Russakoff Rules
Inside Charles Barkley
By Lee Russakoff
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:53:50 GMT
Are you one of those people who can't get enough of Charles Barkley? Something tells me that's about to change.
According to the Philadelphia Daily News' Dan Gross, the former NBA superstar and world renown "turrible" golfer has agreed to undergo a televised colonoscopy as part of the "Stand Up to Cancer" special being aired Sept. 5 by NBC, CBS and ABC.
Barkley said that when he told his friend Fred Lavner, of NB2 Apparel, about being asked to undergo the procedure on television, Lavner replied they were "probably just looking for the celebrity with the biggest a**."
It's great for Sir Charles to raise cancer awareness, but would you submit to this much "exposure"? Add your comment here.
Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 08-20-2008 02:12 PM
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Way to go Charles...be the example for people who only pay lip service to the causes they support.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:02:57 GMT | bistro
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Sir Charles is a very wise man. He is taking his responsibility to the top ( bottom if you will).The one performing the scope will not show his **bleep**. They will probably show his colon which is why he's having it done. He will have a bad night prior. But then he will have it over, He will not have to think about it for 10 more years at least. Good luck. thanks for taking responsibility on something if caught early is OK.
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:45:52 GMT | SandyC
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Charles is a gambler and needs money. I guarantee he will be getting some bucks for this.Wesley
Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:59:43 GMT | wplummer
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I had my first colonoscope 2 years ago and only at the urging of my Dr. I had heard horror stories of what to expect and I must admit I was not looking forward to this procedure. Well, I am a believer now. The medicine to cleanse the colon is far worse than the procedure, but everything was worth a clean bill of health. I think that what Charles Barkley is doing will be beneficial to many people who are in the same frame of mind that I was in regarding what to expect. Good Luck Sir Charles.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:46:43 GMT | pansymama
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My grandfather died before I was born, and over all the years my Dad was alive he believed the diagnosis from 1952 that his father died of liver cancer. My Dad died at age 78 in generally wonderful health, mentally and physically. However, he had cancer cells on his liver from advanced colon cancer. Surgery prolonged his life for about 6 months, but the cancer cells on his liver eventually killed him. I learned after the diagnosis, that he never submitted to a colonoscopy. I got to watch in vivid detail as this poor man died a terrible death. I praise Charles for bringing focus on this painless procedure. I have had two since my fathers death. I may have been too embarrassed to have this done proactively if it were not for witnessing his dying from something that was 100% preventable. The colon pre-work is not that bad. Everyone makes WAY too big a deal out of it in my experience. As I go through this, I convince myself that I am a hero to my family, my children, my wife, my friends who I may spare watching me die prematurely. Yes, I likely to this for myself. But please, please think of your loved ones. Is a little discomfort and limited embarrassment every 10 years really worth putting them through watching you die prematurely? Due to my family history, I have one every 5 years now. Perhaps if a polip is found, it will be every 3 years. Baby, I'm there! I am going to hold my wife, love my kids, enjoy my grandchildren, my dogs, my other pets, my hobbies, having a glass of wine in good health with all of my loved ones as long as I possibly can. For all of you criticizing Charles for being paid for this, look your loved ones in the eye tonight. Then write some critism on this blog. You will be quite a hero. Lastly, instead of putting your energy into some rediculous response to my post, put your energy into building your courage to make the phone call, make your appointment, and getting your check up. And have a long, happy life of hating me for writing this. Thanks for letting me feel like a hero for expressing this.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:08:34 GMT | farm1810
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BEING A COLON CANCER SURVIVOR..I THINKS IT'S FANTASTIC OF 'CHARLES'..ALSO OF KATIE CURIC (SP) WHO ALSO HAD THIS PROCEDURE ON TV...ME?? I'D DO IT IN A HEART BEAT..THAT'S WHY MY HEART IS STILL PUMPING..!!!EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IT DONE...IT KILLED MY WIFE OF 40+ YRS.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:56:51 GMT | xango
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THE PROCEDURE IS AN ABSOLUTE 'PIECE OF CAKE'..EVERY ONE I'VE HAD ( ABOUT 5 SO FAR )THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY DISCOMFORT WHATSOEVER...FOLKS ARE DUMB & DUMBER IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT DONE!!!Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:00:24 GMT | xango
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I had the procedure done. Hated the prep, feared the test. It was a total breeze and the feeling after the Doctor said, "You are one hundred percent good. See you in ten years." was the sweetest thing I ever heard.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:13:03 GMT | Godfather1
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I just had mine done. I'am clean for the next five years. Barkley might talk a lot of junk,but he backs it up with action! Right on Charles!Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:27:46 GMT | lenox57
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I'd rather see Katy Kouric's backside but right on Sir Charles. I'm having one of these this month.Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:32:52 GMT | PDXgiantsfan
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I have had 3 colonoscopies....there are pills now instead of the dreaded drink the night before. I can truthfully say I never felt a thing, not even embarrassed as you are totally covered and lay on your side, with the anethesiologist at your other side putting you into a dream state. It is over before you know it and so worth it. My dearest friend put off this procedure, as she was healthy, and unfortunately, developed stage 4 colon cancer...she died last year...no symptoms until it was too late. Do not hesitate...do it! She waited too long and suffered much. Kudos to Katie and Charles for giving us all an awareness wakeup call.Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:32:16 GMT | regina
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I say bravo. I couldn't be that brave to do it on t.v., but then again that is mostly because every time I have sedatives I cry like a baby LOL. After having my first colonoscopy and endoscopy last week, I agree with everyone else the prep is the worst part, and I did have to drink that awful drink...it ranks right there with a barium shake. I am only 33 years old with no history of colon cancer in my family. Christmas of 2006 was spent in the hospital E.R. for me when I wen tin with such horrible back pain I thought I must have had a kidney infection, or passing a stone. The doctors thought this as well. Well, after two lovely barium shakes and two C.T. scans later, it turned out I had diverticulousis at 31! I couldn't beleive it. I didn't know what it was really, but I knew my 84 year old grandmother had it LOL!! Well of course they told me to plan on being in the hospital a week, and of course they told me after the infection was completely gone (about 6-8 weeks) that it was reccomended I have a colonoscopy. I of course told them I would not be in the hospital week, (to my credit I was out in three days, and all the doctors agreed that they had never seen a person recover that quickly, young or old from diverticulitis that fast) and there was no way in hell they were going to put me through a colonoscopy. Anyhow, I felt great for a long time...no problems until about May of this year, and then I started to feel really tired, and having GI issues again, went in to see him, and again he urged that I get a colonoscopy, and again I was like "sure I will be right on that. NOT" Well, three weeks ago I took some aleve and had sever stomach bleeding, and boy am I glad that I did. It gave my stubborn self the wake up call that I needed to get in and get a colonoscopy. I was very scared, mostly of what they may find. Four polyps were removed and biopsied. I am still awaiting my test results to see if they are benign or malignant. My GI doctor feels very confident that they are most likely nothing to worry about...but alas I am still anxious about it. He also told me that I will need to do this every three to five years. Every three to five years, or colon cancer? I'd gladly do this three times a year to avoid colon cancer. I guess my point is this...I think it's great the more that people realize it's not that bad, the more likely they are to be alive a good long time. Personally, I beleive this may have saved my life, and my family a lot of heart ache, and I am thankful that my doctor got insistent with me...I will thank him for it when I see him for my follow up next weeks, and apologize for being so bone headed. On that note...I feel so much better, my stomach has not felt this great in months, and I feel like I have more energy again,Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:06:21 GMT | meepabee123
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Well put! I agree that vain should not trump common sense. I am almost 70 years old and have had three over the years.Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:22:51 GMT | DoubleJ33
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I THINK SIR CHARLES,IS ON HIS WAY .I'AM HAPPY TO HEAR SOME GOOD NEW ON THE ROUND MOUND OF REBOUNDS. IT'S A GOOD THING FOR HIM TO CLEAN UP HIS ACT.LOL .I SUPPORT HIM IN ALL HE DOES BUT VEGAS.THANKS YOU CHARLES YOU ARE A( MENTOR)Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:26:10 GMT | eagelfan
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I had a colonoscopy for the first time this year. I was concerned about the results, because my father died of Colon Cancer. The results came back clean and I even got a picture. The prep was worse then the test, and I felt like I was on camera. Actually I was on camera, and watched the journey of the tiny instrument. I don't know that I would want to do it publicly, not having prior knowledge of the results.If CB can help someone loose their fear of this test, then I say go for.
Anita
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:55:02 GMT | alani