Dear friends,

Seeing that March is National Colon Health Month, I encourage all males over the age of 25 to have a yearly colonoscopy.  Males over the age of 21 should have a yearly checkup if a relative is a colon cancer carrier.

If caught in time, colon cancer can be cured 80 percent of the time.

Having survived the disease in 1990 at the age of 31, I have had 20 colonoscopies after several inches of colon was removed.  The procedure is painless.

In closing, my oncologist has told me I am the perfect ass.  Seriously though, do not let bleeding stools or dark urine conditions be ignored.  Ignoring the symptoms can be fatal.

Peace,  Jim 

Thanks for the good early warnings.....and there is the RI cancer council in Pawtucket as well as the Cancer Task Force at memorial Hospital which meets monthly. There is also a new application that the RI Dept of Health is applying for colonoscopy free checks for the uninsured so a note or call to DOH to support that request might help in the tight competition for CDC funds.

Better to go thru the slight discomfort than to have a more serious bout with colon cancer.

Dear Arthur,

However as dangerous as colon cancer or any cancer can be ,if not properly detected and monitored, many health insurers refuse to do follow up check ups yearly after the cancer has been treated.  One health insurer says for young male cancer survivors, one colonscopy every three years is enough. 

Many Rhode Island oncologists insist on one year checkups ,and the doctors have been fighting the insurers since 1999.  My doctor has been clever enough to use new procedures and protocols so I can obtain my yearly colonscopy.

By the way, speaking of health care insurers, do any neighbors know that one major health insurer does not cover physical checkups if the appointment is made after 5 p.m.?

Please share this note with all neighbors.

Peace, Jim 

will check it out.....but good for your doc to be clever