Cancer. It’s a word nobody wants to hear, but you probably know someone who has had it. There are many different types of cancer, and some are more common than others. Some are also more preventable than others.

One common type of cancer is colon cancer. As far as cancer fatalities go, colon cancer is the 2nd biggest killer in the United States. One out of every 24 people will develop colon cancer.

Don’t let those statistics scare you. It turns out that colon cancer is also preventable, and that doesn’t mean you have to change your diet or lifestyle in order to avoid it. Instead, it’s vital to get screened for cancer. That means getting a colonoscopy.

It used to be that the recommended age for a person to get their first colonoscopy was 50, but in 2021 that guideline changed. Now, the recommended age for a first colonoscopy is 45.

Actors and Wrexham soccer club co-chairmen Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney partnered with Lead From Behind to share their own experience with getting their first colonoscopy. Both Reynolds and McElhenney are 45 years old, so even though they didn’t have any symptoms of colon cancer, they went to the doctor for the recommended colonoscopy, and they agreed to have the experience filmed.

Reynolds shared his colonoscopy experience first. He said, “I would never normally have any medical procedure put on camera and then shared, but it’s not every day that you can raise awareness about something that will most definitely save lives.”

After the procedure was over, Reynolds’ doctor told him, “This was potentially life-saving for you — I’m not kidding, I’m not being overly dramatic.”

Then McElhenney shared his experience, and he feels that he “won” the “competition” with Reynolds.

Watch the video below to see Reynolds and McElhenney talk about the importance of getting a colonoscopy at the age of 45 and to see their experience for yourself.

Did you know that colon cancer is preventable? Have you ever gotten a colonoscopy?