Courtney Bugler, President and CEO at ZERO Prostate Cancer, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Yesterday, I got a colonoscopy. (Yes, this photo is from pre-op.).
Not my first. Not even close.
I had my first one at 21, after my brother was diagnosed with colon cancer at 23. Since then, I’ve had one every 2-3 years for nearly three decades. At this point, I have… opinions. (We can absolutely talk about prep strategies another time.
Why is anyone still drinking the gallon?
But here’s what’s been on my mind this time: Even for me – someone with great insurance, a flexible job, deep healthcare knowledge, and a very compelling family history – getting a colonoscopy is still hard.
Not medically. Logistically.
Because someone has to be there.
I’m a single mom without family nearby. That often means asking a friend to rearrange their life for me. Sometimes that’s easy. Sometimes… it’s not. And yes, there have been times it’s affected when I scheduled (or delayed) my screening.
So if this is a barrier for me – a healthcare ‘super user’ with every possible advantage – what does this look like for someone without those supports?
This is what we mean when we talk about barriers to early detection.
Logistical. Structural. Human.
- Time off work.
- Childcare.
- Transportation.
- Cost (even with insurance).
- And yes – having another person available to help.
All of these things stand between people and screenings that save lives.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the guidance is clear: if you’re 45 or older, it’s time to get screened.
But awareness isn’t enough if access isn’t real. If we’re serious about early detection, we have to design systems that meet people where they are – not where we assume they should be.
Also, for the record: My first colonoscopy prep at 21 year old involved me taking ‘shots’ of prep solution alongside my friends doing actual vodka shots. It was the only way I could get it down. Not medically endorsed. But highly effective at the time.
If you’ve been putting it off, consider this your sign.”
Other articles about Colorectal Cancer on OncoDaily.