I'm heading into the weekend a happy man. I had a colonoscopy( #4 in the last 8 years)a screening exam for colon-rectal cancer yesterday; and the surgeon found no polyps-growths that can eventually become cancer. This means that I don't need to have the procedure again for 5 years ,as long as I remain symptom free instead of 1-3 years!
I'm writing this because I can't help but wonder if quitting smoking had anything to do with this. Smoking as we all know ,increases our risk for many types of cancer -especially lung cancer. I am at higher risk for colon cancer because it runs in my family-my dad, who was a smoker too had it. Screening is recommended for average risk people at age 50. Being at high risk does not necessarily mean you will get cancer just as being at lower risk doesn’t mean that you won't. I'm attaching a link for the American Cancer Society which is a great source of information for all types of cancer. I think as an EX smoker, I need to be EX tra vigilant concerning my risk for any type of cancer and you may want to be too.http://www.cancer.org/index
Have a great smoke free weekend, Jim
