Yesterday I told my mother her youngest child was going to die.
Listen please, this is not a pity post - that's not me. It's a warning because I know that if someone reads this, it can save lives, and if it's just one, it will be worth me typing this through tears.
My youngest brother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer almost 6 years - at that time he was told to get his affairs in order. He fought a long time and beat the odds. He always said he wanted to outlive our mother and now he won't.
His doctor told us two days ago that my brother has reached the point where he can no longer help him, it might be as soon as a week, and we are devastated.
The hardest part was when my wife and I went to tell our 99 year old mother. I had to listen to that poor woman softly cry for an hour - she was so sure he was going to beat it even though he never got to remission. Listening to her heart break was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.
My brother was only 50 when diagnosed - the age when colonoscopies were recommended. Today, the age has been reduced to 45.
Colonoscopies are an easy and painless procedure - you'll nap through the 45 minutes it takes. If you have any polyps, they will remove them and send them for biopsy. If you have them, they schedule you every 5 years, if you have none, it's 10 years.
For reasons that aren't understood, colon cancer is on the rise. If you're in your mid 40s or older, please get this done. It's easy and painless and can save your life. If my brother had had one at 45, he would have had a nice long life ahead of him.
Please don't think of yourself on this matter - if you have someone who loves you - brothers, sisters, spouse, friends, have this done sooner than later.
No mother should ever be told her child is going to die.