Some people count themselves fortunate to beat cancer once, but Scott McConnell does not settle for middle ground. He has fought cancer—and won—three times, all under the age of 45. This situation is almost unheard of, especially in an individual with no family history of colon cancer.
Scott was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 2014. Upon reflection, he thinks there is great irony in getting a colonoscopy.
“You don’t remember anything,” Scott says. “You go to sleep and it’s over.”
He refers to the procedure as an “uncomfortable inconvenience,” but also a “non-event.” The prep and bowel cleanse, on the other hand, might have a little too much action. Scott compares the prep day to riding a roller coaster.
“The prep is just part of it,” he explains. “There are 12 to 14 hours of a little discomfort but if you know what is coming, (when the prep solution kicks in), you just hang on until the ride is over.”
Scott has some wise advice about having patience during treatment. With three cancer diagnoses, he certainly knows more about patience and waiting than the average person. He recalls struggling with the treatment timeline because he wanted to recover instantly. When he could remind himself that there is a method to getting better, it helped him cope. Recovery takes time.
Because colon cancer can be hereditary, Scott understands that his children will need to be screened earlier. The good news is that he can refute the colonoscopy myths and remind his kids, when the time comes, that the procedure is not that bad. In fact, a colonoscopy has one significant advantage over other screenings: you find out instantly if you have colon issues. For someone like Scott who has redefined patience as a virtue, that knowledge is extra valuable.