Ryan Reynolds lost a bet and had to film his first colonoscopy
After losing a bet with a friend, Ryan Reynolds filmed his first colonoscopy and doctors made what they called a potentially life-saving discovery during the procedure.
The YouTube video was shared Monday in collaboration with the campaign Lead from Behind, which seeks to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and significantly increase the number of people who get screened.
Reynolds made the wager with fellow actor Rob McElhenney, who is also his co-owner of the Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC.
"At the heart of all sports is competition," Reynolds says at the beginning of the video. "Rob and I think we're pretty competitive guys."
Reynolds feigns a lack of recollection of the terms of the wager that led to the video, and McElhenney explains it. He does so speaking in Welsh, which Reynolds bet him he would not be able to learn.
Both men turned 45 this year, the age at which it is recommended that people who are otherwise healthy should start getting colonoscopies in the U.S.
"I would never normally have any medical procedure put on camera and then shared," Reynolds says. "It's not every day you can raise awareness about something that will most definitely save lives, that's enough motivation for me to let you in on a camera being shoved up my ass."
The video shows Reynolds entering a hospital in New York and meeting with a doctor who explains that the procedure takes roughly 30 minutes and is "stunningly effective."
And that definitely seems to have been the case for Reynolds' case. In recovery, looking woozy and quipping about his IV being filled with Aviation gin, the doctor delivers the results. He tells Reynolds that the scan found an "extremely subtle polyp" that he was able to remove.
"This was potentially life-saving for you, I'm not kidding. I'm not being overly dramatic," he tells Reynolds.
"This is exactly why you do this."
McElhenney also shared video of his procedure, during which the doctor found three polyps, telling him screening and surveillance are crucial for prevention.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men and the third leading cause of death from cancer in women.
"On average, 26 Canadians will die from colorectal cancer every day," the organization's website says.
The society also says 90 per cent of deaths are preventable if caught early.
More information about screening in Canada can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6963806.1721000812!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Trudeau says he spoke with Trump after shooting, condemned political violence
The Prime Minister's office says Justin Trudeau spoke this afternoon with former president Donald Trump in the wake of a deadly shooting at one of his campaign rallies on Saturday.
DEVELOPING What we know about the 20-year-old man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa., as the suspect in Saturday's attempted assassination of former U.S. president Donald Trump at a campaign rally.
Read the letter from Melania Trump responding to attempted assassination of Donald Trump
Former first lady Melania Trump issued her first public response since her husband, former President Donald Trump, was injured in a shooting at one of his rallies on Saturday.
Donald Trump arrives in Milwaukee for RNC after assassination attempt heightens security fears
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has arrived in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention a day after he was targeted in an attempted assassination at a campaign event.
What an ex-FBI agent noticed in the aftermath of Donald Trump rally shooting
An apparent assassination attempt has many questioning how a shooting that wounded former U.S. president Donald Trump was even possible.
LCBO reverses plan to open select stores on Friday as strike continues
The LCBO has reversed its plan to open select stores on Friday as retail workers continue to strike across the province, according to a statement from the Crown corporation on Sunday.
Obituary Shannen Doherty, '90210' actress, dies at 53, People magazine reports
American actor Shannen Doherty, best known for her role as high school student Brenda Walsh on hit 1990s television drama 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' has died at age 53 following a years-long battle with cancer.
Spain beats England 2-1 to win record fourth European Championship title
Spain is the king of European soccer for a record fourth time. For England, it's another agonizing near-miss in the team's decades-long tale of underachievement.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, hands Carlos Alcaraz his Wimbledon trophy in a rare appearance for her
Kate, the Princess of Wales, handed Carlos Alcaraz the champion's trophy after the Wimbledon men's final at the All England Club on Sunday in only her second public appearance since announcing she was diagnosed with cancer.