Bonus: Colon cancer awareness: ‘I should have gotten my colonoscopy, that’s the lesson’

[@John-eg6ry]

I got my colonoscopy last month at 53 because of Katie Couric. I kept thinking “I need to go do this” and I’m glad I did. Its not that bad. The worst thing is the drink not the actual procedure. Thank you Katie Couric for taking on this cause and keeping it in everyones minds. So important. Thanks again.

[@sjboyer2536]

Red meat, pork, colonoscopy anyone?

[@wayneallen9387]

Thank you for everything you have done in this area, Katie. I'm willing to bet that a lot of lives have been saved by people who got colonoscopies because of your work in this area.

[@patriciasanders-perez9215]

Had my 3rd colonoscopy two days before my 70th birthday during the pandemic in Colorado. When I was in my early 50s, I did not have health insurance, but in NY state, even without MEDICAID, I qualified for the state free cancer screening program. How many other states also have this type of program and are they reaching out to residents? I was proactive and sought out the program in NY, otherwise I would not have known about it.

[@diane7912]

Do you have the contact information to inquire about the free screening in NY? I could not find it on line. If you do I would appreciate the information. Thank you.

[@meowyimeow]

I was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 44 and had a section of my colon removed. I’m not obese and have a relatively active lifestyle and try to eat organic when I can. I have no known family history of colon cancer or the genetic markers for it. At my one year follow up screening they found two precancerous polyps; thankfully they were cancer free and I’m scheduled for a screening in two years. Please, don’t ignore your symptoms or be afraid of getting a screening. It’s not that bad and is relatively low risk. In the off chance cancer is found, is much better to find it now then later when the chances of it spreading to your lymph nodes increases.

[@romanrobinson2902]

Hope u become the new host Katie glad to see u still around

[@smb1810]

Thank you for this Katie. Your discussion has changed my mind from having a Cologard screening to having a colonoscopy. I will be talking with my doctor at my doctor appointment in April.

[@KARW37]

Got my first colonoscopy at age 50 during the pandemic. Found out that I’m high risk for those bad, tougher to find, flat serrated polyps. I was weakened by the prep, got sick for three weeks after it, and if I hadn’t been unemployed at the time, (had a 30-day window to use the insurance) would have missed too much time from work for it. Researchers need to do better than this. Like the doctor says: young people aren’t likely to want to get this done.

[@wr9331]

Perfect interview. Easy to understand and clear actionable guidance. Thank you KC.

[@KARW37]

Pancreatic cancer killed my mother within three weeks of diagnosis. Hope modern medicine gets with it.

[@majcherj1]

The problem with pancreatic cancer is that there are no symptoms for such a long time. And the digestive tract symptoms you get can be so many other things, the diagnosis is not made quickly. And there is no easy, cheap way to screen for it. I hope, like you, all of that changes soon. I have chronic pancreatitis, so my risk of pancreatic cancer is higher.

[@peachmelba9333]

Sandy I had 1 attack of acute pancreatitis- from that once I have diffuse damage- not Diabetic ( Goody Goody for THAT) but now on Enzyme supplementation. So my Major League Chronic friend- I seem to have joined the Minors of This Game!

[@kiwipics]

Fortunately we in the UK have free screening along with all the other health care from the NHS.

[@lindaelarde2692]

Thank you for this conversation. The ACA dictates annual routine screenings are covered 100% deductible waived. Cologuard screening is easy and younger people would do it if their doctor made it an expected routine recommendation at annual exams. There's no prep and no inconvenience as a baseline screening. There's also blood stool tests. That should be routine too. Also what about emotional and personality factors? We know stress initiates an inflammatory response and impacts health and 21st century life is exceptionally stressful. People tend to use being busy as way to avoid these screenings.

[@time4sanity]

There is a term - SOTO-FOTI (skinny on the outside - fat on the inside) where some look very healthy, but their internal health is very compromised. Getting people to add significantly more FIBER to their diet is key...huge for gut health!!!

[@joannadavis6716]

In December 2019, my DIL Had a colonoscopy. The GI doctors was in a hurry. He missed an aggressive colon cancer. The pathologist caught it, then went in and changed the path report to protect the doctor. My DIL died March 27th of stage four colon cancer. She was 52. She was Dx. December 10, 2020. The GI doctor wanted to immediately do surgery and get rid of the evidence. Her only risk factor was smoking from 14 years to 49 years. After three months of aggressive chemo the cancer had spread to her bone, lung and the liver was then totally involved. Unfortunately, she and my son were still very much in love after 27 years. Such a loss. There is NO Hx. Of any kind of cancer in her family on either side.

[@VeryLikeLeigh]

I think the massive use of the herbicide GLYPHOSATE could be part of the reason for the rise in cancer. BTW, glyphosate is an antibiotic.

[@maryfinch8773]

I have colitis and I’m truly a colonoscopy queen! At 88 no more ( thankfully) but they are critical.

[@peachmelba9333]

And Mary, at 75 nearly 76, two precancerous buddies in my cecum- I'm not gonna be a 10 year followup anymore. So I expect colonscopies well into my 80s- no never mind for worries- I WILL KEEP ON KEEPING ON!

[@dixiewade8373]

Both my brother and sister-in-law died within a few weeks of diagnosis and were fit and healthy, no smoking or drinking or obesity ever, just seniors. We had no idea how common, we thought it may have had something to do with their long life on the farm.

[@yahpr4548]

Oh wow!! They were married? That's so sad.

[@peachmelba9333]

@@yahpr4548 but sad as it must have been - one didn't have to mourn for the other- I believe they Were quickly together again. 😢

[@patriciacastruita3267]

Thank you! This was so informative and interesting!

[@karinsvsg8473]

And yet people getting bariatric surgery for obesity is constantly a struggle! By the time I finally was able to get Bariatric Surgery, I had several other obesity related problems that wouldn't have developed had I been able to get the surgery earlier in my life!!! Every attempt to improve my health is met with constant resistance from insurance companies!!!!

[@peachmelba9333]

Me Too- my joints stayed " sprung " from arthritis and obesity- even at 1/2 former size- noticeably limping and with earlier B surgery- maybe I wouldn't have these handicapped and wouldn't look my chrono age!

[@angelacollins1343]

They are not affordable at all if you don’t have the right insurance. And the right insurance is not necessarily affordable for many people. I have a friend traveling several hours for a colonoscopy that she can afford.

[@KARW37]

So true!! They charged me $1500 with good insurance (shouldn’t have) and now 6 months later, I’m still getting bills. Many hours of phone calls, and not resolved.

[@nikitlfuller8254]

Nice to meet you

[@dtvtechrp]

Ten years ago I got my first screening. They found 4 nothing precancerous. Last December I went back and got a second screening they found 12 two were precancerous. I went back a month later for a second look everything was all clear. Now I get a screening once a year. My point is don't put it off if I'd of waited another year or two I would not be here.

[@nonahammon1098]

I am 76 and have diverticulosis , have had some bouts of diverticulitis, too, so clearly I've had several colonoscopies. I even needed a sigmoidectomy at one point. I am being reminded often to go in for another screening colonoscopy, but honestly I am avoiding that. Why must the pre-procedure "clean out" be so unpleasant? You medical people need to do some work on that. I have comorbidities that I actually hope get me before the colon does. Just an honest patient giving honest feedback.

[@sjboyer2536]

Why, Western medicine only have the ability to treat symptoms of illnesses, and not the actual illness itself?

[@patriciamoffitt1058]

That is what I want to know,!

[@sjboyer2536]

@@patriciamoffitt1058 Well, do you think an illness like cancer would be constant but business if it were the case the illnesses causing cancer were being treated and not just the symptoms of cancer? And instead, testing chemicals created by companies that we consume before putting them on the market. But then they could not make money for the sake research?

[@ontime3462]

Obesity is a problem WHEN people continue to eat all the bad foods. Like a car, the correct fuel is what keeps it going.

[@acadiastrong4446]

Good food is not affordable for people with low income so some are left to buy cheap and unhealthy food. Meanwhile people with the means to eat well...persist in eating fast and unhealthy foods. So go figure...

[@nikitlfuller8254]

Your forehead lines are beautiful

[@briancallanglancy8032]

👍👍👍👍👍🍀

[@nikitlfuller8254]

God bless fine lines & wrinkles your forehead lines are beautiful

[@nikitlfuller8254]

Your forehead lines are beautiful you have lines & wrinkles