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McCook Gazette
Letter to the Editor

Get a colonoscopy

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Dear Editor,

I would like to share my personal experience with your readers in the hope of helping someone avoid pain and suffering.

I have had a fecal occult blood test every year without any positive result; so I didn't think that I had anything to worry about. Earlier this year I attended an educational program by Dr. Walter Eskildsen on colon cancer. I learned at that time that colon cancer is usually quite advanced before bleeding occurs, which would show up on a fecal occult blood test.

I decided to have a colonoscopy, which found a large polyp that had to be surgically removed. I was fortunate that the pathology report was stage 1 cancer, which means that the cancer was only on the lining and had not spread. However; if this had been found several years earlier, it could have been removed during the colonoscopy and surgery could have been avoided.

I encourage your readers to have a colonoscopy beginning at age 50, and not to rely upon on a fecal occult blood test.

Sincerely,

George Young,

McCook, Nebraska

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  • I second what George said. I was not as lucky as George on the cancer front but thanks to our local doctors and the UNMC hospital...and prayers, life continues. If you are male and over 50 get the colonoscopy.

    -- Posted by dennis on Thu, Jul 28, 2011, at 8:00 PM
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