Colorectal Cancer Screening
- Julie Luck, a local evening news anchor based in North Carolina, is sharing her journey with colon cancer to educate others about the disease and the importance of screening.
- Luck’s cancer was detected at an early stage after the 50-year-old’s husband urged her to get a routine colonoscopy. Now, she’s recovering from a successful surgery.
- Colorectal cancer screenings have made a big difference in colorectal cancer prevention. But with colorectal cancer cases in younger people on the rise, the recommended age for beginning screening has been moved from 50 to 45.
Luck has been feeling just fine. The evening news host for WFMY-TV, a CBS-affiliated television station based in Greensboro, North Carolina, also has no family history of colorectal cancer. So, it was her age and her husband’s urging that sent her to the routine colonoscopy that detected her colon cancer.
Read MoreBut despite being symptom-less, Luck did receive a colon cancer diagnosis after tests on a large polyp doctors found during her colonoscopy revealed the cancer. Thankfully, the cancer was caught early and had not spread, but Luck still wanted to schedule surgery as soon as possible.
"I think there's just something knowing there's something growing in your gut," Luck said of moving quickly. "All I want is for it be removed."
Just two days ago, she underwent a successful surgery and shared an update to her social media.
“Good morning, friends. It is for me,” she wrote in her caption. “I'm back home after undergoing colon cancer surgery. The surgeon said the procedure went well with no complications. In fact, the doctor said he's never discharged a patient one day after this type of surgery. I'm the first. I believe all of your prayers helped make this possible. Thank you for your love and support.”
On a Mission to Educate About Colon Cancer
Luck has been open about sharing the details of her cancer journey, but it took a bit to decide on that vulnerable route.
"Whenever I do stories, it's always about the other person and their journey and their voices," Luck said. "So I found myself in a strange position."
But Luck considers her news team and viewers to be like a second family. So, the thought of being vague to explain her upcoming absence for surgery and recovery slowly melted away.
"As the days progressed, I realized that I needed to be more open," Luck said. "I realized that perhaps my story could encourage other people to get their screening."
And though it was hard, Luck is glad she’s shared her diagnosis and treatment path with viewers and colleagues alike. She’s even had multiple people tell her she inspired them to schedule their colonoscopies.
"I've had so many people reaching out to me saying, 'I just scheduled mine,'" Luck said.
Even her boss, 53-year-old WFMY news director Kim Ballard, has taken the necessary steps to take control of her health in her honor.
"I am extremely good at taking care of my husband and children, but I am not so good at taking care of myself," admitted Ballard. "I have scheduled a mammogram and my first colonoscopy because of Julie Luck."
Understanding Colorectal Cancer
The term colorectal cancer is used to describe cancers that begin in the colon or the rectum so some people just use the term colon cancer if that’s where the disease began.
Colorectal cancer, like all cancers, presents its own unique challenges for patients on the road to recovery. But Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist and colorectal surgeon at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, wants to remind people how far the treatment of this disease has come.
"One of the most exciting things about my job is that we've made a lot of progress on treatment options," Dr. Yeo says in a previous interview with SurvivorNet. "However, patients are still while they're living longer, they are still living with colon cancer, and so I think it's really important that we talk about how some of the things in your life affect you."
Symptoms
Colorectal cancer might not immediately cause symptoms, but these are possible symptoms to look out for:
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black
- Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
It is important to note, however, that displaying some of these symptoms does not mean you have colorectal cancer. You could also have colon cancer and not display any of these symptoms. Regardless, it is important to bring up any symptoms to your doctor should they arise.
Screening
Dr. Yeo also emphasizes the importance of colorectal cancer screenings such as colonoscopies because most colorectal cancers can be prevented early with screening.
"You Shouldn't Die From Embarrassment": Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
"In the United States, on a national level, colorectal cancer has been decreasing for the last 20 years," Dr. Yeo says. "And much of that is thought to be directly due to screening for colon cancer."
Even still, colorectal cancer cases are rising among younger people. And in the United States alone, rates have increased every year from 2011 to 2016 by 2 percent among people younger than 50. Because of this increase, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has recently updated its colorectal cancer screening recommendations to begin at age 45 instead of 50.
"We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early," Dr. Yeo said. "Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this. But access to care is a real problem."
RELATED: Why Do So Few Black Men Get Colon Cancer Screenings?
And increasing access is crucial to making sure that we don't see racial disparities within the world of colorectal cancer. Whites and Asians are significantly more likely to be up to date with their colonoscopies than African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans.
Research suggests that tailoring colon cancer screenings to each person's individual risk may be beneficial. If you are not yet 45 but have concerns about your risk, talk to your doctor. Ask about your individual risk based on your lifestyle and family history and find out when screenings would be right for you.
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