After a June 2005 vacation to Florida, Jo, a Fairmount native began experiencing painful aches in the lower part of her abdomen. She attributed the pains to bad food she had eaten while on her trip, and even took antibiotics to cure what she assumed to be an infection.
The pains continued for two months, and only got worse. Jo heeded the advice of her primary care physician and had blood drawn to determine the cause. Test results showed blood loss that could indicate cancer. Her physician ordered her to undergo a colonoscopy--her first ever.
"When I woke up from the colonoscopy, the doctor was holding my hand," Jo says. "When he told me it was colon cancer, I was shocked. Other than stomach pains, I never had any symptoms."
Colon cancer has quickly become the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in America, with an estimated 106,680 people losing their lives due to the disease in 2006.
"Sharp pain in the abdomen area, such as the pain Jo experienced, can be a symptom of colon cancer," says J. Craig Box, MD, FACS, surgical oncologist at Gordon Hospital. "Other symptoms of the disease include bleeding from the rectum, fatigue, change in bowel movements, change in caliber or color of stool, bloody stool, bloating and diarrhea."
Early detection of colon cancer through routine screenings is the best weapon against the disease. When routine screenings are followed, cancerous polyps are more likely caught at an earlier stage, which in turn, means a better outcome for the patient.
"Regular colonoscopies and other screenings can help detect colon cancer at an earlier stage, which increases the chance for a cure,'" says Eric Turner, MD, board certified in oncology and internal medicine, on staff at Gordon Hospital, and one of Jo's physicians. "Some people may be apprehensive about having a screening colonoscopy, but putting it off can be extremely dangerous to your health."
After her diagnosis, Jo underwent surgery to remove the section of involved colon. She then completed several months of chemotherapy to decrease the risk of recurrence.
"When I first learned I had cancer and needed surgery, I was scared," she says. "But I felt like everyone at the hospital was pulling for me and praying I would get better. I truly believe their prayers worked."
Now, Jo is cancer free and is passionate about encouraging others to receive colonoscopies. "I was lucky my cancer was caught, but it could have turned out much differently," says Jo. "I was one of those people who didn't think cancer could happen to me. When it did, I was glad to have Gordon Hospital on my side."
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