Inaccurate — and dangerous

Cody sossamon LEDGERPUBLISHER

“It’s a TV show, honey. It’s not real.”

I was ranting and raving about some gross inaccuracies I had just seen on the tube and my wife was trying to calm me down.

“But some people will get the wrong idea and it could cost them their life,” I replied.

The show, “Listen Up” starring Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame, is not one of my favorites but I watch it from time to time when I’ve already seen what is on the History Channel during the same time slot.

During this particular episode, Jason (Tony Kleinman) was “going under the knife” according to a CBS Web site promo and conversations during the show.

Actually, Tony was having a colonoscopy and “going under the knife” doesn’t accurately portray the procedure.

There were several other inaccuracies about colonoscopies.

One, after the procedure Tony was told a polyp had been found and would have to be surgically removed. That’s inaccurate.

A good thing about colonoscopies is that polyps can be removed during the procedure.

Two, Tony’s son was making jokes about Tony having to be shaved before the polyp surgery. Not so.

I’ve had three colonoscopies and polyps removed during two of them.

Never been shaved.

Another problem with the show was after the procedure Tony was shown lying on his stomach, intimating that it would have been painful for him to be sitting on his backside.

In the next scene, he was shown putting a ‘donut’ pillow on the sofa before he sat down, also implying there is some discomfort involved after a colonoscopy.

Again, speaking from experience, I can tell you nothing could be further from the truth. I experienced no pain or discomfort whatsoever during or after my procedures.

But, why, you ask, did I get so upset about a few little dramatizations?

Like I told my wife, most people are already reluctant to undergo a colonoscopy, which, by the way, involves using a tiny camera inserted through your rectum, to check the colon for any polyps that could become cancerous. It is the best-known method for early detection of colon cancer, the key to survival.

I had my first one several years ago after my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer.

The doctor found and removed several polyps, some of which he said would have become cancerous within months.

I was able to avoid the major surgery and chemotherapy my dad went through. He has been cancer-free for more than five years, but the treatment was long and painful.

I didn’t have to go through all that and am alive today because I had a colonoscopy and continue to have them on a regular basis.

The general perception of what is involved with a colonoscopy is enough to make people squeamish about getting one. A popular TV show airing erroneous information about the procedure will only make more people decide not to have one.

That decision could cost them their life.

When you are already looking for reasons NOT to do something, it doesn’t take much to strengthen your reluctance.

I told my wife someone who has been struggling with deciding whether or not to have a colonoscopy might see that show and decide it’s not worth it.

There are certain guidelines to go by for determining who needs a colonoscopy. Talk with a doctor about when you should have the procedure. Generally speaking anyone over 50, or younger if there is a family history of colon cancer, should have a colonoscopy.

If you want more information, do a web search for ‘colon cancer’ and you’ll find hundreds of sites that offer all kinds of information — some good, some bad like the ‘Listen Up’ show.

The show, despite its inaccuracies, was funny, but it could have been funny and accurate.

And it would not have adversely affected any potentially life-saving decisions.

Like I said, I’ve had three colonoscopies and the worst part was the day-before preparation, which involves drinking a gallon of some awful tasting liquid to cleanse the colon.

As for the procedure itself, the sedation knocked me out and I don’t remember a thing.

I do remember the doctor telling me after the first one that I had it done just in time.

That was real.

(Cody Sossamon is publisheer of The Gaffney Ledger. You can contact him via e-mail at cody@gaffneyledger.com)