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OT: Younger people and colon cancer

Go Gamecocks

Go Gamecocks

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I see where James Van Der Beek just passed at age 48. Looks like he lasted about 2 1/2 years after diagnosis. A few years ago it was Chadwick Boseman (from Anderson) @ 43.
I have a younger cousin who had major rectal cancer surgery in his late 50's. He's been fighting for over 2 years and likely is on the clock. Almost certainly this was curable if found early enough. ☹️

Folks, it can happen to anyone, including younger people. It's not just an old person's disease.
Get checked!
Get tested!
 
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Lurker123

Lurker123

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I don't want your life. - James in Varsity Blues. One of the all time lines that get stuck in my head.

May perpetual light shine upon him.
 
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Creek Snake

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My son in law is a radiation oncologist and he told me that they are seeing a sharp increase of younger people with colon cancer ,which they attribute to lifestyle/diet.
 
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gamecock stock

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I have been having colonoscopies for many, many years. I go back to see my doctor on March 10 to arrange a new colonoscopy. I'm no longer young, But I'm not worried about death. Now I don't relish leaving my wife. But she can take care of herself, has lots of friends and is very involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution and is a state officer with that organization that keeps her very busy. Now, I'd rather not die of cancer. I think I'd rather die of alzheimers. But that would not be a pleasant way to go either, especially for the family.

Am I scared of dying? No. Of course when my time comes, I could be shaking like crazy with fear. :LOL: Put family members who have died aside. I've seen a lot of friends I grew up with die. Girls that I knew from elementary school to college have died. The first girl I had a crush on in elementary school, who lived probably only a half mile from me to where I walked to her house, died at the age of only 64. I don't like losing male friends who have died. But when girls die whom I knew, liked and grew up with, those really hurt. While I look forward to a reunion with family and friends who are gone, I'd prefer to delay the inevitable.

My attitude is that death is not something to be feared even though getting older can be a scary business. But it should be accepted as a natural part of life. There is not going to be anything in the dark that's not already in the light. Our fears are the product of our own minds. We should not be afraid of the unknown. We need to confront our fears and come to terms with our own mortality. I don't believe the end of life brings with it all sorts of horrors. Death just helps us all move on to the next phase of existence.
 
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nlstanford

nlstanford

Joined Sep 9, 2002
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Go Gamecocks said:
I see where James Van Der Beek just passed at age 48. Looks like he lasted about 2 1/2 years after diagnosis. A few years ago it was Chadwick Boseman (from Anderson) @ 43.
I have a younger cousin who had major rectal cancer surgery in his late 50's. He's been fighting for over 2 years and likely is on the clock. Almost certainly this was curable if found early enough. ☹️

Folks, it can happen to anyone, including younger people. It's not just an old person's disease.
Get checked!
Get tested!
Click to expand...
47 here, just got my first screening Monday after (foolishly) putting it off for a couple of years. OP is right: just get it done. The procedure is a breeze.
 
R

RL09

Senior
Dec 29, 2025
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nlstanford said:
This is one way. But I would caution that it’s less accurate than a screening colonoscopy. The full procedure is so simple and the inconvenience of the prep is minor.
Click to expand...
I agree, a colonoscopy is more accurate, and is rather simple, flushing your system is the worst of it, but merely a minor inconvenience for peace of mind.
 
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Legal_fowl

Junior
Apr 3, 2019
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gamecock stock said:
I have been having colonoscopies for many, many years. I go back to see my doctor on March 10 to arrange a new colonoscopy. I'm no longer young, But I'm not worried about death. Now I don't relish leaving my wife. But she can take care of herself, has lots of friends and is very involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution and is a state officer with that organization that keeps her very busy. Now, I'd rather not die of cancer. I think I'd rather die of alzheimers. But that would not be a pleasant way to go either, especially for the family.

Am I scared of dying? No. Of course when my time comes, I could be shaking like crazy with fear. :LOL: Put family members who have died aside. I've seen a lot of friends I grew up with die. Girls that I knew from elementary school to college have died. The first girl I had a crush on in elementary school, who lived probably only a half mile from me to where I walked to her house, died at the age of only 64. I don't like losing male friends who have died. But when girls die whom I knew, liked and grew up with, those really hurt. While I look forward to a reunion with family and friends who are gone, I'd prefer to delay the inevitable.

My attitude is that death is not something to be feared even though getting older can be a scary business. But it should be accepted as a natural part of life. There is not going to be anything in the dark that's not already in the light. Our fears are the product of our own minds. We should not be afraid of the unknown. We need to confront our fears and come to terms with our own mortality. I don't believe the end of life brings with it all sorts of horrors. Death just helps us all move on to the next phase of existence.
Click to expand...
I'm 72 and I've had 3 of them. All 3 times they found benign polyps. I'm not having another one unless I have symptoms.

Death does not scare me. The process does. Both of my parents developed dementia. It took 7 years and my mother passed at 98. The last 3 years she didn't know where she was or what was going on around her. I don't think she was unhappy, but it is hard on the rest of your family.
 
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gamecock stock

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Legal_fowl said:
I'm 72 and I've had 3 of them. All 3 times they found benign polyps. I'm not having another one unless I have symptoms.

Death does not scare me. The process does. Both of my parents developed dementia. It took 7 years and my mother passed at 98. The last 3 years she didn't know where she was or what was going on around her. I don't think she was unhappy, but it is hard on the rest of your family.
Click to expand...
Yeah, dementia/alzheimers is tougher on the family. I had an Uncle who died of severe dementia 10 years ago. I recall at a relative's wedding I went up to speak with him. He looked at me and asked, "Who are you?". I knew what was going on with him. So, I did not take that personally. But still, it felt like a punch to the gut, obviously since I remember that to this day. I will add this: Afterwards, the next to the last time I saw him, he and my Aunt were living at their son's home. As we were leaving, he looked at me and had a big smile on his face. That made me feel good.
 
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Go Gamecocks

Go Gamecocks

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nlstanford said:
This is one way. But I would caution that it’s less accurate than a screening colonoscopy. The full procedure is so simple and the inconvenience of the prep is minor.
Click to expand...
Yup...the poo sample might show the presence of abnormal cells. A colonoscopy will show everything, including polyps that might need to be removed.
 
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Go Gamecocks

Go Gamecocks

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Legal_fowl said:
I'm 72 and I've had 3 of them. All 3 times they found benign polyps. I'm not having another one unless I have symptoms.
Click to expand...
The at-home poo test is reasonable if you don't want any more procedures. BCBS sent me mine for free.

You have to wonder if younger people like Van Der Beek had some symptoms that they ignored? He was Stage 3 when diagnosed. 🤔
 
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CreekSnake

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I think the poop on a stick tests detects traces of blood.A positive test would then trigger a colonoscopy.
 
KingWard

KingWard

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Go Gamecocks said:
I see where James Van Der Beek just passed at age 48. Looks like he lasted about 2 1/2 years after diagnosis. A few years ago it was Chadwick Boseman (from Anderson) @ 43.
I have a younger cousin who had major rectal cancer surgery in his late 50's. He's been fighting for over 2 years and likely is on the clock. Almost certainly this was curable if found early enough. ☹️

Folks, it can happen to anyone, including younger people. It's not just an old person's disease.
Get checked!
Get tested!
Click to expand...
I stay after my middle-age kids all the time about this. I think of Vince Lombardi dying at 57 because he persistently refused to "let them stick that thing up my @$$". He should have put his squeamishness aside a couple of years earlier.
 
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USCEE82

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I've had 3 or 4 colonoscopies. Like others said, the worst is the prep the day/night before. I was afraid of messing up my wife's car seat on the ride to the procedure. 😬The best part for me is the waking up after because I felt so rested, like I had slept 12 hours. I understand why Michael Jackson liked propofol so much. 😴 Watching the video with the GI doctor at the follow up is cool.
 
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Legal_fowl

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Apr 3, 2019
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gamecock stock said:
Yeah, dementia/alzheimers is tougher on the family. I had an Uncle who died of severe dementia 10 years ago. I recall at a relative's wedding I went up to speak with him. He looked at me and asked, "Who are you?". I knew what was going on with him. So, I did not take that personally. But still, it felt like a punch to the gut, obviously since I remember that to this day. I will add this: Afterwards, the next to the last time I saw him, he and my Aunt were living at their son's home. As we were leaving, he looked at me and had a big smile on his face. That made me feel good.
Click to expand...
My mother lasted 48 hours in hospice. She had not spoken coherently for almost a year, but the hospice nurse said at some point during her "transition" (that's what Hospice calls dying) she sat up straight in her bed and told one of the nurses she loved her and thanked her for helping take care of her and then dropped straight back down on her pillow. She died about 6 hours later. Earlier, when I was with her, she kept reaching out like she was trying to touch something we could not see.
 
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kidrobinski

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Go Gamecocks said:
That stuff burned up my hand when injected. I was hoping I'd go out quickly...and I did. I could not believe I was not groggy when they woke me.
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Ooof. Burning going in is often a tell tale sign the needle is not in the vein well; may be hitting tissue instead of the bloodstream. Say something.

Having said that, I wasn't particularly groggy after my last colonoscopy either.
 
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Gamecock Jacque

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kidrobinski said:
Ooof. Burning going in is often a tell tale sign the needle is not in the vein well; may be hitting tissue instead of the bloodstream. Say something.

Having said that, I wasn't particularly groggy after my last colonoscopy either.
Click to expand...
Ive had two procedures, both were using a valium drip. I was driven home both times. Never had a polyp, see you in ten years. I'll be 80 in ten years. Not worried about it.
 
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JohnnySolo

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kidrobinski said:
Ooof. Burning going in is often a tell tale sign the needle is not in the vein well; may be hitting tissue instead of the bloodstream. Say something.

Having said that, I wasn't particularly groggy after my last colonoscopy either.
Click to expand...
Propofol is slightly acidic and can cause irritation.
 
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SILVERSPUR-rier

Joined Nov 18, 2004
Nov 18, 2004
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I was having issues so they did a colonoscopy when I was 40 and they found pre-cancerous polyps. I now get one every three years. Took about 6 years before I got "clear" result and have been clean for the last 4. Back then the doctor said if it hadn't been caught early, I probably would not have made it to 50. So, I would encourage everyone to do it, the earlier the better, especially if you are having any "issues".
 
bayrooster

bayrooster

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nlstanford said:
This is one way. But I would caution that it’s less accurate than a screening colonoscopy. The full procedure is so simple and the inconvenience of the prep is minor.
Click to expand...
I thought it was only a prescreening. If any blood is found in the sample they refer you to get a colonoscopy, only if it's clean you're off the hook.
 
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