Will Smith stars in 1993 trailer for Six Degrees of Separation
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Starring in sci-fi epic adventure film Independence Day (which is being shown on Channel 4 tonight), Smith is part of a group that fights back against extraterrestrial visitors. But off-screen back in 2019, the star was fighting against something that could have affected his health. What started as a joke-filled video for fans, Smith documented himself going to get his first colonoscopy. Afterwards, he found out that the decision to get the procedure – which is used to check inside your bowels – could have saved him from further treatment down the line.
Turning 50 years old at the time, Smith started off the vlog with his doctor, explaining the sort of prep for the procedure and what will happen throughout.
Filmed in the style of a silent movie, due to problems with the audio, the video is comical, yet Smith is seen whispering into the doctor’s ear: “I’m scared”.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task force recommends adults begin colon cancer screening at age 50, but the American Cancer Society suggests colon cancer screening for all adults at average risk for colon cancer should begin at age 45, because colon cancer in younger patients is increasing year on year.
As the 17 minute long blog continues, viewers see Smith pose in a hospital gown, shaking his head as he says: “My a** is gonna be out,” before he is given local anesthesia.
“I haven’t done many drugs in my life, so, this stuff works on me really well,” he shares. “I feel like I have to poop. Do I have to poop? Or was there a camera up my a** that’s giving me the sensation?”
The NHS explains that during a colonoscopy individuals are usually kept awake, although they will be offered medication to make them more comfortable and make the test easier to carry out.
After the procedure and on leaving the hospital, Smith told the camera: “Everything feels normal. 2019, gotta get our health right. There’s a certain amount of commitment and embarrassment involved with being healthy. You just gotta do it, man.”
Yet a few days later, Smith received a call from doctors explaining that the procedure had not gone as smoothly as he had thought. Dr Ala Stanford called, saying that Smith had a “tubular adenoma with precancerous tissue,” or a precancerous colon polyp, which had to be removed during the procedure.
Dr Stanford goes on to explain that a whopping 95 percent of colon cancers arise from the type of polyp that was located in the largest part of Smith’s colon.
“Had you not known, it continues to grow and grow and grow,” Dr Stanford warned. “You would’ve had fewer typical symptoms.
“And by the time you presented, it could be full-blown and spread throughout your body. Thank you for listening to me when I said ‘Will, you need to get a colonoscopy’.
“An early detection saves lives… but people are like, ‘I don’t want anything up that area’ and they don’t do it and they miss things.”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWwKQjUyoUc
Although colon or bowel polyps do not typically cause any symptoms, if they are large enough, some individuals will experience:
- A small amount of slime (mucus) or blood in your poo (rectal bleeding)
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Pain in your tummy (abdominal pain).
In response to the somewhat shocking news about his health, Smith said: “You know, when I decided I wanted to shoot this as a vlog, it was much more, ‘Hey, this will be cool. This will be fun.’
“I didn’t realise that there would be a precancerous polyp that would get found out of it.”
Dr Stanford went on to emphasise that even those individuals who eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, do not experience belly bloating or difficulty moving their bowels are still very much at risk of developing a colon polyp, a reason why everyone “needs to be screened”.
The NHS adds that although the exact cause of colon polyps is unknown, they are thought to be caused by the body producing too many cells in the lining of the bowel. These extra cells then form into a bump – a polyp.
Although there is no sure way to prevent polyps from developing, the Mayo Clinic adds that individuals can adopt certain lifestyle changes in order to “greatly reduce” the risk of colon polyps and colorectal cancer.
These include:
- Eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and grains
- Increasing calcium and vitamin D into your diet
- Consider genetic testing if you have a family history of colon polyps.
As a result of his diagnosis, Smith was advised by his doctor to get another screening done within the next two to three years, instead of the normal 10 years – which is advised when individuals have a normal colonoscopy.
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