Advice For My Fellow 40+ers

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

We had two minor scares this month involving my girlfriend and cancer. After her routine mammogram last month the doctor wanted her to come in for further tests because they found something that worried them. She just had the test today and the news was all good. They want her to come back in six months for another test to see if nothing has changed, but otherwise she is in the clear.

She also found out she has a strain of HPV. Although most people think of HPV as being synonymous with genital warts you can actually have the virus for decades and never experience any symptoms from it. It is estimated roughly 75% of the adult population has been infected with it. It is a major factor in the development of cervical cancer and woman who don't get screened regularly have a much higher chance of getting cervical cancer.

Now that we're entering our 40's we've both realized that we have now come to that time when we have to worry about the Big Casino in our lives and have to get regular testing. It may be frightening to have to face the possibility of it every year, but nowhere near as frightening as not catching it early enough. I encourage everyone here over 40 to get regular check-ups.

 

[Mallory]

I couldn't agree with you more. I've had cancer twice now, the last time I was given an 18% chance of living another six months and given the forms for physician assisted suicide. Early detection and diagnosis is the key to beating the bastard.

 

[the Dagman]

Yeah, age kind of creeps up on you and bites you in the ass sometimes. My sister is currently battling ovarian cancer and my aunt is recovering from breast cancer after having a double mastectomy. The Big C is a real bastard.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ I hope they will both be okay.

This is good advice. Not just cancer, but other conditions, such as heart disease, can sneak up on you. We have to look out for ourselves.

 

[Neroon]

I couldn't agree with you more. I've had cancer twice now, the last time I was given an 18% chance of living another six months and given the forms for physician assisted suicide. Early detection and diagnosis is the key to beating the bastard.

Don't forget the voodoo tumor.

As for me, 47 and getting checkups every year.

 

[Deckerd]

voodoo tumor.

?

 

[SicOne]

Let me also throw in a word about prostate cancer. Men, get your screenings yearly. I know it's been said it doesn't need to be done every year, but let me tell you, having witnessed its ravages on a coworker, get it done yearly. It's uncomfortable and I never thought I'd pay good money for a man to stick his finger in my nether region, but it needs to be done.

 

[Deckerd]

Let me also throw in a word about prostate cancer. Men, get your screenings yearly. I know it's been said it doesn't need to be done every year, but let me tell you, having witnessed its ravages on a coworker, get it done yearly. It's uncomfortable and I never thought I'd pay good money for a man to stick his finger in my nether region, but it needs to be done.

Wasn't there a classic Family Guy about that?

 

[SicOne]

Let me also throw in a word about prostate cancer. Men, get your screenings yearly. I know it's been said it doesn't need to be done every year, but let me tell you, having witnessed its ravages on a coworker, get it done yearly. It's uncomfortable and I never thought I'd pay good money for a man to stick his finger in my nether region, but it needs to be done.

Wasn't there a classic Family Guy about that?

I don't know. All I know was that I asked my regular doctor to check that out during my annual physical exam, two weeks ago, and afterwards I was left in the examining room bent over and sticky and alone, wiping up, with tears in my eyes, vaguely needing to defecate. I felt so dirty. And I had to pay HIM money for that.

Digital exam and PSAs came back negative, though, so there is that.

Mrs. SicOne said next year, she was going to come in and watch.

 

[Neroon]

voodoo tumor.

?

I'll let Mallory field that one. With the way he kicked "the big c's" ass - TWICE - I'm scared of him!

 

[Deckerd]

Let me also throw in a word about prostate cancer. Men, get your screenings yearly. I know it's been said it doesn't need to be done every year, but let me tell you, having witnessed its ravages on a coworker, get it done yearly. It's uncomfortable and I never thought I'd pay good money for a man to stick his finger in my nether region, but it needs to be done.

Wasn't there a classic Family Guy about that?

I don't know. All I know was that I asked my regular doctor to check that out during my annual physical exam, two weeks ago, and afterwards I was left in the examining room bent over and sticky and alone, wiping up, with tears in my eyes, vaguely needing to defecate. I felt so dirty. And I had to pay HIM money for that.

You're really persuading people here.

 

[SicOne]

Wasn't there a classic Family Guy about that?

I don't know. All I know was that I asked my regular doctor to check that out during my annual physical exam, two weeks ago, and afterwards I was left in the examining room bent over and sticky and alone, wiping up, with tears in my eyes, vaguely needing to defecate. I felt so dirty. And I had to pay HIM money for that.

You're really persuading people here.

Well, it's important.

But if I had to do it all over again, I'd ask the doctor to at least fix me a glass of wine to relax me a bit. It was very harsh and abrupt.

Though I would have been freaked out if he'd been metacarpal-deep, then whispered, "Why haven't you called me?"...

 

[Mallory]

voodoo tumor.

?

During my last go round with the disease I had to have one of my tumors (I had seven clusters at the time) surgically removed for biopsy. As part of the follow-up I was given the dimensions and shape of it for informational purposes. A member of the board that knew what was going on then sewed up a pin cushion with those exact dimensions and shape, dubbed it the voodoo tumor and sent it with a bunch of pins to me to cheer me up. Which it did. I got a great deal of pleasure out of sticking pins in the voodoo tumor.

In essence, it was a voodoo doll for cancer.

 

[Pindar]

Yep, last christmas I was peeing blood and and had to wait to weeks to see if I had cancer or Kidney failure.

Getting a cystoscopy is is fucking horrible, but it had to be done to check for bladder cancer and other problems.

The message is growing old sucks donkey balls, I'll be 40 this year.

I got checked in to hospital last year thikning I had had a heart attack, it was very scary, I phoned my gp to complain about chest pain and was pretty soon in a gown hooked up to a ton of machines.

It turned out I had pulled a chest muscle over my heart.

All this shit is just waiting it's chance to take us down.

Get checked up even the thought is embarrassing or hateful.

It's better than dieing.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Let me also throw in a word about prostate cancer. Men, get your screenings yearly. I know it's been said it doesn't need to be done every year, but let me tell you, having witnessed its ravages on a coworker, get it done yearly. It's uncomfortable and I never thought I'd pay good money for a man to stick his finger in my nether region, but it needs to be done.

This is why I always pick female PCPs.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

We had two minor scares this month involving my girlfriend and cancer. After her routine mammogram last month the doctor wanted her to come in for further tests because they found something that worried them. She just had the test today and the news was all good. They want her to come back in six months for another test to see if nothing has changed, but otherwise she is in the clear.

She also found out she has a strain of HPV. Although most people think of HPV as being synonymous with genital warts you can actually have the virus for decades and never experience any symptoms from it. It is estimated roughly 75% of the adult population has been infected with it. It is a major factor in the development of cervical cancer and woman who don't get screened regularly have a much higher chance of getting cervical cancer.

Now that we're entering our 40's we've both realized that we have now come to that time when we have to worry about the Big Casino in our lives and have to get regular testing. It may be frightening to have to face the possibility of it every year, but nowhere near as frightening as not catching it early enough. I encourage everyone here over 40 to get regular check-ups.

Actually, forget being 40+, people should be getting tested starting in their 20's.


Disease has no age limit and if you start getting tested younger and keep going every year, you have a better chance of catching anything before it gets too serious.


The things we all do these days (with processed foods, bad air, etc), it's more important than every to see a doctor regularly.

 

[SicOne]

This is why I always pick female PCPs.

RJ, I would think that would be even more humiliating!

Plus, if she had an argument with her significant other that morning, do you really want her poking your poop chute when she's pissed?

 

[SicOne]

The message is growing old sucks donkey balls...

Sure beats the alternative, my man...

 

[RJDiogenes]

This is why I always pick female PCPs.

RJ, I would think that would be even more humiliating!

It's better than having a guy poking at me.

 

[Mallory]

I sure am glad I'm still getting regular PET scans. So far I've avoided the really invasive stuff.