?? During my treatment I told every friend I had about having a colonoscopy. I gave them their choices: colonoscopy (minimal discomfort if at all); or chemotherapy? My gastrointerologists office was flooded with people. He even called me to tell me that over 50% of his new patients at that time were my referrals. We must tell our story!

I wear my star logo (a pin not tatoo)and my blue colon cancer bracelet that says "Preventable, Treatable, Beatable". I've got plenty, if anyone wants one. (through the Colon Cancer Alliance)

Keep spreading the word..........

Kerry

I hope your GI paid you a finder's fee for all those new patients!

kmygil said:

The level of denial out there is amazing. My coworkers have seen me go through all of this, but when I ask those at age 50 or over if they have ever had a colonoscopy, the usual answer is either a)"No need--it doesn't run in MY family", or b)"I don't want to know."

In the face of PERSONAL denial on that level, how can we dent societal denial? Is it the poop factor? Is it that bowels are involved? Sure, my cancer is genetic and I was dx'd before age 50, but a simple colonoscopy at age 50 is part of the general wellness plan. How is it so different from getting your PAP done or checking for prostate disease? It's a mystery to me!

My GP nor any other doc I had before my cancer even asked if I'd had a scope. I think more docs should mention it during their patient appointments of people over 50. Should be a standard on patient information sheets. I'm not blaming my doc, because the infor is out there, but I might have gone in sooner if he had said something.
Jo Ann

kmygil said:

The level of denial out there is amazing. My coworkers have seen me go through all of this, but when I ask those at age 50 or over if they have ever had a colonoscopy, the usual answer is either a)"No need--it doesn't run in MY family", or b)"I don't want to know."

In the face of PERSONAL denial on that level, how can we dent societal denial? Is it the poop factor? Is it that bowels are involved? Sure, my cancer is genetic and I was dx'd before age 50, but a simple colonoscopy at age 50 is part of the general wellness plan. How is it so different from getting your PAP done or checking for prostate disease? It's a mystery to me!

I personally think that primary care physicians could do much more in the way of getting patients to have colonoscopies.

Yes, they virtually all recommend it at age 50.

But, that's about all they say, and I am talking about more. Silly as it seems, many people (and I was one) have hangups about this type of test. IF any doctor had EVER told me that I wouldn't even know what hit me when I went for a colonoscopy, I would have done it 5 years prior to diagnosis and would most likely have been Stage 3 if not Stage 1 or 2.

I'm not blaming the docs, but it is very true that no one ever said this to me and if they had, I would have had the test in a minute. Instead, I only had the test when I had a few symptoms.

So, my (former) hang-up, will definitely admit that, but it was a hang-up that could have been SO easily corrected by my primary physician, but never was.
That's my soapbox!

Betsy

kerry said:

Bob,

You are right! I bought several "colondars" and gave them to my doctors at MD Anderson and my local oncologist here in Austin. They are placed in the infusion room for folks to read. Have gotten lots of good comments and lots of shock at how young everyone is!

K

AWESOME, Kerry!!

That's the idea behind the colondar - shock & awe! Thanks for supporting the Colon Club!