What a kind, generous, and talented soul. This is heartbreaking.

In terms of screening, I did a one of those tests where you collect a sample at home and send it in. I am 47, and the doctor gave me the option of that or colonoscopy.

So so sad, like everyone else.

There is a particular pain when it is someone who was always described in loving terms and was generous, kind, talented, modest. Like the battles we fight in this world are that much harder without this person's light in it.

Anonymous wrote:This celebrity death hits hard. What a talent. He was so young!

My mom died of colon cancer as well. She was young but not quite as young as he was.

2020, you suck.

This. Patrick Swayze is the other that still continues to sting and this one will too. I Looooooove his performance in 42

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THE IMPERATIVE TO DO LIST

1) TALK TO DOC ABOUT SCHEDULING YOUR COLONOSCOPY

2) VOTE

AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON IT

This. His death is not even fair and I bet colonoscopy appointments are going to skyrocket because of it. Also vote.

+1

The one silver lining is this very sad loss is lives being saved because of the increase in screenings.

FOBT tests, people. Highly reliable, no anesthesia, less invasive.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/tests.htm

I think part of the reluctance of insurance to cover early screenings is risk vs gain. If you are upfront with your doctor that you drink too much or eat lots of processed food, or you push for testing based on things your doctor can measure like being overweight or having diabetes, then you can have screenings covered in your 30s. Heck, take a picture of every weird poop you have if you need to convince them.

Anonymous wrote:But should we be getting our colonoscopies at age 38? That's my age now. I doubt insurance would even cover that, absence some serious risk factors.

Your doc will probably tell you if you have no systems and no risk factors that there's no need before the routine age of 50 (should be 45). Insurance will not pay for a routine screenings at this point before the age of 50 I think. But insurance companies have to step it up on this one. Here's a preventable, treatable, cancer, if detected early.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cancer sucks.
Get your screenings on time, folks.
What a tragic loss of an immense talent.

He just turned 43. He was diagnosed at 38. Colonoscopies are not routine screenings until your 50s.

45 is the recommended age now, unless you have a family history or other predispositions which will lower the screening age.

He wasn’t 45

Like many others I had a strong reaction to this as well. I did not follow him other than seeing black panther, which I loved and recognized as an iconic movie. I see what a strong image and role model he was for Black people.

I think it also reminds all of us about how fragile and temporary life is, and it is scary to have someone pass at 43. Someone who had so much potential. And he had to die with this idiot still in office and horrible things happening to Black people every day. I just feel like there’s nothing to look forward to right now. I was crying a lot and scaring my husband.

PP here who's husband has cancer. Thank you all so much for your kind words. It is such a cruel disease, especially in situations like my husband and Chadwick Boseman's where its just "bad luck" as the doctors describe it. With young people who get cancer in their 20's, 30's, early 40's (before screening ages) many cases are undetectable until they're advanced. My husband has pancreatic cancer and has no family history and it wasn't discovered until it was advanced. With colon cancer, its my understanding that insurance won't even cover colonoscopies for young people unless you can prove a family history that puts you at higher risk (we tried to get one for my husband and it was a problem). I've read that colon cancer cases are rising pretty dramatically in young people, which may spur screening earlier than 45 in coming years. But, until then, young people's diseases will be discovered at more advanced stages that are harder to treat.

I do take solace in the fact that every person is a statistic of one. And we have met some long term survivors that give us hope everyday. But, it's such a gruesome disease for everyone connected to the person going through it.

But should we be getting our colonoscopies at age 38? That's my age now. I doubt insurance would even cover that, absence some serious risk factors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THE IMPERATIVE TO DO LIST

1) TALK TO DOC ABOUT SCHEDULING YOUR COLONOSCOPY

2) VOTE

AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON IT

This. His death is not even fair and I bet colonoscopy appointments are going to skyrocket because of it. Also vote.

+1

The one silver lining is this very sad loss is lives being saved because of the increase in screenings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THE IMPERATIVE TO DO LIST

1) TALK TO DOC ABOUT SCHEDULING YOUR COLONOSCOPY

2) VOTE

AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON IT

This. His death is not even fair and I bet colonoscopy appointments are going to skyrocket because of it. Also vote.

I am so sad about this news.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

THE IMPERATIVE TO DO LIST

1) TALK TO DOC ABOUT SCHEDULING YOUR COLONOSCOPY

2) VOTE

AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS UPON IT

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry. I was just telling my husband we need to get colonoscopies. We are 43 and 49. Ugh. RIP.

My doctor is insisting I get one. I am 46. He said the new recommendation is to start at 45.