Originally Posted by Villages PL (Post 577470)

Is there an art to colonoscopy? How would I know if the doctor has this art mastered? Regardless of how many years a doctor spends in school, he or she might be a colon-perforating clod. It could be worse than I thought if the numbers don't tell the whole story.

You're right that we do make these decisions every time we get into a car, or airplane. That's why I never fly and limit my driving. I believe in limiting risk.

You're right when you suggest that anything can happen to anyone. I have never doubted that. But there is such a thing as prudently judging and limiting risk. As a matter of fact I have a book tittled, "Examining Your Doctor: A patient's Guide to Avoiding Harmful Medical Care". It was written by, Timothy McCall, M.D..

I guess you could say it was written for those who wish to be informed so as to make prudent judgements/decisions.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 577544)

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him have a hose attached to well....you get the picture.

Originally Posted by 2BNTV (Post 577613)

Nuff said. I got the picture. :smiley:

BTW - You can say your going to do something or you can say your not - Either way your right.

Originally Posted by skyc6 (Post 575934)

I am a firm believer in taking advantage of all medical tests available, when needed, or medically suggested.

My daughter, age 39, was having some minor gastrological discomfort, and her Dr. suggested an early colonoscopy, just to be safe. She is a very healthy, non-smoking, non-drinking practicing dietician. She eats very little meat, and is well within her weight guidelines, (unlike her mother! ) She lives down the street from the YMCA, and is there daily.
During her colonoscopy, 2 polyps were found, removed,and it was determined they were pre-cancerous. Now she will repeat her test every 3 years. By all statistics, she was not a candidate for a colonoscopy, but I count myself very blessed that she had one and will continue to have them as needed.
Diet and exercise are incredibly important, but they don't ensure you will never get any kind of illness, and if an illness is preventable, why not do all that you can to prevent it?

Originally Posted by 2BNTV (Post 577135)

Exactly. :agree: Spot on as usual. :smiley:

You don't on Supermans cape.

You don't spit in the wind.

You don't get a colonoscopy.

And your messin around with your life.

OK. I won't quit my day job.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 577544)

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him have a hose attached to well....you get the picture.

Originally Posted by rosehillman (Post 577809)

It can be very scary to get screened for any type of problems but it can save your life.

Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 578617)

I think we have reached the point of no return on this subject. Those that believe in the test will continue to do it. Those that don't will not.

But my three cents: I hope none of us will ever have to (again, in my case) watch a 40-year-old be ravaged by colon cancer and die.

Or, someday I will give up anguishing over the fact that Steve Jobs had to die because his cancer was operable but he refused the procedure because he did not believe in surgery and felt he could survive on alternative methods.

I acknowledge the OP's convictions, and I pray the OP will never contract colon cancer.

Perhaps we should just retire the thread. Vaya con dios.

Originally Posted by Villages PL (Post 578596)

I have never doubted that it can save lives. But it can also sacrifice lives. In the study I mentioned earlier, out of 100,000 colonoscopies, 6 lives were lost. I guess you could say they were sacrificed for the "greater good". But no one is telling us what the numbers are for that greater good. Did it save 12 lives for every 100,000 people tested. 20 people suffered perforated colons; did it save 20 lives?

If doctors are so proud of the lives they save, why don't they give us the numbers?