Let's talk living wills. Sorry if I'm coming on too strong, but we are all going to die. And everyone deserves to die with dignity. This is why YOU need a living will. No one knows you better than you - not your partner or children, etc. Kudos if you've even had these conversations, but even better to put your wishes in writing! A living will is one part of estate planning. As you might have guessed, estate planning increases with age ( legalzoom.com ); unfortunately, not everyone grows old. While discussing death may be uncomfortable, actually dying without having your affairs in order could really be uncomfortable - for you, as your wishes may not be satisfied, and for the loved ones who may find themselves in the difficult situation of having to make decisions on your behalf while grappling with their own feelings. As a physician assistant, I've helped many clients create living wills. I've helped family members make informed decisions regarding the content
Content warning: mentions cancer and death If I had a dollar for every time a patient came into my office and said they “want to be checked for cancer,” well…I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog post! There is no single universal test for cancer, but common things happen commonly. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined ( cancer.org ). Screening for colorectal cancer should be on your list to be “checked for cancer.” For those at average risk, screening for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45 ( cdc.gov ). If you want to know more about colorectal cancer incidence, risk factors and screening methods, then check out last week's blog post here . I am at increased risk for colorectal cancer, because my father died from complications of colon cancer when he was only 45. So though I’m only in my thirties, I’ve already had my first screening colonoscopy, which is the gold standard screening method for individuals at hig