Originally Posted by IndyBound:
George, Dwight Clock told me you were fighting a tough battle two years ago and although we have never met, you have remained in my prayers ever since. The topic of cancer came up while Dwight and I were talking about our families, that is when he told me there were several IOW members also battling cancer.
My Dad's cancer orginally was in his throat, then four years later he had cancer of the colon, bladder, and postrate. The following summer he was given a clean bill of health for the throat cancer, that was in July; in November they were removing his voice box the cancer had returned and a year later he lost his battle with cancer.
I appluad you for getting the message out that a colonoscopy can save lives. Actually, I scheduled an appointment for one yesterday. For those of you dreading this procedure, you normally only have to have one every 5-10 years with a clean bill of health. For me this will be my third one since my Dad died in 1999, I am on what seems to be an every three year schedule.
George, my thoughts and prayers are with you and I join you in stressing the importance of not only a colonoscopy but also a yearly physical.
Patti
Patti,
I'm so happy you are continuing your due dilgence in getting a colonoscopy every three years. As you know, the procedure is actually painless. The cleaning out your system the night before has always been the worst part for me. But, I do know many people who think even that part of the process is not all that bad either.
Granted people don't like to talk about colonoscopies and even the thought of getting one the first time is uncomfortable, but it's really not that bad.
I will mention that even though the medical and insurance profession say that you should get checked when you reach 50 years of age, this is becoming a bad way of deciding when to have one. When I was at the Mayo Clinic in 2006 they told me that they have seen more and more young people getting this disease in the colon. So, if you have family history or symptoms, get checked out. I sure wish I had. In fact, every time I did research on my symptoms, I saw that 50 year old marker, so I blew it off because I was only 40.
I wish I could put into words the amount of pain and stress that I have gone through so that more people would get checked. Not to mention the stress my family has gone through. I'm going to attempt a 5th surgery that might work, but the odds are very much against me. But if I don't endure another one, then I would have always wondered, what if.
And as for you Scott Baue... You and your family has always been very good to me over the years. Your Dad kept my engines going, your brother donated many hours in building my sprint pavement car and your Mom Pat is just the best. I wish you and Leaders Edge all the best. You guys always treated me right and that goes a long way when selling and building parts for racers. So what goes around comes around my friend. I've always tried to treat people right and pay my bills. And, when I didn't have the cash I stayed home.
George Wilkins