Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Summary
On episode 508 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan and Rachel cover colorectal cancer screening and colonoscopies, including who should get screened, at what age, and what it costs. Rachel is fresh off her first colonoscopy at 50, prompted by a family history of the disease, and walks through the entire prep process day by day, from cutting vitamins a week out to the two rounds of prescription solution the night before and morning of the procedure.
They discuss why the recommended screening age has dropped from 50 to 45 as colorectal cancer diagnoses tick up in younger age groups, what the test actually costs with and without insurance, and what happens next if a doctor finds polyps or something more serious.
The bottom line: early detection is what drives survival, and the discomfort of the prep is a small price for the peace of mind, or the head start on treatment, that screening provides.
Links
- https://40plusfitness.com
Key Takeaways
- Colon cancer screening guidelines have moved from age 50 to age 45. The American Cancer Society found colorectal cancer diagnoses rising among people 55 and younger, which pushed the recommended starting age down; family history can make it a day-one, non-negotiable priority.
- Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Nearly 60,000 people die from it each year, but there are more than 1.5 million survivors, and the death rate has dropped specifically because of screening and stool testing.
- Cost shouldn't be the reason you skip a screening. A cash-pay colonoscopy runs around 3,100 dollars, and an at-home stool test runs around 700 dollars out of pocket; Allan argues that's a budget line worth planning for as you age, not a reason to put it off.
- The prep, not the exam, is the hardest part. A week out you cut certain vitamins and medications, five days out you shift to a low-fiber diet, and the day before it's a clear liquid diet followed by a gallon of prescription solution split into two sessions.
- Eating keto or low-fiber beforehand can make the liquid-diet phase easier. Rachel found she wasn't especially hungry during the liquid-only day because her normal diet was already low in fiber and bread.
- The colonoscopy itself is fast and not painful, just uncomfortable beforehand. Rachel was sedated for about 30 minutes, woke up, had coffee, and was told the exam found no polyps.
- If polyps or a tumor are found, you become the CEO of your own care. Doctors vary in how aggressive they recommend being, so get a second or third opinion, especially from a specialist in colorectal cancer rather than a general oncologist.
- Cancer types move at different speeds, which affects how much time you have to decide. Some metastasize quickly and some barely progress at all, so understanding the specific type gives you a real timeline for making treatment decisions rather than panicking into the first option offered.
“Nope. Just go get screened, please.”
Rachel Everett
Another Episode You May Enjoy
Episode 689 – Staying strong against cancer with Sarah Cripps