Colon Cancer Awareness Promoted In March
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nearly 50,000 Americans died from colorectal cancer last year, yet, doctors say it’s one of the most detectable and, if found early enough, most treatable forms of cancer.
Members of the Kentucky Cancer Program said many people cringe at the idea of getting screened for colon cancer.
As part of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, Mayor Jerry Abramson’s wife, Madeline, is helping promote awareness about screening.
“Nobody expects to be told they found cancer,” colon cancer survivor Larry Kendall said.
That’s exactly what Kendall heard after his doctor received the results of his routine colonoscopy.
“They said it was stage one and they just did the surgery. They sectioned out 12 inches of the colon and no other treatments after that,” Kendall said.
“It is curable if it’s found in time, and that’s the sense of urgency we have here today,” Madeline Abramson said.
Abramson joined the Kentucky Cancer Program and a surgeon to talk about all the ways they’re spreading the word about the importance of getting screened, including asking the community to dress in blue on Friday.
“Colorectal screening has a very bad reputation. People are very embarrassed to go. They think it’s going to be a horrible exam, but it really isn’t,” said University of Louisville colorectal surgeon Dr. Susan Calandiuk.
“I’ve had my colonoscopy, and it is something that is not nearly as frightening as people would think that it is and it is a procedure that is very intimating to hear about, but not intimidating to go through. I can say that personally,” Abramson said.
“The actual procedure is nothing. It takes only 20 minutes and you don’t remember it anyway,” Kendall said.
Kendall said since there are no symptoms in the early stages, getting a colonoscopy saved his life.
“If it hadn’t been for the scope, we wouldn’t never known until it was too late,” Kendall said.
As part of Dress in Blue day on Friday to bring awareness to the importance of getting colonoscopies, Panera Bread on Dutchmans Lane will give away free pastry or bagels to anyone wearing blue from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The same free deal will be available at Panera Bread downtown on West Market Street from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday.
Doctors say nine out of 10 colon cancers may be prevented or cured if detected early.
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