There is hard evidence that pet therapy works for cancer survivors.
Colon cancer survivor and advocate, Sharon Osbourne, is striking a cozy pose with Reba, the family’s newest addition. “Reba comes from Houston,” she says, adding that Ozzy chose her. “Here she is now, living the life — and she’s become the queen of the house,” Osbourne says, nuzzling the pup. “And she’s a naughty girl.”
Read MoreView this post on InstagramThe family has faced multiple health challenges including Ozzy’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, which he revealed to PEOPLE in 2019. "I've known I've had Parkinson's since 2003," he said at the time."It's not a death sentence…It's a mild form of Parkinson's at the moment. I'm not shaking."
Bone marrow cancer survivor Richard Marks talks about how his pooch helped him through cancer.
Colon Cancer Diagnosis: "Shock and Panic"
In 2002, Sharon Osbourne, then 49, was diagnosed with colon cancer. For three years, she'd put off seeing a doctor and went at Ozzy's urging, she told People. "You think nothing will ever happen to you. You're invincible," she said. "Then after you get over the shock and panic, you realize how lucky you are to be alive."
Surgeons removed a foot of her colon, but the cancer was found in her lymph nodes and Sharon underwent three months of chemotherapy.
Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, dispels common myths about colon cancer and colon cancer screening.
At the time, she addressed the stigma of colon cancer, "Why'd they have to find it in my bum of all places?" she told PEOPLE. "It's embarrassing. I mean, why couldn't I have had a cute heart-shaped polyp on my vagina?" Now Sharon remains under quarantine at home, while continuing live broadcasts as a host of CBS’s The Talk.
Know the Symptoms
For people under the age of 45 the need to undergo colon cancer screening varies. Some people are considered high-risk and may need to get colonoscopies earlier and more frequently. Another important aspect in the fight against this disease is symptoms. If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, a conversation with your doctor about screening may be in order:
- Change in bowel habits
- Change in the color of stool
- Abdominal pain
- Unintended weight loss
- Anemia
Today, Osbourne's clearly over it. In March, she lent her famous face to the American Cancer Society website to promote awareness: "Make your bottom a top priority," is her message. "Get screened for colorectal cancer."
Inspired by the care she received at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A., Osbourne joined forces with surgeon Dr. Edward Phillips to support colon cancer patients in the community. The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program provides at-home help, childcare, transportation, and access to support groups and patient care services offered within Cedars-Sinai. The program also underwrites colon cancer education for healthcare providers with a long-term goal of expanding screening and educational opportunities.
Although Osbourne's colon cancer treatment was successful, in 2012 she opted for a preventative double mastectomy when testing revealed she faced a high risk of developing the disease, as well.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.