Fumbling with the Colonoscopy Picture on Facebook: A Real-Life Embarrassing Story

Back in 2011, a life-changing event shattered the calm of my life. My nephew’s wife, who was just 29 or 30 years old, received a heart-wrenching diagnosis of colon cancer. This diagnosis coincided with myself turning 50 and being due for my first screening colonoscopy.

The procedure itself went through without any complications. My doctor even provided me with a scanned-in picture of the inside of my colon, which, to me, looked completely unremarkable and clean. No poop, blood, or any other visually unpleasant aspects.

My intention for posting this picture on my social media pages, particularly Facebook, was straightforward: to remind my friends about the importance of regular colonoscopy screenings if they were over 50. However, this decision turned out to be a misstep that caught many of my friends by surprise.

Embarrassment and Reactions

On the morning following my post, my Facebook became a battlefield of reactions, predominantly from my non-medical friends. The most memorable—or as I would argue, infamous—response came from my cousin’s husband, who is not a medical professional himself. He immediately reacted with a visceral, physical reaction, spitting his morning Cheerios onto his cellphone. His intense revulsion was palpable.

Even some of my medical colleagues in paramedic and nursing roles chimed in, most of them not particularly affected by the image, but a handful expressing a sense of "Too much information!" This reaction only added to my embarrassment. I genuinely did not find the image grotesque; I have witnessed far worse on social media platforms.

In an ironic twist, none of my friends could claim that they had forgotten to schedule their own screenings after seeing the picture. The event starkly highlighted the importance of regular health check-ups.

Reflection and Impact

Apart from the embarrassment, I was reminded of the true purpose of the colonoscopy. It is not so much about the photos themselves but the value of routine health check-ups and early detection. Unfortunately, the story took a tragic turn when my nephew’s wife’s colon cancer metastasized and spread, leading to her untimely death at the age of 33 in 2015.

Despite the embarrassment and the subsequent negative reactions, the story serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of user-generated content and how it can impact others, especially in the realm of social media. What appeared as a straightforward act of sharing information turned into a real-life lesson in digital etiquette and the power of social media to influence perceptions.

Closing with the story of my nephew’s wife only adds a layer of poignancy to the experience. It serves as a stark reminder of the overarching importance of both medical care and maintaining personal health.