Keep Up with Your Medical Checks

It’s funny how as we age those conversations around health and medical procedures that were so uncomfortable in our younger years are now common and don’t feel so uncomfortable anymore. That is a good thing as it reminds us how important diet, exercise, and keeping up with our medical check-ups are. Sometimes we need a little nudge to schedule that appointment we dread, and being able to talk about such things with friends can provide just that.

         I started thinking about this topic as I was in the waiting room for my consultation to schedule my third colonoscopy. For the squeamish, fear not, no details follow this. It happened to be the procedure I needed as part of my routine physical. Thankfully I only need to do this every 5 years. And since it takes a polyp in the colon approximately 7 years to go from start to cancerous, I will keep on that schedule unless there is a reason to go more often.

        Besides my own desire to stay as healthy as possible, a friend’s experience keeps me on track – and I have shared it with others to give them that little nudge. He was diagnosed with colon cancer a few years ago and has fully recovered and is cancer free for over 2 years now. But he skipped a routine 5-year colonoscopy meaning that he went 10 years between procedures. When diagnosed, his doctor gave him the sobering news that had he not skipped that 5-year check, the growth would have been caught and removed before it developed into cancer.

       Another friend just shared his story about the same procedure but with a very different ending. His doctor suggested he have an initial colonoscopy a bit younger than the normal age, and being a good patient he had the procedure. The gastroenterologist told him after that they found and removed a polyp that was around 3 months from becoming cancerous. He then told my friend to give his doctor a big hug for saving him from all that cancer brings. He did just that and has faithfully followed both doctors’ advice for future health checks.

       I know this post has not been the most pleasant – despite the positive outcomes for both friends, but I hope it serves as a reminder of how important it is to have regular medical checkups and to not skip recommended procedures, especially for those of us advancing in age. This is a topic many people are uncomfortable addressing, but a little discomfort now is better than a big health issue later. Once again, the old Fram oil filter commercial tag line comes to mind – “You can pay me now or you can pay me later.”

It’s time again for our annual “get the hell out of NJ in February” trip so I will be taking the next 2 weeks off. Next post will be the week of March 3rd.  Holy cow, the year is flying by!

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com  02-10-2025