So I had cancer ...

[alphaskunk65]

Congratulations with your good results and I wish you fast recovery.

In Belgium every +50 individual receives a sample tube automatically in his postbox for a preventive research of intestinal cancer. It is free of charge. I also have sent my sample and been contacted by a doctor after 2 weeks. There was some inflammation found and a colonoscopie was needed to search the reason behind it.

It is indeed an embarassing test by thoughts. But in practice you don't even feel it or know that it has happened under sedation. Finally they have found and removed a polyp. Further they have found a piece of bamboe stick stuck in my intestine wall which has caused the inflammation. Polyp was tested and no cancer risico found. Advice they gave was being more carefull at BBQ times🤣.

Luckily I had no issues. But even being contacted for a colonoscopie, going through it and waiting for the results is scary enough.

I wish the American health care system was this progressive. It's cheaper for them to pay for tests than surgeries . More people would be involved in their health care then.

 

[WLBLD]

Wow! You've been through a lot lately! So happy you are feeling better!!

Thank you for sharing to make others aware! Lucky your 1st test showed you needed the colonoscopy. I heard those aren't 100%. Sometimes it can give false positive or negatives as well.

Hope you continue to feel much better & heal quickly!!

 

[peppystrings80]

That is the main reason I want to talk about it. People just need to follow through with the tests even if the test is unpleasant. Men get those prostates checked. Women get the PAP smears and mammograms. Poop in the box. Don't die for nothing. And yes, buy that cheap insurance you can afford because its still better than no coverage at all when the shit hits the fan.

So glad to hear you are ok, your treatment went well, and was affordable. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm a breast cancer survivor. I had some symptoms, but ultimately it was routine screenings that caught it before it was really bad. I hope you stay in good health. Get those mams, ladies.

Here's my soapbox: some types of breast cancer cannot be seen on mammograms. If they send you an email or a letter about following up with an MRI, DO IT. Push them for it if you have to. It would have saved me from a bilateral mastectomy and probably radiation if I had done that 5 years earlier.

 

[HouseCat]

Thank you for sharing. I'm going to schedule a colonoscopy, prostate exam, and bloodwork now. Been putting it off.

Yes! I'm going to schedule some very long overdue routine checkups/tests as well. The last three years I've put off a LOT of medical/dental stuff and it came around to bite me in the ass (nothing serious, but two root canals later I am kicking myself.)

@MsGizmo I'm happy you're doing better and that your insurance pulled through. Thanks for this reminder / kick in the pants!