At 48 you need to consider your family history..has anyone had colon cancer? Who? Any one who has a first degree relative should be screened and if you are the child of a parent who has had colon cancer, the reading I have done, suggest that the child have the first screening at age 10 years younger than when the parent was discovered to have had the disease. My B I L had colon cancer at age 44 so his kids should be starting screening at 34. Since then at age 58 he had a second colon cancer and has since had his entire large colon removed..not an easy thing to live with but he is doing ok.
Secondly, if you have any symptoms get screened.
When I had this done a couple years ago I discovered something that helps with the burning that the prep can lead to due to frequent, to say the least, trips to the loo. It is called BALMEX and you find it in the baby supply dept. Use it liberally before you take the coctail! Then after each trip to the loo use a baby wipe, not toilet tissue, and applay more BALMEX. I had no burning and the staff was not sure I did the prep.
As to the procedure itself..it is a breeze. I took a long time to go down so while I had NO pain at all, I remember everything except going into the recovery room. It took me longer to come out of that wonderful drug induced snooze and the next day I had more energy that 10 men and 4 small boys in one..
If you are due, do it..it could save your life.
I have another brother in law and sister in law who won’t go do this so I am printing off the article and mailing it to them...
There is NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF EXCEPT A DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER AND THE EARLIER YOU FIND IT THE MORE SUCCESSFUL THE OUTCOME...lIKE THE OL NIKE AD USED TO SAY “ JUST DO IT”!
ps,,I had an afternoon appt so I took the Cocktail early enough that I didn’t have to worry about the spurts..thank goodness,,I guess you could say I should have been singing “ Afternoon Delight”!
thanks for posting the balmex tip, cg. If only my doc had passed that along with the instructions!