HOUSTON – Keith Rollins, the founder of Push Up Foundation, survived colon cancer at age 49.
“We said Push Up because you’re supposed to get your colonoscopy at the age of 45. I didn’t know that!” Rollins said.
His doctor, Omar Madriz, said more patients are getting diagnosed younger and many don’t know it could’ve been caught sooner with a colonoscopy.
“When he came to see me for a completely different reason, I made it known to him that he needed to be screened because he was already four years overdue, and at the time, he wasn’t aware that the new screening guidelines included getting a colonoscopy at 45,” Dr. Madriz said,
Typical symptoms of colon cancer can include:
- Rectal bleeding
- Change in bowel habits
- Abdominal pain
Dr. Madriz said you need to get to the doctor sooner than 45 if you’re having symptoms, which can include something as innocent as a hemorrhoid.
“If for any reason you think you’re having hemorrhoid symptoms, don’t assume it’s a hemorrhoid because it could be something else. So, I would say it’s a very common misconception that any problems ‘down there’ has to be a hemorrhoid, and that’s not always the case, so I would highly encourage patients that are having any problems to get checked,” Madriz said.
Colonoscopies are free in Texas.
In recent years, the rate of screening has increased. Some credit the accessibility of screening and at-home tests. While at-home tests may not be covered by insurance, they may be a convenient choice for some people. Talk with your doctor to find out if that’s right for you.