This is a public service announcement.
So I had my colonoscopy yesterday, and it's a good thing I did. The doctor removed 5 polyps, 4 of which were pretty minor and not uncommon, all around the 5mm range. Polyp number 5, however, was significantly larger (20mm). Dr. Berjis said in my post procedure consultation that I am a "very lucky 45 year old man." They will have test results on the polyps in a week or so, but the doctor said even if polyp number five is not cancerous now, it is nearly 100% certain that in a year, or two at the most, it would not only have been cancerous, but would have spread into the lining of my colon. Bascially, had I waited until the usual age of 50 for that first colonoscopy, I'd already have a pretty advanced stage of colon cancer.
I'm not saying (nor is Dr. Berjis) that every person should get a colonoscopy ASAP. It's still not recommended to have a preventative colonoscopy until you are 50. But I do want to say, pay attention to your poop and know your family history! In my case, I knew that my mother had cancerous polyps removed when she was 45. And in recent years, my mother has reminded me of that quite often and encouraged me to get a colonscopy starting when I turned 40. About a year ago, I started noticing, every once in a while, traces of blood in the toilet. Despite that, since it only happened every couple of months, I ignored it, even though every time I saw blood, I told myself to "make an appointment with the doctor." But then I wouldn't see any blood for months, so I'd write it off. Finally, back in September, there was a blood clot the size of a walnut in the toilet, and I made myself go through with it.
It's not fun. At all. The days leading up to the procedure you can't eat, you have to drink gallons of Miralax and pop Dulcolax by the shitload. The procedure itself is so-so. They sedate you, so you are somewhat out of it, but even under sedation, there is some serious pain and cramping as they shove that thing way up to the top of your colon. There is a lot of lube involved. And the cramps and gas that I had for hours afterwards were almost unbearable at times. A lot of air gets shoved up into your colon during the procedure. There is a big screen where you can watch the entire thing. I watched as this little ring on the end of a stick went in and cut off the polyps. And I was awake enough as they cut off the big one to hear Dr. Berjis saying to his assistant, "he is only 45!"
But in the end, it probably saved my life.
