My previous post was not intended as a comparison test and I didn't quote for that reason. It was just informative.

I asked a friend in Vancouver, in his sixties, how long....and he said first it has to be a referrel, not a personal option, and it took him a month.
Even if the colonoscopy was positive I wondered how long would it take for the surgery in Vancouver as my wife's friend is still waiting after 6 months (she's in her early 60's).
Some time ago my wife was referred for an MRI and it took almost 1 year.

Someone on this thread indicated each area (I'm thinking province) might be different....maybe that's true.

In any event, as I've been out of province in excess of six months I believe I have to return for 90 days before being allowed back on the BC MSP...even tho' I file an annual tax return.....is that correct?

I'm not sure what you mean by "it has to be a referral not a personal option". Yes, quite rightly, one has to be assessed by GP, they initially screen, if red flag results/signs/symptoms they refer to get say scope done if the endoscpist feels that is appropriate . If you are suggesting that someone has to wait having had an initial diagnosis of colon cancer for six months for surgery, I'm sorry it I don't believe you.

We are underserved by MRI scanners but that is one investigation that can be obtained privately for around $700, sometimes less. Again, they prioritise, people with suspected MS will have a very short waiting time. Those with " a bit of a hurtie knee" probably quite rightly wait considerably longer, or, they stump up the $700

Re the re entry to the province, I'm not sure but paying the taxes I don't think is part of the equation..

My point is my specialists didn't find any symptoms so, as I had never before had a colonoscopy, I requested it.

I have to say my doctor and professor surgeon were surprised at my tumor. They thought I should have had more serious symptoms.

If the same happened in Vancouver then I may not have been considered eligible for a colonoscopy and would have to go elsewhere....or continue living until the symptoms became even more serious and the cancer spread.

edit: I'll double check on my wife's friend's situation and post back.

I'm not trying to nit pick but the two bolded statements contradict each other. You either had symptoms or you didn't- you initially suggested gastric upset which suggests symptoms - it does sound as if you were indeed very unusual in presentation, I would agree as you point out. Your case sounds incredibly unusual and thankfully infrequent but medicine is never always straight forward and occasionally we are thrown a curve ball.

Obviously we don't know the whole story. It isn't all about symptoms though- clinical findings including examination, labs, imaging can sometimes help before invasive testing. You by your age group made you higher risk. Had you had a CT initially, that would have spotted the tumour- as you confirm in your initial post. It would however be a brave doctor to decline a symptomatic "more senior" patient a colonoscopy if they were strongly requesting it- and you wouldn't have to need to shed $$$ I think that you are underestimating the Canadian system which is by no means ideal but tends to deal with suspected cancer cases pretty bloody quickly.

There's no contradiction!
I had a stomach pain and, after tests, none showed any sign of cancer. So no prognosis.
I returned a month later with the same symptom.
The colonoscopy showed a tumor.
The physicians were surprised that I didn't show more serious symptoms than a stomach pain when they saw the tumor.

I'm not underestimating the Canadian system as I've never needed to use it other than regular check-ups which, by the way, never included a colonoscopy... but I've often had to pay for a prostate blood test.
I only have hearsay stories and what I've read on this thread.

Too true....

That's presumptious....didn't you advise me to...'never presume'.

It is a contradiction.. You yourself say that you have had persistent abdominal pain- that in itself would trigger minimum of CT scan which would have shown the tumour- I'm actually pretty damn sure they would have scoped you.

I'm not with you. Why presumptious?

You said..."It would however be a brave doctor to decline a symptomatic "more senior" patient a colonoscopy if they were strongly requesting it."

You don't know that as fact therefore you are presuming it to be true.
That's a presumption.

Where is it a contradiction? A contradiction is where saying something is opposite in meaning to something else.

Once again you are presuming the above quote would occur...you don't know that as fact.

You said "I'm actually pretty damn sure..." That is a classic presumptive start to a sentence.

One said you had no symptoms, the other said you had symptoms. Contradiction in my eyes. I simply commented after your post, I wasn't there at your original consultation so have to go by the history that you relate to us.

Pretty damn sure meaning, it is incredibly likely, though not 100% definite because not all the exact circumstances have been related. Ask 100 doctors in that situation and a vast majority would agree to a scope- not likely to be all of them though, probably the sensible 98. Jeez, and there was I worried about nick picking....

I went to the doctor with symptoms of stomach pain...the specialist were surprised that the cancer didn't produce more symptoms than stomach pains.

Maybe if you started your posts in a more polite way than telling me I'm contradictory and 'never presume'.... my responses would be more amicable.

Can anyone explain why, under BC MSP, prostate blood tests (PSA) aren't free and mammograms are?

I went unannounced to my GP in late afternoon. I was very weak, on the verge of keeling over. Doctor asked if any black colour in my stool, like that, pointing to small black file holder on his desk. I said yes and believe it or not he left other patients, after explaining to his nurse, while he drove me in his car to the hospital some 15 minutes away. Right into Emergency we went ( his nurse had called ahead), he spoke to Doctor there and 15 minutes later I was in theatre having an endoscopy and a colonoscopy and blood transfusions. I was told later by the gastroenterologist that if my GP had waited for an ambulance I would possibly have bled out before they got me to hospital.
As I've since said to many people 'you can see the pimples and blemishes on the outside of your body but you have no idea what's going on in the inside.'
Healthcare here in Ontario is first class from my perspective. I had other very serious problems which caused the bleeding and I don't believe I could have received any better care anywhere else in the world, and the care goes on.