Dan got mine and Eric’s stories mixed up. I’ve never had a colonoscopy but I scheduled one today. I’m 45 next week so might as well. Haven’t had a physical in 4 years but getting one soon. Fun.?

On Sep 15, 2022, at 5:08 PM, Eric Bloom via <ericbloom8=[email protected]> wrote:

?

the group would go to the grave with dan.? but at his funeral we would all be required to share the most inappropriate sexually deviant thought we've ever had as part of his eulogy.

On Sep 15, 2022, at 1:51 PM, Joe Steinberger <joe@...> wrote:

I too proceeded through the email thinking, "Fuck, Dan is dying."??

Which was an interesting and worthwhile exercise.? Let us all think about life as if Dan were dying.? What would we do?? ?

Tomorrow we can think about if this is the last time we might see our neighbor and how we might savor the last interaction with him, and what we would say, but for today, Dan.? It made me wonder if we would keep this group going????

Perhaps we should have a reunion.? Maybe Dave Ford can all put us up in his guest room?

On Thu, Sep 15, 2022 at 1:47 PM Eric Bloom via <ericbloom8=[email protected]> wrote:

oh - I also get physicals at least once a year, and sometimes twice, and have blood work done every 6 months to measure all the important things.? doing this 3 years ago led me to make major changes in terms of diet, physical exercise and activity etc - and the changes in a variety of levels over the ensuing 6 month period were pretty dramatic.? I want to live well into my 90's at the very least, with the emphasis being on the word "well".

On Sep 15, 2022, at 1:45 PM, Eric Bloom via <ericbloom8=[email protected]> wrote:

I've had two colonoscopies.? My first at 40 (about 10 years earlier than the recommended age at that time), and the next one at 45 (about 2 years ago now), because they recommend getting one every 5 years.? I do not want any form of cancer, and if there were early detection options for brain, kidney, lung, etc I would go in for all of them.? The prostate check is the most common and well trusted so I do it because if you catch it early, prostate cancer is treatable, but catch it too late and forget about it.? So get the colonoscopy.? The prep is awful - you have to drink this horrible liquid solution to clean out your colon and it basically makes you have intense diarrhea for 12 hours, but the 20 minutes of propofol induced sleep you get during the procedure is fucking awesome.? deep deep sleep.

Both of my brothers have a history of colitis and other colon related issues (although they are half-siblings and it probably comes from their dad who was not my dad), and my oldest brother actually has a colostomy bag.? Also something I never want.? So I started getting the procedure just to be extra cautious.? It's not inexpensive, even with insurance, but worth that particular peace of mind.

Dan - I was reading your email with mounting dread, waiting for the sentence where you reveal you have stage 4 fucking cancer and like 3 months to live or something.? Maybe next time start off with - "for the record, let me begin by saying, I do not have cancer" or something like that.? fuck.

On Sep 15, 2022, at 12:58 PM, Dan Buck <vertpurple@...> wrote:

He's had one at 40. And now at 45. That's all I know.

But this email is not about Christian.?

Or Ryan Reynolds (who just had a colonoscopy on a bet and found a polyp).?

Or Burt Reynolds (who Christian did?just tell me he would have his role in Deliverance?out of let's say if 4 of us were the characters..meaning obviously Christian would play Lewis because he's the coolest and most fit)

(who would be Bobby/Ned Beatty? Don't say Reechard.)?

This email is about me.

I guess about a month ago I had my first physical at Sandra's urging. I know you say 'That's crazy' but it's because I've been abroad, we haven't had the greatest insurance, whatever.

So I had a physical. Everything seemed fine. He stuck his finger up my rectum. Bloodwork. Yeah.

And then a few days later he said that I have extremely high cholesterol and moderately--unusually high PSA (Prostate-specific antigen). PSA is a possible indicator of prostate cancer.

So I had a 4K test about 3 weeks ago. It said, basically, that I have a 19% chance of prostate cancer by also measuring my PSA level.

Then I had an MRI. And by the way the MRI was fucking weird. Not like the movies but like something that I can't really describe in an email very well. Very loud and 1970s like and sickening and weird.

And then while we waited for the results my family and I watched My Girl?for the first time and one of the kids says, 'Prostate cancer. Once you get that, you're done.'

So I finally got the results yesterday and on a scale from 1 - 5 for the MRI where 1 means 'normal blood flow' and 5 means 'lightning fast blood and cancer apparently' I had a zero. The doctor said he had never seen it before.

For the time being I don't believe I have prostate cancer. I will go to the urologist every 6 months to check on my PSA levels. I'm not going to get a biopsy though the doctor says it's a valid choice. Who knows.

What I believe?by doing just a little bit of research (you can also easily Google yourself).

1. Men who enjaculate A LOT have higher PSA in their blood.

2. Statistically I ejaculate twice as much as people my age. I'm a solid 6 / 7 days a week.

And that's it.?

Christian did tell me yesterday he is getting a colonoscopy. And he said it is ok to tell you. There are no symptoms as far as I know. He is doing it because he is 45.

"These are the rules."

Like that guy in Saw.

"These are the rules."

Dan