r/interesting • u/tyrion2024 • 10h ago

MISC. A Virginia man inadvertently left his phone recording while he was under anesthesia for a colonoscopy, which captured audio of the doctors: mocking him, instructing a medical assistant to lie to him, and discussing giving him a false diagnosis of hemorrhoids. In 2015, a jury awarded him $500,000.

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u/Quovadisdomi 7h ago

Mid 30s checking in here. I'm healthy, never smoke or drank and got randomly checked for a colon cancer screening and after a colonoscopy, I got diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. I had zero symptoms. As much as treatment sucked, I feel like the luckiest person in the world since it was still very treatable. Get screened. It could save your life.

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u/tinyrevolutions45 7h ago

Was that covered by insurance? I feel like that’s the big barrier for folks under 40-45, especially if you don’t have a family history.

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u/Quovadisdomi 7h ago

I asked my doctor for a screening during a physical. He refused to give it to me because I was too young, but relented. The screening led to the colonoscopy which was covered.

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u/tinyrevolutions45 6h ago

Glad he relented and that you received the care you needed!

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u/ElReyLyon 6h ago

You said you got randomly checked, but say you needed to fight your doctor to approve the test. Why did you feel the need to pursue the test? Are there other screenings you’ve pursued early as well?

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u/thrownawaytrash86 6h ago

I was 38 and a woman. I told them I was diarrhea’ing a lot and having pain with it. They wanted to take a look and they did. My sleeve was behaving awful so I had to have it revised to a bypass because it caused me to have Barrett’s on the endoscopy too. I have good doctors. You have to find the right ones I guess. Mine gives my husband one every year now because he grows polyps super fast and we’re both 40 now.

It shouldn’t be so hard for anyone to get screened if they have symptoms, just because of their age.!

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u/Chill_Mochi2 4h ago

To be fair quite a few of the symptoms sound like symptoms you get when you have issues related to menstruation or women’s reproductive system. I hate being a woman sometimes. But I guess in the bright side there a few symptoms that would never happen if it were menstrual related so..

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u/WVildandWVonderful 6h ago

Share for the class how you got your screening.

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u/Quovadisdomi 1h ago

It was a poop swab test. I had just been reading about how much colon cancer was spreading amongst milenials and asked for a screening test at a physical. The screening found blood in my stool (invisible to the eye) and that led to a colonoscopy which found a tumor.

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u/MoonMan75 6h ago

What was the colon cancer screening, FIT testing?

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u/Normal_Opposite_9864 5h ago

colonscopy

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u/MoonMan75 4h ago

There's no way a colonoscopy without any symptoms and prior to the correct age would be covered at first. It is likely he asked for some kind of screening like the FOBT, which came back positive (and is a lot cheaper). Once that is positive, then a colonoscopy is the next indicated step and would be covered.

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u/Tacotuesday867 3h ago

You can get one anytime since there are so many private clinics. A fit test would be front line and is at 50 and every other year after.

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u/MoonMan75 43m ago

Yeah, the guy above asked his PCP at his annual physical though. Looks like his PCP had him do the FOBT first.

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u/Quovadisdomi 1h ago

It was a poop swab test.

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u/henrydaiv 4h ago

I did the same during my last visit; asked if i could get my insurance to cover it and he said not til im 45!!! I dont wanna wait almost 10 years so tbh if i cant convice him i may just pay for it out of pocket. If i had any symptoms it would be different i guess but symptoms i do have didnt justify needing it.

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u/elitesense 2h ago

That doesn't answer the above person's question: "was it covered?"

A doctor can make an order for anything, it doesn't mean it'll be approved for payment coverage. This is true both in countries with government provided healthcare and private insurers.

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u/Quovadisdomi 1h ago

It was covered.

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u/triviahostrob 6h ago

Here's the thing: you can just say you do have a family history.

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u/drumallday 5h ago

Friend of a friend has a family history and unusual symptoms in her 30s and tried to get a colonoscopy. The doctor refused to order one. By the time she found a new doctor and got insurance to cover it (which was another challenge), she had stage 4 and died before she was 40.

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u/Megneous 4h ago

God damn I love living in a country with universal healthcare and getting a colonoscopy for like 30 bucks. Could go to the hospital like next week and get another if I wanted to.

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u/bxzidff 4h ago

Imagine how much money the health insurance companies would make if they could spread their model to more countries. They'd absolutely love to have more people suffer and die for their profit. Be vigilant about the politicians and donors who try to subtly privatize more and more healthcare. It would be political suicide to go against universal healthcare now, but the forces who are against it are rich and powerful. Don't take it for granted.

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u/drumallday 3h ago

my partner was dealing with some serious nausea and stomach pain. After several emergency room visits, he finally got an appointment with his primary doctor who decided he needed to see a specialist. Because this next appointment was six weeks out and his symptoms pointed to an ulcer, we asked the primary doctor to order an H. Pylori test as that is the primary cause for an ulcer and the treatment would be antibiotics. The doctor refused. At this point, my partner had lost 40 pounds because he was unable to eat. His condition was grave and the doctor refused a simple inexpensive test. We went to an online medical provider, described his symptoms and paid $120 out of pocket so that he could go into the specialist appointment with more data to help get to a diagnosis. It has been so frustrating. He started the year at 200 pounds and currently weighs 135. Every time he gets a referral to someone new, it's another 2 month wait. One of the doctors requested an MRI 3 months ago but insurance won't approve it and that test he can't afford to pay out if pocket

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u/ms_calculated 3h ago

Where do you live?

3

u/SutekkaGhost 2h ago

That wasn't enough in my instance. I had a doctor of 10+ years who agreed to give me a colonoscopy after my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 as well as her sister and that same sister's son (so my aunt and her son, my cousin, who was a year or two older than me). I unexpectedly had to move weeks later and we had to cancel.

New doctor agreed with my previous one and echoed that I should start getting it done once every year or so. By this point my cousin had passed from his cancer. Mom and aunt were still with us. I had to push my appointment because my mom went back into chemo and I was her primary caregiver. Her chemo was going to be over in a few months

That doctor left the practice. Mom passed a couple weeks after she finished her chemo plan (it was a bit unexpected and the doctors said her body just randomly gave up, idk). Took me four months but I finally went to meet my new doctor. Told them my history, pointed out the notes in my charts from my last two doctors, including the last who was his colleague. Reminded them my mom and cousin passed from it recently. He looked at my chart again and goes, "well, you're 35. That's too young to get tested. Typically we wait till 40"

Brought it up again at the follow up two weeks later. Same thing. Asked the nurses opinion when the doctor left the room and she echoed what he said. I'm going to have to talk to my insurance about switching doctors, I can't just go pick a new one on a whim, unfortunately

I've had chronic digestive issues my whole life. I'm convinced I'll develop it at some point. Hopefully it's after I turn 40.

Also, apologies for the long explanation. I'm exhausted over this and tired of being dismissed.

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u/troveofcatastrophe 57m ago

Don’t give up !! It IS exhausting but you have to keep pushing.

1

u/beardofmice 5h ago

Esp with the Trainwreck that is Epic and the whole bloated pull down menu mess of e-records. I have like 13 of the same condition peppered through out 15 years of the same health system. I don't even actually have that condition anymore.

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u/OntologicalShoc 5h ago

With respect to family history: the neat part is that you DO have a family history of colorectal cancer on both sides! They're not going to call your mom to verify.

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u/calfats 3h ago

Except that even with family history, insurance doesn’t want to pay. My aunt died in her early 30s from colon cancer and that wasn’t enough to get my colonoscopy covered at 32. I’m still paying for it a year later.

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u/Ghost_of_a_Pale_Girl 2h ago

Typically they only look at immediate family when making those decisions. My dad had colon cancer at 38, and they approved my first colonoscopy at 35 due to this. Good thing too, because I'm a polyp making factory.

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u/calfats 2h ago

Yes, they don’t consider an aunt to be a close enough relative.

But my GP did some research for me on the increase in risk factor for me with immediate vs secondary relatives. Now, this was only one study, but an immediate relative meant like a 1.9 to 2.1 times risk factor increase while a secondary relative like my aunt means a 1.4 to 1.6 times risk factor increase.

Seems to me that 1.4-1.6 is still heightened enough that it should be covered. Plus, me getting a colonoscopy sooner and possibly catching something earlier is much cheaper for the insurance than paying for a stage 4 colon cancer treatment. But I also felt like the $1800 out of pocket cost for the colonoscopy was high.

The whole insurance system is fucked and a racket.

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u/OntologicalShoc 1h ago

I'm sorry that happened to you. It may not be of use to you or you may have already explored it, but many hospital systems offer reduced billing based on income. I was able to get a $5K MRI down to $900 once which was a big help. Good luck with your colon! May your polyps be ever tiny and benign.

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u/calfats 53m ago

Well, even if I am still paying it off, I was clean as a whistle. So it was well with the peace of mind.

But yeah, the $1800 was the cash pay rate already reduced. It would have been more had it gone through my insurance.

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u/troveofcatastrophe 6h ago

Yes, it is a huge barrier. You have to push and push and..

Well, you do. Pretty sure your grandma or grandpa or uncle or had it…

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u/Faytil 5h ago

if you do this you have to say they got the dx young if not true since the screening guidelines are 45 or 10 yrs prior to a first degree relative dx

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u/calfats 3h ago

And even then, not covered. I had an aunt die in her early 30s from colon cancer and my insurance would not cover my colonoscopy at 32. Still paying for it a year later.

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u/Normal_Opposite_9864 5h ago

why wouldn't it be covered? what a weird statement. I had stage 3 colon cancer and never paid a dime

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u/crimsonpostgrad 3h ago

bc it often isn’t for young people

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u/Livefiction1 4h ago

I’m 41 and denied because I’m not old enough. Joke of a system.

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u/calfats 3h ago

My aunt died at 30 from colon cancer and insurance would not cover a colonoscopy for me at 32. Still paying for it a year later.

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u/DrS3R 7h ago

What’s your diet? Stressful job? Just curious

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u/Quovadisdomi 7h ago

Very stressful job, but healthy diet. I'm thin and exercised regularly. It's just exploding among milenials.

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u/DrS3R 6h ago

I’m not a medical doctor, but I’m almost curious the role stress plays. Being chronically online these younger generations seem to face newer stresses earlier on in life. I’m wondering if that’s contributing in some way. Anyways, wish you the best and hope your colonoscopies here on out come back clean.

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u/beardofmice 5h ago

Sitting continuously and the amount of physical activity we used to take for granted that was just part of a "less convenient" world than today.

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u/Quovadisdomi 5h ago

Just had my follow up and it was clean! Much appreciated.

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u/ParksAndWreckYoSelf 4h ago

Not to mention the copious amounts of garbage in processed foods

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u/girls-and-corpses 6h ago

Capitalism kills

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u/coldchile 5h ago

Lmao okay

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u/girls-and-corpses 5h ago

Please do enlighten me on how most people being enslaved is a good thing.

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u/novembr 1h ago

ENSLAVED. Ha ha...hahahaha. Nah arguing with someone who thinks like this is a complete waste of time.

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u/Spikey-Bubba 6h ago

Dang, ok.

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u/Ill_Technology_7247 6h ago

Where do you keep your cellphone when not using it? 

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u/Blind_Fire 6h ago

not in my ass if that's what you're asking

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u/ShrimpryLovesCompany 6h ago edited 5h ago

That's what I did wrong!?

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u/poopcockshit 6h ago

I personally put it on my cock. Guess what? Stage 3 colon cancer at 34. It’s the 5G radio waves technology interfering with interstellar signals.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 6h ago

Its from processed meats and fast food. If you eat deli meats, smoked meats, lots of charred BBQ, lots of red meat, BMI over 25 etc get checked.

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u/i-love-that 6h ago

Not the case anymore. They’re really not sure. This guy for example has a healthy diet and is skinny

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u/q81101 2h ago

I think diet still play big factor. What he considers healthy may not be that healthy.

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u/MAGAHATESTHEUSA 5h ago

Wouldn’t Italians all have it?

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u/martifero 5h ago

eyetalian here, we don’t eat that much gabagool

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u/Dub_Coast 4h ago

All this from a slice of Gabagool?

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u/chooseusermochi 4h ago

It's the second most common type of cancer in Italy.

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u/beardofmice 2h ago

Thats interesting. Italy has large culinary regions that consist of the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to lower the risk. Unsure what the traditional rates amongst total population were, genetic predisposition is a decent indicator of trends over a long period to study.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 2h ago

Thats not how risk works. Not everyone who plays Russian roulette dies.

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u/beardofmice 5h ago

Then my whole male family members on both sides should have died from colon cancer before they hit 35. Drinkers and smokers too.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 3h ago

Not everyone who plays Russian roulette dies. Not every one who used tanning beds get melanoma. Thats not how risk works

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u/beardofmice 2h ago

Genetics ...Hence the family history of colon cancer or polyps was the biggest scientific risk determinent. The spike in the younger population isnt an anomaly and most likely ot a part of the genetic risk factor, and diet alone does not correlate with the shift amongst that population.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 2h ago

Typos are impeding understanding of your message. Are you saying that genetics is responsible for the rising rates of colon cancer rather than environmental factors?

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u/beardofmice 2h ago

Sorry, I have fat fingers and didn't check. Traditionally, family history and age were considered to be a pretty solid indicator for the possible risk of colon cancer. And still are as I was always asked about any family history of colon cancer when I hit my 40s. I can't see that in one, maybe two generations at most that a genetic predisposition would drift or manifest itself in a group that traditionally wasn't high risk with ageing being the other risk factor.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 35m ago

Theres more than two risk factors. Age and family history are big ones but environmental factors are going to be driving increased incidence in young people. Age is controlled for in that case and genetic drift doesnt move fast enough to account for it.

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u/sdiss98 5h ago

Smoked meats aren’t processed. BBQ isn’t charred.

What are you talking about? Your comment sounds misinformed. Are you talking about the Maillard reaction?

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u/Used-Lake-8148 5h ago

I think they’re talking about the nitrates/sulfates or whatever that are used in cheap “cured” meats and overly processed shit

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u/Virtual_Bug_723 5h ago

Lol, smoked meats are processed meats, and a BBQ can char food. What are you on about

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u/Coffeedemon 4h ago

You're upsetting the meat brigade.

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u/chooseusermochi 4h ago

Their minds are being blown right now. This is why some people say they eat healthy and then are slabbing it up all the time.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 3h ago

Yup and those things increase cancer risk. Take what risks make sense for you, but I'm a palliative doctor and know very well what dying from cancer looks like.

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u/Kitchen-Dig-9202 5h ago

If I take a raw pork shoulder and smoke it, it’s not “processed”. It’s cooked food. Confidently stupid

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u/chooseusermochi 5h ago

Yeah, you would be wrong, it is processed. This is an easily looked up fact. Processed meat aren't just cold cuts.

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u/BobloblawTx89 4h ago

So I cook rice and veggies. That’s a process. Are they processed as well? Processed meats include binders, salts, gums and other bullshit injected into it, not just something seasoned and cooked.

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u/CanadianODST2 4h ago

“Processed meat is any meat preserved by smoking, curing or salting or by adding preservatives.”

Literally took two seconds

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u/BobloblawTx89 4h ago

Your two second search excludes “addition of chemical preservatives to enhance flavor or extend shelf life”. Sure, I’ll concede older processes of preservation. But my point stands. Also, steaming vegetables is a process, grilling is a process, sauté is a process…so where do you draw the line?

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u/CanadianODST2 3h ago

“Or by adding preservatives”

Literally the last 4 words of my first sentence. Like holy telling on yourself you didn’t even read

Steaming only uses water and heat so doesn’t add anything. Nor does sautéing.

Grilling can be due to adding smoke into it.

Just because you act like an idiot and don’t even know how to use google doesn’t mean you’re right.

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u/chooseusermochi 4h ago

This is not difficult. There is a definition of what processed meats are. Look up 10 legitimate sources; they will all tell you the same thing.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 2h ago

In fact yes. Everything we eat, everything we do in life has some risk of something. Yes burning vegetables introduces carcinogens. Combusting anything produces carcinogenic chemicals. Colon cancer is increased with obesity partly because the more you eat, the more times you're rolling the billion sided dice.

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u/BobloblawTx89 2h ago

Yes, understood and that science is still a hung jury. Don’t get me wrong, I love raw veg to snack on. But what I’m saying is deeper, cooking meat on a smoker is not “processed”. Shit, it’s not even processed to the point it could be stored for months without an outside process like freezing. The term needs mediation.

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 33m ago

Your colon your call, I dont care what you do. The science isnt hung though, consuming smoked meat increases cancer risk. Do what you want though, again I don't care.

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u/AlrightBoot 5h ago

That's a process. Processed food is food that's had something done to it that makes its contents more accessible to digestion. Cooking meat, cutting a fruit, or curing something are all processes.

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u/ADayOfSpecialWierdos 5h ago

So, and I’m not disagreeing with you, unless you’re eating meat raw, you’re eating processed meat - heck, even steak tartar is processed in the sense that other ingredients are mixed in. But there have been very few reports (of which I am aware) that eating boiled meat is unhealthy - so kind of puts the lie to people who say all processed foods are unhealthy.

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u/AlrightBoot 5h ago edited 5h ago

so kind of puts the lie to people who say all processed foods are unhealthy. 

Yeah. People who treat "processed food" as a nutritionally coherent category don't know what they're talking about. Or at best are very, very bad science communicators.

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u/La_Maraviglia 5h ago

Nah they just get all their information from TikTok

They can be safely ignored

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u/Virtual_Bug_723 5h ago

Lmfao, love to watch someone absolutely blow it

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u/Definitelynotagolem 5h ago

Smoked meat contains carcinogenic compounds that are far less frequent in unsmoked meat. This has been known for a long time now…

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u/CariniFluff 5h ago

Are you trying to tell me that smoke isn't healthy, whether it's in your lungs or in the meat you're eating that was bathed in it for 12+ hours?

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u/doodoo_onDemand 4h ago

smoking increases nitrites. that's processing. those nitrites can cause cancer in plentiful quantities.

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u/Parking-World9321 3h ago

Smoking is a process, bud.

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u/Kitchen-Dig-9202 3h ago

So is grilling, steaming, microwaving, blanching, etc

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 2h ago

The smoke adds carcinogens. Cigarette smoke isnt the only carcinogenic smoke. inhaling or ingesting the products of any combustion introduces carcinogens to your body.

Your risk of colon cancer is proportional to the quantity and quality of what you eat. Obesity is a risk factor for colon cancer in part because you've rolled the billion sided dice many many more times by eating so much more. 

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u/doodoo_onDemand 4h ago

smoking meat is processing them. what are you talking about?

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u/Due_Statement_1550 4h ago

Heterocyclic amines and nitrates homie

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 3h ago

Nitrates and nitrites are carcinogens,  and in smoked/burnt food and linked to gastric cancer. 

I'm a palliative physician, i deal with cancer all the time. Feel free to verify the research if you want. I avoid processed/smoked/charred/red meat, inhaling anything other than oxygen, unprotected sun exposure and any other known carcinogens. i watch people upclose suffering and dying from cancer and that informs my choices. You can't avoid all risk but I do what's in my power within reason. take what risks are worth it for you.

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u/SheepherderHot1415 4h ago

Lol science doesn't know why, but THAT guy is so confident he knows why

Gotta love Reddit lol

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u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 3h ago

"Science" does know why though. I'm a palliative medicine physician for reference. I deal with dying cancer patients regularly. Do what you want, I'm highly motivated to minimize my risk of cancer. You can do everything "right" and still get it, and you can take no precautions and be fine. Thats just how risk works. I choose to minimize my risk.

You're in the precontemplative phase, thats fine. I dont care what you do I'm just sharing info relevant to this article.

1

u/beardofmice 2h ago

I agree with you on the risk increases and the scientific studies confirm exactly what you stated. In response to the increase in colon cancer in a younger cohort has to be something with environmental toxins like micro plastics, ptfe, or something linked with food/drink intake perhaps. Sedentary lifestyle? Gut motility and biome? The outliers stand out, he did everything right, healthiest guy I knew etc. vs the opposite outliers, smoked drank ate lard etc and lived to a hundred are just outliers on the curve.

1

u/Underpaidfoot 5h ago

Its the water supply

1

u/One-Cardiologist-462 4h ago

Holy crap. This is literally me.
Maybe I need a lifestyle change. I eat so much stuff like bacon, sausages, spam etc.

1

u/IlIlllIIIIlIllllllll 3h ago

The strength of evidence linking processed meat to colon cancer is as strong as the evidence linking between smoking and lung cancer. Note I'm not saying that means you're as likely to get cancer from processed meat as smoking, just the strength of evidence linking it as a causative factor

1

u/Cerberusx32 6h ago

I'm wondering if it's because of the increase in artificial things in our food and maybe the insane amount of microplastics? As well as the drastic change in solar radiation?

1

u/SeaOk2832 5h ago

Solar radiation? I think even if you were "butthole sunning" not much of it would make it to your colon...

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u/Hot-Bluebird3919 5h ago

Drastic change is also incorrect.

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u/CSFMBsDarkside 5h ago

Drastic changes in solar radiation?

1

u/ZoominAlong 5h ago

That's what I'm wondering. I'm gonna have to resubscribe to some of my medical journals I think. 

1

u/EqualOk4907 4h ago

Winner winner, lab grown chicken dinner.  

1

u/OmilKncera 5h ago

Well.. you just... Completely changed my next week. Thanks

1

u/shoratio26 5h ago

Do you engage in anal sex?

1

u/McJumpington 5h ago

Was it a random colonoscopy? I thought most insurances refuse to cover those until mid 40s

1

u/Cyanideankst 5h ago

So what made you to go get checked?

1

u/denizen_1 4h ago

If it was so great, then there would be a RCT showing an increase in life span. That has never occurred. The sole trial to attempt to test that, NordiCC, failed to show a benefit to overall survival.

1

u/Megneous 4h ago

Mid 30s here. Had the opportunity to get an early colonoscopy just because, and I said fuck it due to the rising rates of colon cancer and I didn't want TotalBiscuit's sacrifice to be in vain. Turned out I'm clean as a whistle, but my endoscopy I had at the same time showed that a sphincter above my stomach is like, loose or something? And this probably explains my chronic cough, because I likely have undiagnosed acid reflux or GERD or something. So I got put on some acid reducers and strong anti-cough medicine and my next colonoscopy/endoscopy is in like 3-4 years.

Get your assholes and stomachs checked, yo. Don't die!

1

u/General_Answer6376 4h ago

I think I would rather live my life not knowing if I have colon cancer😂🤣😂🤣

1

u/MrsSalmalin 4h ago

Meanwhile, my BFF is having some concerning symptoms and her doc tried to refuse ordering a colonoscopy. Finally my BFF remember she had blood in her stool, so the doc reluctantly ordered the test. I didn't want to tell her that it sounded like her butthole was bleeding, and the blood wasn't from internal bleeding, because I want her to get the colonoscopy. She's a woman in her early 30s so low risk. But crazy shit happens, as you are well aware!! Sounds like treatment worked for you? I'm so glad you were able to catch it!!

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u/ZanziabarDDO 4h ago

Happy you got checked brother! Really hope everything is under control now.

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u/Warden18 2h ago

Mid-30s, good lord.. ☠️ What prompted you to get checked?

1

u/Quovadisdomi 1h ago

Just had been reading about how much it had been spreading around milenials and wanted a screening just in case.

1

u/Bowtie16bit 1h ago

Falsely diagnosed to force you into a treatment you didn't need in the first place? How can we trust any doctors when they do shit like what happened in the OP?

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u/_galaxy_ 6h ago edited 6h ago

I’m glad they discovered your colon cancer but not everyone in their 30s should be screened for colon cancer in absence of concerns/symptoms and having “average risk.”

The NCCN or National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends initiating average risk screening at age 45. Average risk means no family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowl disease, childhood cancer or cystic fibrosis.

Edit: love random people on the internet arguing with massive data driven recommendations because “their cousin had it” or “my doctor said” ….

1

u/iwinsallthethings 6h ago

I had mine done this year, as did my wife. It wasn't terrible. The doctor said they really wish they would push the age to 40 since it's becoming so much more common.

1

u/troveofcatastrophe 6h ago

As the incidence in under 45 vastly increases I predict they will lower it (again). They have to fight the insurance companies pressure. Unfortunately it will be too late for many so take your health into your own hands.

The symptoms I cited often show after the cancer is advanced and many young people don’t know what grandma died from. Find out your family history.

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u/_galaxy_ 5h ago

Agree knowing your family history is genuinely important, but even if your grandma had it and you didn’t know they still wouldn’t push to before 45, it’s first degree relatives that prompt this. Screening age was already lowered to 45 for average-risk adults, and their isn’t a push to move it lower, risk in the 20s to 30s is still very low in absolute terms, so for younger people it's family history, symptoms, and genetics that matter, not blanket screening. Insurers actually have to cover screening at 45–49 under the ACA the real problem is low uptake, not insurers blocking. Also early onset colon cancer usually isn't silent until it's too late warning signs (rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, iron-deficiency anemia) show up in 70–95% of cases and often 1–2 years before diagnosis.

0

u/troveofcatastrophe 5h ago

Yes, these symptoms can show up but are often dismissed as hemorrhoids, something I ate, IBS, etc and they often aren’t consistent. This is why I posted my comment in the first place: GET TESTED.

Colon cancer is THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH IN HUMANS UNDER 50 years. Older people are surviving BECAUSE THEY GET TESTED.

Don’t dismiss your symptoms