Christian Warren Freed
We’ve all been there. Hit that certain age when smarter people than us say we need to see the doctor and get this check or that. How many times have you told yourself, “I’ll get to it when I can”? Raise your hands. Mine’s up. Or at least it was, until right before Christmas 2022.
Neither of us expected anything when the Mrs. went in for her first routine colonoscopy. She’d done the mammograms but wasn’t looking forward to the prep for this particular procedure. The day came and an hour later she was being wheeled back into recovery. Everything seemed fine, until it wasn’t.
The doc said he couldn’t complete the procedure due to inflammation. That led to a series of scans and consults and we were hit with the one diagnosis no one wants to hear. Cancer. Happy holidays, right? The next month or so was a blur of twisted emotions and whispered prayers. Surgery came and went, and life goes on. This isn’t only our story, however. This is about you. What you do and what you need to do.
We all know someone who has had cancer. Spent tears over a tombstone, struggled with grief and anger as a friend or family member was taken from us much too soon. While these moments are crippling, they aren’t as dire as they once were.
We live in an era in which traditional health scares are somewhat lessened by advances in modern medicine and our understanding of causes, symptoms, and treatments. Yes, cancer is frightening. It gnaws on your conscience, eating away your resolve and threatening to subsume you with fear. But it’s not the unstoppable monster it once was.
We have the power to mitigate circumstances, but how many of us choose to do so? For most, there is the casual excuse. The flippant “I’ll get to it” knowing full well it might be important to us in the moment but we’re not really planning on getting those recommended exams because they don’t fit into our busy schedules.
No one ever thinks they’re going to get sick, to spend days mired under the blanket of uncertainty as doctors dither over how best to treat you. Why would we? I spent three years in different wars and never once thought about dying. That defeated the purpose. Thinking of getting cancer is the same. We ignore it. Until…
Like I tell my now 18 and headstrong son, life doesn’t get easier until you start making you a priority. When it comes to health, no one cares as much about you as you. Take a moment. Call your doctor and schedule your mammogram. Get your colonoscopy. Fellas, suck it up and get your prostate checked. These routine exams are the tools we need to ensure we remain healthy and, if cancer is indeed rearing its ugly head, catch it in time to do something about it and enjoy a long, healthy life after.
Fun fact, prostate cancer is right up there with breast cancer for the top spot and actually has a higher mortality rate. Out of 100,000 men, prostate cancer kills 601. Out of the same number, breast cancer fatalities are 216. While these numbers may seem small, ask yourself if you are prepared to be a statistic.
So, armed with this knowledge, what can we do? Simple, stay on top of your routine health checks. Sure, it’s an inconvenience going to the doctor, but is it really?
The good news is, the CDC reports that 7 out of 10 Americans are up to date with their health screenings. When it comes to staying alive there are no inconveniences.
Breast cancer has a frighteningly high number of cases annually. The American Cancer Society estimates 1 in 3 of all new female cancer patients will be from breast cancer. In 2023 they say just under 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 44,000 will die from it. At the same time, an average of 225,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and a whopping 32,000 will die.
How many of these deaths could be delayed, perhaps even prevented, by taking care of yourself and getting those routine checks? When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer the doctors said the tumor was about the size of a pencil lead and could have been growing for a decade before they caught it. A decade. They gave her 3 to 5 years to live and, well, modern medicine is pretty amazing since it’s been 15 so far.
Routine checks are important, if invasive, embarrassing, and uncomfortable. I mean, who wants to feel like being part of a plumber’s experiment? But there is more to ensuring we stay healthy than visits to the doctor.
Eating right and exercise are major factors in either keeping cancer at bay or preventing it completely. Isn’t this true about most things we read about these days? Maintaining a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is almost as important as keeping our weight in check and exercising. We’re not talking busting out the big bucks for a gym membership you’re never going to use. A little walk here and there, maybe some old-fashioned calisthenics or a quick jog will do the trick. Stay away from supplements. There are plenty of vitamins and minerals in the right foods. Sugar and alcohol are major contributing factors to cancer spreading and, like everything else, should be taken in moderation.
This article will hit differently for each of us. The younger we are the less inclined we are to think we aren’t invincible. Our attitudes shift a few decades later when we begin to wake up to aches and pains we never had and wonder where they came from. Then our parents get older, and we see firsthand what they are going through and it begins to hit home.
A big part of what you can do for yourself is learn your family’s medical history. There are genealogy tests out there to help determine what you might be susceptible to as you get older. While it may be intimidating to think you have a chance of developing some of the major health issues your great-grandmother had, it also provides you the tools necessary to combat it ahead of time.
Let’s not forget a major part of dealing with the unexpected cancer (or major life moment) scare. Take the time to get your Will done. Get that power of attorney in the event you develop health issues, and find the right life insurance policy to ensure your family is taken care of in the event it all goes south. We only get one life, no matter how short or long it is; don’t ruin it by not taking every precaution you can.
Now, my friends, as you stew over these words, perhaps contemplating your future or remembering friends and loved ones who have endured a similar story, I need to go. I have a few phone calls to make to the doctor.
For more information, visit these websites:
Breast cancer: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html
Colorectal cancer: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/
