Endoscopy Blog: March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month!
By Alison Hooker, Team Lead Endoscopy Services
Most people don’t like to talk about their colon. Other than some locker room bathroom humor, it’s generally off-limits for polite conversation.
In 2002, Katie Couric started the conversation. That’s when she had her own colonoscopy on live television. She did this because at the age of 42, her husband died from colon cancer. He had no symptoms. She wanted to bring attention to a disease that is preventable.
Today, talk of a colonoscopy is more common. You may have heard friends or colleagues that have talked about getting this test. Likely the information they will tell you about it is how horrible the preparation is. Yes. There is a prep involved with a colonoscopy. You follow a clear liquid diet for one full day and then you take powerful laxatives that will effectively cleanse your colon. The prep is, truthfully, the worst part of the test. What is unfortunate is that the prep is what people focus on. That’s what people talk about. Those who have had a colonoscopy would do a much better public service by telling their friends and colleagues that the procedure itself is not that bad.
I have worked in Endoscopy for 7 years and in that time have assisted with literally thousands of colonoscopies. I have had patients that have been so nervous, anxious and frightened of the test tell me over and over again that the test was nowhere near as bad as they had imagined it would be. I always tell them to tell their friends – we need to get the word out that a colonoscopy simply isn’t as horrible as people imagine it is.
Have I had my colonoscopy yet? No – I have 7 years before I reach the “magic age” and I have no family history of colon cancer that would require me to have one sooner. Will I have a colonoscopy? I absolutely will. Colon cancer is PREVENTABLE. Regardless of family history, everyone should have a screening colonoscopy when they reach age 45.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. If you haven’t had your colonoscopy yet and you are age 45 or older…stop procrastinating and book your appointment! Thinking about a colonoscopy is worse than having one. And truth be told, colon cancer is worse than a colonoscopy.
The Endoscopy nurses at Medcan all began their careers in ICU and/or Emergency. We bring our critical care backgrounds together with our Endoscopy skills & knowledge and can provide you with safe, compassionate care. We can also tell you all the good colon jokes!
March 23rd is GI Nurses Day. It’s a day to celebrate nurses that are passionate about GI health. If you have any questions about colonoscopies, don’t hesitate to contact us at 416-350-3933 or at alisonhooker@medcan.com