WSJ Article: Think You’re Too Young to Need a Colonoscopy? Think Again | Hacker News Reader

WSJ Article: Think You’re Too Young to Need a Colonoscopy? Think Again

wsj.com

18 pointspaulpauper10 comments

I saw a lot of articles like this in the past. My friend had colon cancer and survived, but it was tenuous.

So when I turned 48, I asked my doctor about a colonoscopy. He said, it's 50 now.

When I turned 50, I asked my doctor again. He said something along the lines of "we don't do colonoscopies without certain symptoms."

So now I'm 53. I wish I could get a different doctor. I fully support medicare in Canada, but it's very hard to find a physician, much less a different physician.

> it's very hard to find a physician

So it's funny how that works. You say it's hard to find a basic physician in Canada. I'm being constantly told by my doctors here in SF bay that it's also hard to find a physician here, and many specialists have months (like, half-year) wait times.

So how do our countries not even collapse like that? There are other countries, some of them are less well-off, and some even with lower life expectancy, where you can snap your fingers and get a doctor, some countries where doctors will even pay you a visit at your house for free, and some that have mandatory prophylactic mass checkups at schools, colleges and work, which I have never ever seen in the US. Yet, the US and Canada have relatively decent health and life expectancy numbers, all with a very repulsive mass healthcare system (i'm not talking about unique surgeries and tech, just basic healthcare). How does this work?

Your experience doesn't match mine for US. Either SF is unique (almost certainly true) or the specialists they're referencing are extremely in demand for specific conditions.

With my regular PPO health insurance from my employer, I've had no trouble getting appointments with various specialists over the years. Occasionally I call one place and get told they can't see me for 2 months, so I just call the second name on the list and get an appointment sooner.

Two of my friends died of an exploding colon. Get yourself checked to be safe.

What diseases and symptoms did they have?

Irrational bowel syndrome pain in the gut and blocked bowels.

I've seen a few posts on HN over the years on this exact topic. Always seems like the general consensus is people would like to get screened earlier. But their doctors won't order the test / insurance won't cover it until you're older.

Do we just lie then? Tell our doctors we have colon cancer that runs in our fam? That I saw blood in my stool last week?

Friend saw blood in her stool ONCE and her PCP ordered a colonoscopy immediately.

My grandfather actually had colon cancer and my parents keep nagging me to get screened. I tell literally all of my docs (PCP, therapist, med management doc, dentist, prob more I'm forgetting). Nobody has ever even acknowledged it. I guess I'll wait til I'm 50? 55? I don't even know.

Inform your medical practitioner of your family history.

Perhaps, ask for a 'Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)' this will detect if you already colorectal (bowel) cancer.

The advantage of a Colonoscopy is that; abnormal cells and polyps can be detected early.

Stool Test - Cancer Screening : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stool_test#Cancer_screening

Fecal Occult Blood : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_occult_blood

More people need to eat primarily if not solely plant based. https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/colon-cancer/

>Medical groups have lowered the recommended starting age for colorectal cancer screenings,
to 45(yo) from 50(yo), in response to rising colon cancer rates among younger people.*
Archive: https://archive.is/eTOGw

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