So What I Turned 50?!!
by Sandy Dacri
(Indian Harbour Beach, FL, USA)
I have a primary care doctor who strongly encourages colonoscopies beginning at age 50. Even in my forties, he would ask me, “When are you turning 50?”. He would remind me that the colonoscopy was just around the corner.
Now that I am 50, I made the appointment for the consultation and then procedure. In the back of my mind (especially when enduring the nasty prep) I thought about the many friends and co-workers who are older than 50 who have put this off and never gone. After all, I had no family history and no symptoms….why was I going through this? Despite this, I did go through with it. I was told that if polyps with pre-cancerous cells were found, I would need to return in five years, otherwise I would have to go back in 10 years.
It was with great surprise when my results showed that in the two polyps removed, I had “Serrated Adinoma”. The doctors told me that had I waited 5-6 more months to have the colonoscopy, it would have been full blown colon cancer. I was so fortunate to have had professionals who pushed the issue, and grateful that I listened and followed through. I now go back in one year.
