Originally Posted by
islandboy
I would not trust the stool test. At 47, I am now a four month survivor of stage 3 colorectal cancer. First and only sign was blood on my stool -
STOOL TEST SHOWED NOTHING!! 
Everyone thought haemorrhoids, luckily my Dr. still booked a barium, something showed, colonoscopy proved cancer - pT3,N0,R0,V0 was the determination after surgery (removed 90% of my rectum and part of my sigmoid colon 3/29/2007). 1 layer of cells away from having it spread - timing and location was my saving grace. Extremely lucky to need no radiation or chemotherapy - only a 5% increase in survival rate (75%).
I suggest this thread be made a sticky and everyone over 40 read it.
My riding has been very therapeutic.
On the upside I am no longer a complete a**hole!
You speak with great wisdom. Listen to him, everybody.
"Which reminds me, I've wondered from time to time what makes a person decide -- nay, aspire -- to become a colonoscopist?"
Well you see, its like this. When I was a medical student one of the faculty came to me and said, "Son, would you like to be able to get in 18 holes a day?" I swear I thought I was signing up for golf lessons......