Early diagnosis aids in war against colorectal cancer
By HARLAN WEIKLE
Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007  |
 |
![[Image]](/content_images/041907_pco-06.jpg) |
| Photo by HARLAN WEIKLE |
| Diane Boberg, a 7-year survivor and volunteer advocate for colon cancer awareness, proudly wears the Blue Star pin. |
|
PINELLAS COUNTY – Imagine an enemy invading Florida, an enemy 11,420 strong. A pitched battle ensues and 3,530 of your neighbors, friends, co-workers and family are killed.
Now imagine ever forgetting, carrying on and living your life normally. Hard to imagine, right? And yet, that is exactly what happened in 2006 and it is already happening again in 2007.
The enemy is not terrorists, soldiers from another country – not even human. The enemy is colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as colon cancer), which last year attacked 153,760 Americans, resulting in the deaths of 52,180, just 6,000 fewer than the 58,000 Americans killed during the entire nine years of the Vietnam War.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for men and women, according to the American Cancer Society, which also reports that 30,000 lives could be saved each year if everyone over the age of 50 was screened for colon cancer.
Dr. Robert Davidson, a surgical oncologist at Morton Plant Mease Hospital, said that resistance to screening is one of the leading obstacles in the effort to eliminate deaths from this disease.
“Ninety percent of all colon cancers develop after the age of 50,” he said, adding, “If caught in its earliest stage before invasive carcinomas appear, colorectal cancer is virtually 100 percent curable.”
The ACS reports that 90 percent of patients diagnosed at this early stage have a 5-year survival rate.
That is also how Diane Boberg of Largo, a businesswoman and colon cancer survivor for seven years, sees it. Boberg, busy moving from Cleveland to Florida with her 84-year-old father, also a colon cancer survivor, felt tired and stressed. Searching for an oncologist for her father, Boberg revealed her fatigue and weight loss to the doctor who suggested a blood test. The test showed that she was severely anemic and a subsequent colonoscopy confirmed the presence of polyps. That same evening Boberg had surgery to remove her stage two cancer.
“It was July 28, 2000,” she said, “and I’ve been cancer free since then. I consider that day the first day of the rest of my life.”
Boberg now works at Beautiful Transitions in Largo, a business specializing in mastectomy appliances and wigs for cancer survivors.
Diane also volunteers as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, helping to educate Americans about the need for early detection of colon cancers through regular colonoscopy screenings. The program known as No Excuses urges everyone over the age of 50 to screen yearly using either a simple, home administered fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or a fecal immunochemical test (FIT); once every five years with an in office procedure using a flexible endoscope, with which the doctor is able to visually inspect the interior of the lower bowel, and a double contrast barium enema.
Both procedures present little in the way of discomfort and the “cleansing” or preparation prior to the exam, according to Dr. Davidson, is now considerably less challenging compared to just five years ago due in part to improvements in the available products on the market that are gentler and far less copious. Davidson said he routinely administers screenings on patients in their 90s. Adding that while factors such as a poor diet – one high in red meat and low in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, smoking and obesity are considered risk factors for developing all types of cancers, screening is the one certain method of minimizing the risk of colorectal cancer.
“I often tell my patients,” he said, “It’s like changing the oil in your car, if a little maintenance can prevent a breakdown, it’s worth it.”
As part of their No Excuses awareness campaign, the ACS has developed the Blue Star pin. Whether you’re a survivor of colon cancer or know someone who is, the Blue Star represents hope and awareness. Contact The American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the Web site www.cancer.org.
|
Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
