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Age for Cancer screenings drop; Baton Rouge families and officials advocate for Colon Cancer Awareness

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The suggested age for colon cancer screenings has dropped from 50 years old to 45 years old. Now, medical professionals, legislators, and families across the regi… The suggested age for colon cancer screenings has dropped from 50 years old to 45 years old, and medical professionals, legislators, and families across the region are gathering at the state capitol to advocate for education and resources during Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Doctors in Baton Rouge say there are no signs or symptoms in the early stages of colon cancer, and doctors recommend getting screened 10 years earlier if you have an immediate family member with any form of cancer. 870 people in the state are expected to die from this disease in 2023.

Age for Cancer screenings drop; Baton Rouge families and officials advocate for Colon Cancer Awareness

Опубликовано : 12 месяцев назад от Sydney Simone в

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The suggested age for colon cancer screenings has dropped from 50 years old to 45 years old.

Now, medical professionals, legislators, and families across the region gather at the state capitol to advocate for education and resources during Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

“There was no other way basically for you to tell I had cancer except for the rectal bleeding. Then eventually doing the endoscopy,” said Michael Herpin, Colon Cancer Survivor.

Unfortunately, this is the case for many people. Doctors in Baton Rouge say there are no signs or symptoms in the early stages of colon cancer.

“Once you start having signs and symptoms of colon cancer like bleeding, blockage, bloating, that means that the cancer has actually moved to a later stage,” said Dr. Scott Daugherty, Colon and Rectal Surgeon at Baton Rouge General.

Daughtery said colon cancer not only impacts the patient but family members too.

Nedra Wardsworth advocates on behalf of her husband who passed away in 2009. Wardsworth said watching him battle the disease was tough.

“My kids got to witness the sickness and the trips to the emergency room in an ambulance and the ICU. It was just devastating,” said Wardsworth.

Although it’s rare, people are being diagnosed as young as 20 years old. Michael Herpin was diagnosed with colon cancer at 24 years old and has been cancer free for almost three years. Aside from the disease, Herpin said the pandemic took a toll on him.

“I was only allowed one visitor. If any visitors at all. That was honestly the more taxing thing on my mental health,” said Herpin.

Doctors say African American men are the most at-risk for being diagnosed with colon cancer. In fact, Blacks are 40% more likely to die from the disease.

“Well, we have to let our people know what we have endured, right? And cancer is that “C” word that we don’t necessarily want to talk about,” said Wardsworth.

According to Dr. John Lyons, Surgical Oncologist at Our Lady of the Lake Medical center, Louisiana has the fifth highest death rate for colon cancer in the United States.

In fact, 870 people in the state are expected to die from this disease in 2023.

“We think we can make a really big dent in that number if we increase our number of screenings that are appreciated throughout the state. We have an impoverished state. Access to care is a challenge. There’s an educational barrier,” said Lyons.

According to Daugherty, your diet plays a huge role. Limiting processed food and red meat while increasing your fiber intake can lower your risk.

Doctors recommend getting screened 10 years earlier if you have an immediate family member with any form of cancer.

“If you have a primary family member, say a mom, that’s diagnosed at the age of 45 with colon cancer then you should have your first colonoscopy at 35,” said Dr. Daugherty.

Although a colonoscopy is the best way to get screened, medical professionals say there are other ways like at-home stool tests.

Visit cancer.org to learn more about colon cancer disease.


Темы: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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