Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee

Muhammed Ali once said 'You lose nothing when fighting for a cause...In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about'.  On July 18th my brother was diagnosed with colon cancer and on July 18th I started my quest to learn everything and anything I can about this disease.  I've learned about treatments, preventions, studies, funding, research, etc - you name it I have a notebook full of notes dedicated to this disease.  I'm still trying to wrap my brain around everything and make sense of everything and once I do- watch out!  Like Ali did to so many of his opponents....I'm going to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.  Colon cancer will wish it never stepped in the ring with my brother.


I opened up my e-mail inbox and read an email from one of my cousins that read... "we are getting our butts probed on the 22nd".  This was the best news I have heard all week.  Boy, how life changes quickly :)  One of the common themes I read is that colon cancer is 90% curable when caught early.  How do you catch it early?  You get a colonoscopy.  Currently, standard of care is colonoscopies starting at 50.  Well, memo to insurance companies, another common theme is the average age of colon cancer diagnosis is significantly dropping.  If you are 50+ call tomorrow and make an appointment to get your butt probed.  If you are under 50 and have history of colon cancer in your family call your insurance company and see if procedure V16.0 (colonoscopy) is covered under your insurance plan.  (thanks cousin Jill for looking into it).  If you are under 50 with no history of colon cancer...well...join my fight to make colonoscopies available earlier.


Dear Muhammed Ali,
I am no longer a loser.  I have a cause I care deeply about.


Sincerely,
Laura Asta Matson


Sox it to it Lar....