Alan Hunt, Chattanooga, TN
Currently retired, but I spent 40 years as a Radiologic Technologist (X-Ray). I always swore that no one would ever do that to me. X-ray was used early on when the scope was about the size of a baseball bat and just slightly more flexible and minimal sedation.
As for being the poster boy for Stupidity in Tennessee, knowing the guidelines and ignoring them until I had my first colonoscopy at age 56, my wife and doctor brow beat me into submission, with no symptoms, finding four polyps with one being concerning (Cancer). Finding a positive Lymph node which won me the Chemo Lottery. I became very active with the American Cancer Society and lobby the Tennessee Legislators to set up a framework that will require Insurance companies to pay for colonscopies the same as they as they do for mammograms. God Bless all of you and with the continued efforts of all we can significantly reduce the total number of colon cancers
Having cancer totally changed my life and made me appreciate my relationship with my wife of 39 years and my children and grandchildren. I became a lot less driven by my career. I am much more relaxed than I ever have been and enjoy nothing more than spending time with family. To others I would say, keep the faith and realize that there is an entire team of people that want nothing less for you than a full recovery.