Colon cancer to be subject of health talk
By JOE L. HUGHES II Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

Each day, millions of people are diagnosed with some type of cancer, marking the beginning of an unpredictable journey.

In the vast majority of these cases, patients did not know the disease had taken up residence in their body, putting them and their physician behind the eight ball.

However, in the case of colon and rectal cancer, doctors can be proactive in helping prevent future cases.

"Colorectal types of cancer are different, mostly because they are preventable," said Dr. Maureen Burdett, a general surgeon at Gaffney Medical Associates. "If people are made aware and are proactive about their health, many cases would not take place."

With March being recognized as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, ReGenesis Community Health Center and the Cherokee Cancer Committee have joined forces with several local organizations to host a health talk Thursday based on the subject.

"With the amount of people who are diagnosed with colon cancer annually, the health talk is a perfect place to start in order to decrease those numbers," said Buffy Henson, Director of Community Health Education at ReGeneis Community Health Center.

Burdett will be the featured speaker at the event, explaining the signs and symptoms associated with the disease and ways to prevent them.

"It is always better to be safe than sorry...especially when the subject is cancer," said Marci Stovall, Community Relations Coordinator for ReGenesis Community Health Center. "With this disease. we are seeing growing numbers of people who are not finding out about the cancer until its later stages. Talks like this are beneficial in helping them recognize what could be happening in their body and what to do about it."

Each year, 112,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer and 41,000 new cases of rectal cancer are found, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Changes in bowel habits, persistent cramping, abdominal pain and weakness or fatigue are often symptoms of the disease.

Approximately 90 percent of those diagnosed with the type of cancer are older than 50. Family history of the ailment, diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol use are also factors that could increase a person's risk for colon cancer.

The latest study in 2005 by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) showed 13 Cherokee County residents died as a result of the disease, while 33 were hospitalized.

The ACS recommends those over the age of 50 have a colonoscopy once every 10 years and a fecal occult blood test performed every year.

The event will take place Thursday at the Cherokee County Public Library on Rutledge Avenue beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call Stovall at 902-1002.

Partnering with ReGenesis Community Health Center, the Cancer Association of Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties, SC-DHEC Public Health Region 2, American Cancer Society, Total Care Home Health, Gaffney Housing Authority and Upstate Carolina Medical Center have collaborated on this effort.