Pop Culture and Colonoscopies?
In March 2000, Katie Couric boldly went where no TV anchor had gone before by undergoing a colonoscopy on national television. After losing her first husband at the age of 42 to metastatic colon cancer, she sought a unique way to raise colorectal cancer awareness.
In the following weeks and months, the numbers of people across the country having colonoscopies increased more than 20 percent, reported a study by researchers at the University of Michigan Health System and the University of Iowa. This phenomenon was dubbed the “Couric Effect”. Her mission to raise public awareness not only succeeded, but actually inspired people to take action. Click the link to learn more about her impact and watch her colon’s television debut:
https://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/1133017/katie-couric-colon-cancer/
In 2010, uber health conscious physician and television host Dr. Mehmet Oz chronicled his colon cancer screening adventure when he turned 50. Dr. Oz didn’t follow the preparation instructions carefully (he ate lentils the day before) and had to repeat his colonoscopy at a shorter than normal interval, especially because a precancerous polyp had been identified. Read the details here:
Watch his journey during his follow up colonoscopy:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkN-3abxcLU
- https://www.doctoroz.com/colonoscopy-videos/dr-ozs-colonoscopy-pt-6
For a little more humor, watch Katie Couric lead Jimmy Kimmel through his first colonoscopy when he reached the age of 50 earlier this year, as he proudly states “I colonoscopied!”:
https://www.today.com/health/jimmy-kimmel-gets-colonoscopy-help-katie-couric-t125453
Whether you relate to Katie Couric, Mehmet Oz, or Jimmy Kimmel, the message is consistent – get up to date with colon cancer screening recommendations. By adhering to screening recommendations, the risk of developing the second most common cause of cancer deaths can be reduced by 75-90%. Some celebrities that have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer include Audrey Hepburn, Darryl Strawberry, Ronald Reagan, Vince Lombardi, and the notorious RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsberg). Don’t join this crowd, come and get screened for colon cancer.
At Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health we try and reduce as may barriers as possible to make this an easy and efficient process. Numerous preparation options, breakfast the day before the test, early morning and Saturday hours, and a deluxe brand-new endoscopy suite all help to ensure a pleasant but thorough examination of the highest quality standards.
Learn more at: https://v5u.c69.myftpupload.com/procedures/#Colonoscopy. Call 224.407.4400 or visit www.compgihealth.com to schedule an appointment.