Is Ryan Reynolds OK? 'Deadpool' star's ‘life-saving’ colonoscopy caught on video

The 45-year-old found out that he had an 'extremely subtle polyp' on the right side of his colon, which was then removed
UPDATED SEP 14, 2022
Ryan Reynolds undergoes colonoscopy (Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images/@vancityreynolds)
Ryan Reynolds undergoes colonoscopy (Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images/@vancityreynolds)

Ryan Reynolds didn't know he had a "subtle polyp" until he underwent his first colonoscopy, which was recorded live in order to quash the stigma around the procedure. The 'Deadpool' star and his Wrexham soccer club co-chairman, Rob McElhenney, teamed up with Lead From Behind, a colon cancer awareness organization, to encourage people to get the procedure when the time comes. Both actors actively encouraged the move.

In a YouTube video uploaded to Reynold’s page on Tuesday and on Instagram, the duo explained they wanted to show the world how the 'simple step could help save lives'.  “I would never normally have any medical procedure put on camera and then shared,” Reynolds said. “But it’s not every day that you can raise awareness about something that will save lives. That’s enough motivation for me to let you in on a camera being shoved up my a**.”

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What happened to Ryan Reynolds?

During the procedure, the 45-year-old found out that he had an 'extremely subtle polyp' on the right side of his colon, which was then removed. “This was potentially life-saving for you — I’m not kidding, I’m not being overly dramatic,” the doctor told the actor as he showed off images of the tissue. Per the ASGE, polyps are described as "benign growths (noncancerous tumors or neoplasms) involving the lining of the bowel. They can occur in several locations in the gastrointestinal tract but are most common in the colon."

“This is exactly why you do this. You had no symptoms.” It was a little different for McElhenney, who had three polyps that were removed as well. He even joked that he got the better of Reynolds who had only one. The clip ended with some trademark Reynolds and McElhenney humor: "Colon cancer is preventable," a message read. "If you’re 45 years or older, ask your doctor about getting a colonoscopy. And help Rob and Ryan kick cancer’s a**.”
 

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