Having reached the age of 45, Ryan Reynolds decided to have a colonoscopy, and filmed it in order to save lives.
The American Cancer Society recommends that people who have reached the age of 45 should start regular screenings.
Colon cancer is one of the leading cancer killers in America, so Reynolds and his friend Rob McElhenney (Mythic Quest, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), who also turned 45 this year, teamed up with Lead From Behind, a new initiative hoping to spread the message that colon cancer is "the preventable cancer."
You can view the video of the procedures by clicking here.
Dr. Lapook, who performed Reynolds' colonoscopy, found a subtle polyp that he explained could have developed into cancer.
"It’s a simple step that could literally, and I mean literally, save your life," Ryan said during the video. "I've been on camera a lot. But this was the first time one was shoved up my ass. The procedure and prep were painless but the discomfort of filming and sharing the process was the hardest part."
"This was potentially life-saving for you — I’m not kidding; I’m not being overly dramatic," Dr. Lapook said. "This is exactly why you do this. You had no symptoms." He added, "You are interrupting the natural history of a disease of something of a process that could have ended up developing into cancer and causing all sorts of problems."
During McElhenny's colonoscopy, his physician, Dr. Treyzon, found three polyps. He told McElhenny, "A colonoscopy test is the gold standard test for the prevention of colon cancer. So we think that colon cancer is a 100 percent preventable disease if healthy people get their periodic test." ~Alexandra Heilbron
It is an uncomfortable procedure for anyone to have done, but, especially if anything is found, you get over your embarrassment quite quickly. Thank you Ryan Reynolds for having this procedure done and showing people what could happen. Am glad they caught his quickly and took immediate corrective action..
Not enough Americans get checked because of the cost. I was just watching a show from the 1970s and two of the three stars of the show died of colon cancer, one male, one female. They weren't young, but they could have lived years longer. In their case, they must have had the money, but just didn't get the checkup. My doctor told me at 50 to get it, and if you have a polyp, you get another screening in 5 years, if not, then 10. It's over before you know it, doesn't hurt, the only part of it that's unpleasant is the day before, when you can't eat solid food and you drink something to clean out your system.
I've had three colonoscopies , and found 2 polyps the second time and 1 the third. I'm 59 . One of which could have progressed into cancer if left alone for 2 - 3 more years. So yes , it saved me alot of trouble later.
Ryan. As a Canadian the stupports you in all you do! Be it acting listening to your conversations, and I admire you and your choices to pay it forward!!! Congrats on being so open with your friend and your own situation with regards to colon cancer and the preventive measures we all can take to prevent this dreaded cancer. Thanks for the reminder (I have had one at fifty and as I have turned sixty-two,) recently I am arranging another as soon as I can get in for the next one. Thanks Again for bringing this and many other critical issues, that we can all benefit from!! :-) Michael Hurst A Great fan
I slept thru my colonoscopy (DRUG given to relax me really did the trick) LOL so no idea how uncomfortable or embarrassing it might be. When my youngest sister had hers they found polyps that were cancerous so she is now on her last round of oral chemo then will have a CT scan and another colonoscopy so hopefully it is gonee.
6% of people will develope colon cancer before their 5 year follow up. If polyp found 3 years gold standard.
So what happens AFTER they find a polyp? What IS a polyp? And WHAT is the treatment? Is it always successful? Yes, for a Hollywood cat I will say that Ryan is quite a conscious and Realized Being, Wish we had more Humans like him running the World, and Trying to Save this Beautiful Planet. Thanks Ryan. (Love Mint, too!!)
always successful?
I'm pleased to see this. My son, who would have been 60 last month, died of colon cancer two years ago.