Just in case you thought I was a little over the top a week or so ago when I told you to hustle off to your primary care physician and sign up for the next colonoscopy train, I want you to know that about three dozen people DID share their stories with me and I now think you need to try even harder to get the job done.

You may remember that I wasn’t too keen on exchanging colonoscopy tales with readers of the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin. As usual, no one paid any attention to my comments about their comments and I heard it all. I guess that is alright because several of the stories involved more serious results than I had and you should know that as well.

Oh sure, give me that “… well, I just don’t want to know …” routine. Colon cancer is one of the easiest cancers to cure if caught in time. Choosing to do nothing about colon screening is just crazy.

Here is a thought for you: thousands of people who actually have cancer would give just about anything to be in your shoes … thousands. You have a chance to get in line for regular screening and you have terrific odds of beating a deadly disease. Not taking advantage of the screening or continuing to put it off is an insult to those who won’t get a second chance.

So hop to it.

This past weekend, I had an in-depth discussion about colonoscopies with a man I met briefly before I wrote that opinion column. We talked about our experiences and the results of our screenings. (You know, that stuff I wasn’t going to talk about!) He told me he waited (as I did) instead of getting it done when his physician suggested. He is OK, but he had some invasive surgery and a drawn-out recovery time because he waited so long. He said I could tell you this in print. He is grateful for his second chance and he would like for you to suck it up and do what needs to be done.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Sometimes I am surprised by the power of the press. Messages do get through to the six regular readers and, often times, to a number of others. Take advantage of our experiences and do something worthwhile for your body. As I said, doing nothing should not be an option.

— Susan Marshall