I’m getting a colonoscopy next Tuesday morning, and I hope it will encourage many others to get screened for colorectal cancer too.
Mayo Clinic will be broadcasting the procedure live on Periscope in an interactive event we’re calling the #ScopeScope.
I hope you’ll participate (the links at the bottom of this post give more info and three concrete ways you can help spread the word), but first some background:
- Colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancer killers, claiming about 50,000 lives per year in the U.S. alone.
- It’s also among the most preventable or curable cancers with appropriate screening. Finding and removing precancerous polyps keeps them from turning into cancer, and catching cancers earlier improves survival.
- Colonoscopy is one of several good screening options.
- Everyone over age 50 should be screened, and if you have a family history or other risk factors it should start earlier. Discuss timing with your doctor.
Why Periscope?
Periscope is a live video streaming mobile application owned by Twitter, and we’ve had a Mayo Clinic channel since June. If you’re not familiar with Periscope, here’s video from a broadcast I did yesterday, describing what we’re doing in the #ScopeScope:
With the Periscope mobile app (available for iOS or Android), you can comment and ask questions, provide feedback and share on other social networks.
You can still watch a Periscope broadcast without the app, but you can’t interact. So you’ll get the best experience if you install it.
Here are a few background links:
- Minneapolis Star Tribune: “Mayo to livestream a colonoscopy to boost screenings”
- Mayo Clinic News Network
- Mayo Clinic Connect
- Mayo Clinic Social Media Network
- Mayo Clinic’s Periscope channel and Twitter account
- My Periscope and Twitter
- Fight Colorectal Cancer
Three Concrete Ways You Can Help
- Go to the event page we’ve created on Facebook, indicate your attendance, and invite your friends. Especially those you know or suspect are 50 or older.
- Share this post on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn now, and
- Watch for the Tuesday morning announcements on Twitter and Facebook that the #ScopeScope is starting, and share those with your networks, too.
I welcome your ideas for how we can have the most impact through this project. Please leave your comments below, or share them by email through my contact form.
I will be getting mine at gonda Tuesday am also .
Good! Important to get screened.