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.
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?
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.
[+] [-] ipcress_file|3 years ago|reply
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.
[+] [-] twelve40|3 years ago|reply
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?
[+] [-] orionblastar|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lupire|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] grubbs|3 years ago|reply
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.
[+] [-] News-Dog|3 years ago|reply
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
[+] [-] imrane|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] News-Dog|3 years ago|reply