Every time I’ve visited a doctor in he past 5 years, they’ve urged me to get a colonoscopy. They say it’s important so that if I have colon cancer, it can be “caught” in the early stages and treated.
Not a single doctor ever asked if I would be willing to be treated for colon cancer, if I had it. That, my friends, is a problem.
You see, I have a friend who is a Stage 4 colon cancer “survivor”. She had Stage 4 colon cancer, had multiple surgeries and chemotherapy treatments and has survived at least 6 years now. Some time last year she had a mastectomy because of breast cancer.
This friend in a single mother with a child in middle school. I completely understand why she would do anything to extend her life. (She also urged me to get a colonoscopy).
The doctors and nurses who urge me to get a colonoscopy often say, “It’s ‘free’. Your insurance will cover it because of Obamacare”.
First off – I have no insurance. Secondly, I am aware that because it’s “free money” for health providers, colonoscopies are pushed more than ever.
Just because it is free doesn’t mean it is necessary or appropriate.
I’m not arguing that colonoscopies are over prescribed. I suspect they are, but I’ve done exactly zero research (googling) on this.
I made a decision long ago that I will not get treatment for cancer. Seeing what my friend has gone through and caring for my wife as she went through treatment for Lymphoma and then a decade later for Lung Cancer, has cemented that decision.
Detecting cancer earlier doesn’t mean I live longer. It could mean that, if the cancer can be cured or its progress delayed.
But it could also mean that I live through expensive and uncomfortable treatments, only to die from cancer anyway – like my wife did. The only difference being that early detection meant I lived longer knowing I had cancer.
When my wife was being treated for lung cancer, I dug into the scientific research. I read multiple articles and studies on the 5 year survival rate for women with breast cancer. These rates are promoted as having increased in the past decade due to early detection and treatment. Some studies pointed out that if you detect the cancer earlier, of course the 5 year survival rate increases – regardless of the effectiveness of treatment.
I’m not advocating against medicine. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have a colonoscopy or any other cancer screening. Make your own decisions.
While I live a pretty fantastic life, I’m ready to go when my time comes. I won’t be doing anything extraordinary to love longer especially if that includes chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries.
Then again I could be wrong.
When or if I am diagnosed with cancer, I suppose we will see. After all, I once professed that I would never have surgery. That was two hernia surgeries ago.