3 days ago
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
Colonoscopies Beat the Alternative Every Day
I read Jim Sollisch's complaints about the discomfort of colonoscopy preparation with amusement and concern ('Colonoscopy Prep Is Worse Than IKEA,' op-ed, June 3). I have had 12 colonoscopies since I was 50 thanks to a family history of colon cancer. The prep is uncomfortable and inconvenient. The alternative is far worse. My father was diagnosed with this terrible cancer in 1958. Doctors gave him six months to live in a time before colostomies were common. He lasted five years—a time I cherish—but the cost to him was high. I think watching someone die from colon cancer might help Mr. Sollisch put the prep into perspective. It isn't as unbearable as he describes, and I would never want to see anyone decline a procedure for one of the most preventable cancers. If you are at risk for colon cancer, schedule your procedure today.
Ken Gurak
