Thank you for this post Stacy. I can speak from experience that many doctors tend to forget about their own health while catering to their patients. This has to change. To take care of others, doctors should take care of themselves first.
Also, advance birthday wishes. Have a blessed year ahead.
This is definitely a problem. I'm not sure how we can get the message out? For many, taking time away from clinic becomes increasingly difficult - for vacation or personal appointments. More research is definitely needed to see where the barriers are.
I have to admit to a bit of a chuckle because they say doctors make the worst patients. My sister can confirm this (RN). I know this is a serious issue with doctors and the old saying: Medice, cura te ipsum (Physician, heal thyself ). Of course, I don't blame them too much as colonoscopies are NOT fun. Any thoughts on new diagnostics making this obsolete.
I agree with your sister! Vulnerability is difficult especially in a medical setting. And yes, they are not fun. So far, the virtual colonoscopies have not really stacked up well and they've been around for 10+ years. I'm hopeful that better risk assessment will allow targeted screening. The broad brush approach that we put in place 50 years ago is in desperate need of an update.
Maybe that's because doctors know that the only RCT on screening that showed a life expectancy benefit was sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer... And I'm not sure how many days that was. We know that doctors have a massive financial investment in the cancer screening industry and we know how unpleasant and unnecessary these tests are. We make informed choices. When you debate Vinay Prasad on this column, you'll have some academic integrity, as someone who genuinely wants to know why drs don't screen, you need to follow his substack - cancer doctor and epidemiologist and screening sceptic.
Had a colonoscopy <45 yo, but just signed up for Cologuard today at a physical... Next scope at 50 unless a problem. Great points here, motivational for potential slackers like me ;)
Thank you for this post Stacy. I can speak from experience that many doctors tend to forget about their own health while catering to their patients. This has to change. To take care of others, doctors should take care of themselves first.
Also, advance birthday wishes. Have a blessed year ahead.
This is definitely a problem. I'm not sure how we can get the message out? For many, taking time away from clinic becomes increasingly difficult - for vacation or personal appointments. More research is definitely needed to see where the barriers are.
I have to admit to a bit of a chuckle because they say doctors make the worst patients. My sister can confirm this (RN). I know this is a serious issue with doctors and the old saying: Medice, cura te ipsum (Physician, heal thyself ). Of course, I don't blame them too much as colonoscopies are NOT fun. Any thoughts on new diagnostics making this obsolete.
I agree with your sister! Vulnerability is difficult especially in a medical setting. And yes, they are not fun. So far, the virtual colonoscopies have not really stacked up well and they've been around for 10+ years. I'm hopeful that better risk assessment will allow targeted screening. The broad brush approach that we put in place 50 years ago is in desperate need of an update.
Maybe that's because doctors know that the only RCT on screening that showed a life expectancy benefit was sigmoidoscopy for colon cancer... And I'm not sure how many days that was. We know that doctors have a massive financial investment in the cancer screening industry and we know how unpleasant and unnecessary these tests are. We make informed choices. When you debate Vinay Prasad on this column, you'll have some academic integrity, as someone who genuinely wants to know why drs don't screen, you need to follow his substack - cancer doctor and epidemiologist and screening sceptic.
Had a colonoscopy <45 yo, but just signed up for Cologuard today at a physical... Next scope at 50 unless a problem. Great points here, motivational for potential slackers like me ;)