Tomorrow, October 28th, is my big day — I’ll be at Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon, Oklahoma, where the Digestive Disease Specialists will be performing my colonoscopy. My procedure starts bright and early at 9:30 a.m., and I’m a little nervous, but mostly just ready to get it over with.
The last time I had this done was ten years ago, back in 2015, and thankfully, everything turned out fine. Still, there’s something about the word colonoscopy that makes you tense up just a bit, isn’t there? But as much as I might want to skip it, I know how important this screening is.
Today’s the Prep Day
Today, I’m on what they call a clear liquid diet. For lunch, I’m having chicken broth. I’ve also packed a couple of lemon-lime Jell-Os and a bottle of Gatorade (the light-colored kind). I can have Coke or Sprite too — which helps keep the day a little more bearable!
At 5 p.m., I’ll start the first round of my prep medication, and then take the second round at 9 p.m. I’ve heard the taste can be pretty bad, so my plan is to chill it and drink it through a straw to keep that flavor off my taste buds. Pro tip from me to you!
Since I’ll be spending quite a bit of time running back and forth to the bathroom tonight, I’ve already decided to sleep in the guest bedroom — it’s closer to the bathroom and saves me from having to trek across the house every time. (If you’ve ever done one of these, you know exactly what I mean!)
Why This Test Matters
It’s easy to dread the prep, but the truth is, colonoscopies save lives. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2025 there will be an estimated 107,320 new cases of colon cancer and 46,950 new cases of rectal cancer in the U.S. But here’s the good news — regular colonoscopy screening can reduce colon cancer incidence by over 50% and mortality by about 60%.
That’s because colonoscopies can find and remove polyps — small growths that could turn cancerous over time — long before they cause problems.
The CDC also reports that 7 out of 10 adults aged 50–75 are now up to date with their colorectal cancer screenings. That’s encouraging, but we still have room for improvement, especially since the recommended age for starting screening is now 45 for most adults.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow morning, I’ll check in, get prepped, and then it’s lights out for a bit — sedation usually does the trick. After the procedure, I’ll rest, have someone drive me home, and hopefully get some reassuring results like I did ten years ago.
I might be a little nervous now, but I also feel grateful — grateful that screenings like this exist, grateful for the doctors and nurses who make it routine, and grateful for the chance to take care of my health proactively.
So, here’s my message for anyone reading this who’s been putting off their colonoscopy: don’t wait. The prep might be inconvenient (and okay, a little gross), but the peace of mind afterward is totally worth it.
Tomorrow, I’ll take a deep breath, trust my doctors, and know I’m doing something good for myself.
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