A Dose of Health

First let me start this post by saying that I’m not an expert on colon cancer. My life has indirectly been affected by it so I get to vicariously experience what it can do.

One of the first signs we noticed in hind sight was blood in or on the stool. If you think you have an ‘annoyed’ hemorrhoid that is fighting back by bleeding, get it checked out.

The second sign we noticed was low iron count. Being a regular blood donor we were surprised when we were turned away due to low iron count. Anemia is an indication that something is wrong.

These were the two signs that we saw and realized that something had to be done.

Other signs of colon cancer are:

• Change in bowel habits. Sometimes this is difficult to detect depending on your dietary habits. If you have not changed your dietary habits but your bowel habits change, whether it’s constipation or diarrhea, you might want to get yourself checked.

• Abdominal pain/discomfort, gas or cramps

• Unexplained weight loss

• Thin stools

Don’t Explain the Symptoms Away

Normally healthy people (especially men), explain away these symptoms. After all, gas and abdominal discomfort can occur from eating foods that are known to cause gas or eating something that disagrees with you.

If you are 50 or older, go and get a colonoscopy whether or not you have symptoms. If you have symptoms and are younger than 50, don’t wait until you’re 50 to get one.

One of the best defenses against colon cancer is early detection. The few hours of inconvenience of going for the colonoscopy is nothing in comparison to adding years to your life by early detection.

I started a small series on making small steps towards health but was side tracked. There are some things that have to be addressed before taking a few small steps towards health (I had to butt in with this colon post).

Very recently after undergoing a colonoscopy, someone very dear to me was diagnosed with colon cancer. I think addressing a diagnosis of colon cancer takes front stage when it comes to taking small steps towards health.

A Little History

For many years I’ve watched as this person’s steps towards health got smaller and smaller until they became non existent. As a matter of fact, this person took an about face and started taking more and more steps towards unhealthy living (dis ease).

This person’s dietary habits were less than stellar, but so is most of America’s. The meat based, processed food diet is a killer. Fortunately the body is very forgiving and youth is often a first line of defense for many ailments. Being young and active helped to stave off some of the affects of an unbalanced diet.

As youth began to fade and exercise became minimal, evidence of poor eating habits began to crop up. The midsection is one of the first noticeable places for fast food and carbohydrates to deposit themselves. The declining energy level and increasing weight opened the door to annoying things like increase in blood sugar, increase in blood pressure and decrease in iron count.

This person’s diet was not void of fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s just the portions were way too small to counteract the large amounts of processed foods, sweet drinks, meat consumption and rich desserts. Over an extended period of time, the body began to show more and more signs of dis ease.

The Catch Up Years

If you’re fortunate to live long enough, the body plays the catch up game. All of the things that we do in our youth catch up to us sooner or later. No longer invincible, the sins of our youth begin to come out to play.

If you are anywhere near the age of 50, you know what I’m talking about. Now is when you really see who did what when they were in their teens, 20’s, 30’s and so forth. That’s why the medical profession gets to have a piece of you. The opthalmologist gets to play with your eyes, the podiatrist tickles the toes, proctologists get to see just what you’re made of, gynecologists are no longer looking to help you bring a new life into the world, they’re trying to prevent you from developing life sucking diseases.

The doctors aren’t the only ones that get a piece of you; there are the ever so sweet radiologists. I still wonder what to do in the event of a fire during a mammography. Gravity has played a few mean tricks on me but elastic woman I’m not.

Oh, almost forgot about the colonoscopy. There is a reason why colonoscopies are strongly recommended at the age of 50. If there is a history of colon cancer in the family, you shouldn’t wait until 50. Have yourself checked beforehand.

Next we’ll discuss colon cancer symptoms (first let me say this, in the early stages of colon cancer there are no symptoms, so if you have a symptom, don’t wait for my next post, go to your doctor now).

I felt it necessary to interrupt my series on small steps towards health to advise anyone and everyone 50 years of age and older who has never had a colonoscopy to schedule one now (think of this post as a news bulletin).

If you have not had a colonoscopy and the following describes your lifestyle and habits, stop reading this post and call your doctor immediately to make arrangements for a colonoscopy.

If you are:

1. Overweight
2. Couch potato (exercise consists of changing the TV channel using the remote control)
3. Consume large amounts of meat, including processed meats (such as sausages, hot dogs, corn dogs, etc.)
4. Diet is all but deficient of fresh fruits and vegetables
5. Eat a high fat diet
6. Have been diagnosed with anemia
7. Notice a change in your bowel movements especially if you notice signs of blood
8. Family history of colon cancer

Dr. Hand Up Me and the Colonoscopy is Your Friend

The worst part about the colonoscopy is the prior preparation. You have to make sure that everything is all cleared out in order for the doctor to look into your colon. For some folks, this is probably the only time they get to have full healthy bowel movements.

Once you do your part, the rest is up to the doctor.

Putting  My Money Where My Mouth…er…Rump Is

In the very near future I’ll discuss a little more about colonoscopies and the dangers of not getting them. I’ll give you more first hand experience after I get mine in a couple of weeks. I’m not looking forward to it, but a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.   BTW, Dr. Hand Up Me is the way we lovingly refer to our colonoscoper (I don’t think colonoscoper is a word, but you get my drift).

Now, back to small steps towards getting healthy.