The International Cessna^® 170 Association

hilltop170 wrote:
Joe-
I had lunch with Bob Snowden today, he said to say hi.

THANKS Richard! Say Hi back for me.

Frank, Jerry, and I were talking about Bob and his family today at lunch.

Dear 170 friends, if you have not had a sigmoidoscopy ( had your colon checked ) PLEASE do! Bad things happen in life, and this easy procedure could save your life. A friend and his wife were talked in to having thier's checked, and the wife had early signs of a possible problem. It's easily taken care of if caught early. Bad news if not caught early. This procedure is somewhat unpleasant, but tolerable. Nationwide, it is one of the most ignored procedures, and many people die needlessly. Don't put it off, and make sure your wife or husband has one too. How this relates to 170's - if you don't have your colon checked, someone else may be flying your bird in the future.

John Weatherly, a United pilot buddy of mine (from way back) was flying with a fresh Class I faa medial, but got off a United flight feeling stomach pains one day. He ended up being given 6 months due to colon cancer (and a doctor had failed to biopsy two cyst's removed 2 years earlier.)
John's ex-wife immediately hired lawyers, started sueing him for future childsupport, denied him acccess to his two young kids, and he was unable to get to see them until 4 months wasted in courts getting a court injunction against the ex,...while John went downhill.
He got to be with them finally, when he was too weak even to take a walk with them. All we could do was have them all out at the ranch and he could watch from the porch as my daughter played with his kids.
We buried John a month later, only just barely after getting the state Atty General to issue a Certificate of Commendation to him as a supportive single Dad. Hopefully some day his kids will find out about it because the ex will never tell them anything nice about that fantastic guy who loved them so dearly.
John was 35.
Pay attention to what Joe says. I've put it off for over a decade, and I'm going to act on Joe's advice ASAP.
Thanks Joe! You've given us all a Hopeful New Year!

That's GREAT news George! Be sure and have Jamie set an appointment for herself also.

Better to get a colonoscopy than a sigmoidoscopy. The sigmoidoscopy only looks at the lower colon rather than the whole thing. Had it done 4 yrs ago and it was completely painless. The worst part was getting yourself "cleaned out" prior to the procedure. It is a very treatable cancer if caught early so if your in your fifties and have not had it done -- get in there!

Joe and all-
I had my first sigmoidoscopy at 45 which showed nothing and first colonoscopy at 50 and guess what they found? Yep, a polyp which was very small and not a problem yet. They usually grow slowly and it could be years before you know there's a problem. Go get one NOW if you're 50 or over. BTW, the colonoscopy was more tolerable because they give a sedative, none with the sigmoidoscopy.

Merry Christmas ya'll

That's GREAT Richard. Very happy that you are on top of that. I assume Ina is doing the same, hope so.

Thanks guys for clearing up my mistake on medical terms. A colonoscopy is the way to go and it is painless. You wouldn't want your mother-in-law operating the controls though!