The Screening That Could Save Your Life

By Grant Sunoo, LTSC Director of Community Building and Engagement

I never thought I’d write about a personal medical procedure for Little Tokyo Service Center’s blog. But while the topic may be a bit uncomfortable, I strongly believe the greater Asian American community can benefit from my story.

This is about my colonoscopy.

For the uninitiated, a colonoscopy is a medical procedure where a doctor inserts a camera through your rectum, up to the colon and, finally, your large intestine. This preventative screening checks for harmful growths, called polyps, and can often detect conditions like diverticulosis and ulcerative colitis. Though considered a routine test, it’s an incredibly important one that requires some thoughtful preparation.

The day before my procedure I was on a very strict clear-liquid diet, only able to ingest broth, gelatin and Sprite for 24 hours. My family tried their best to make the process fun. My older daughter helped me shop for “approved” liquids and found every clear beverage in the drink aisle. It wasn’t the most fun day (and I was very, very hungry), but it became a family adventure filled with laughter and curiosity.

The uncomfortable part started at around 6 p.m. that evening – bowel prep. In order for doctors to get a proper look at your intestines, you have to make sure the contents have been…cleared out. Cut to me drinking a gallon of laxative solution over the course of four hours to “clean out” my system. Was it pleasant? Absolutely not, but it was manageable. Especially when I reminded myself this was an integral part of taking care of my health.

The procedure came the next morning and was pretty simple. I checked in, took a quick nap (thanks to some very effective medicine), and woke up about an hour later, hungry and ready to go home. A few days later I received my results and learned that three polyps were removed – the kind that could become cancerous if left untreated.

That news hit me hard. I know too many people who have died from cancer. LTSC’s own Dean Matsubayashi passed just over six years ago from a rare cancer, and another friend and mentor, Ruth Teague, passed from colon cancer about 12 years ago, along with the parents of several close friends. It felt surreal to be one step closer to that fate.

I didn’t know that colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Asian Americans. While the numbers aren’t great, the good news is that 90% of cases of colorectal cancer can be treated effectively if caught early. With Asian Americans getting screened 30% less often than other ethnic groups, screening is really the key here to saving more lives.

The peace of mind that came with my results was worth every second of discomfort I experienced during the prep. Getting screened isn’t just for me and my health, it’s for the people I love, and the people that love me.

If you’re over 45, please talk to your doctor about getting a preventative colonoscopy. If you’d like to learn more about the risks, symptoms and screening methods for colorectal cancer, attend LTSC’s virtual workshop on Tuesday, 12/9 by registering at this link.