Ryan Reynolds colonoscopy: why did he film it?

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 conjunction with the Lead from Behind campaign, which aims to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and dramatically increase the number of people getting screened.

Reynolds made the bet with fellow actor Rob McElhenney, who is also his co-owner of Welsh football team Wrexham AFC.

“At the heart of all sports is competition,” Reynolds says at the start of the video. « Rob and I think we’re pretty competitive guys. »

Reynolds feigns a lack of recollection of the terms of the bet that led to the video, and McElhenney explains it. He does it in Welsh, which Reynolds bet he couldn’t learn.

Both men turned 45 this year, the age at which healthy people are recommended to start having colonoscopies in the United States.

« Normally, I would never have seen a medical procedure filmed and then shared, » Reynolds said. « It’s not every day that you get to raise awareness about something that’s most definitely going to save lives, that’s enough motivation for me to let you see a camera being stuffed up my ass. «

The video shows Reynolds entering a New York hospital and meeting a doctor who explains that the procedure takes about 30 minutes and is « incredibly effective. »

And that definitely seems to have been the case for Reynolds’ case. In recovery, looking dazed and joking that his IV was filled with Aviation gin, the doctor gives the results. He tells Reynolds that the scan found an « extremely subtle polyp » that he was able to remove.

« It potentially saved your life, I’m not kidding. I’m not being overly dramatic, » he told Reynolds.

« That’s exactly why you’re doing this. »

McElhenney also shared a video of her procedure, during which the doctor found three polyps, telling her screening and monitoring are crucial for prevention.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and the third leading cause of cancer death in women.

« On average, 26 Canadians will die from colorectal cancer each day, » the organization’s website says.

The company also claims that 90% of deaths can be prevented if detected early.

More information about screening in Canada is available online.