WVIZ/PBS ideastream®: Confronting Colon Cancer
- Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States.
- It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. In 2009, it is expected that nearly 50,000 Americans will die because of colon cancer.
- 1-in-19 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer.
- 26 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation mandating that private health insurance plans cover all of the testing methods available to detect colon cancer including a colonoscopy. Ohio is not one of them.
- Colon cancer incidence and mortality rates are highest in African American men and women. Among African Americans, incidence rates are more than 20% higher and mortality rates are about 45% higher than those in whites.
During the month of September, ideastream will present multi-media coverage—via TV, radio and web—examining colon cancer with a special 30-minute local television broadcast, a series of in-depth reports, a Sound of Ideas radio program, and a special segment on Feagler & Friends.
Noted medical experts will explain how a healthy colon functions and how polyps form and can turn into cancer which, if not detected early enough, can spread to other organs in the body. We’ll follow an Akron man as he goes through one of the most common, effective but often misunderstood diagnostic procedures for colon cancer—the colonoscopy. And we will share a local woman’s experience as she is diagnosed with colon cancer and undergoes surgery to remove the cancerous tumor. Audiences will learn about symptoms, risk factors, and local researchers who are studying DNA to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent colon cancer.
View the program now:
Your Colon Cancer Stories
Tell us your Colon Cancer story below.
Thank you for airing “Confronting Colon Cancer”. My niece,Sammy Harris is the 19 year old with colon cancer that you reported on. Finding out that my brothers’family (The Anthony’s)have Lynch Syndrome has been an awakening experience! It has profoundly touched my family, but also hundreds of friends ,neighbors and strangers across this country. As I watch Sammy battle colon cancer with such strength & courage, I see her determination to conquer this monster. Thank you
Janice Jones 9:05 PM 9/24/09Thank you for airing “Confronting Colon Cancer”. My niece,Sammy Harris is the 19 year old with colon cancer that you reported on. Finding out that my brothers’family (The Anthony’s)have Lynch Syndrome has been an awakening experience! It has profoundly touched my family, but also hundreds of friends ,neighbors and strangers across this country. As I watch Sammy battle colon cancer with such strength & courage, I see her determination to conquer this monster. Thank you liver enzymes
Mike 9:50 AM 12/14/09Funding
Funding for Confronting Colon Cancer comes from the Dr. Donald J. Goodman and Ruth Weber Goodman Philanthropic Fund of The Cleveland Foundation, and by The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation, The Woodruff Foundation, The McGregor Foundation and The Community Foundation of Lorain County.
Resources
Schedule
- Watch on WVIZ/PBS
- Friday, Sept. 18 at 8:30 PM
Feagler & Friends: Dick Feagler interviews Dr. James Church, a local physician specialist who provides the basic who, what, when, where and why of colon cancer plus viewers are treated to a short excerpt from the local television documentary. - Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8:00 PM
Confronting Colon Cancer: Follows the stories of several people in Northeast Ohio who are confronting colon cancer. (encore broadcasts: Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10:30 PM; Sunday, Sept. 27 at 3:00 PM) - Listen to 90.3 WCPN
- In-Depth Coverage on Morning Edition (6-9 AM)
- Tuesday, Sept. 22
Advances in colonoscopies. - Thursday, Sept. 24
For many patients who survive colon cancer it means living with a colostomy bag. What is this like? How does it work? Morning Edition host Eric Wellman interviews a local patient to get some perspective. - Friday, Sept. 25
The experiences of a local patient who is fighting colon cancer. - In-Depth Coverage on All Things Considered (5-6:30 PM)
- Thursday, Sept. 24
The story of a local "ostomy" nurse who helps colon cancer patients live with a colostomy bag. - The Sound of Ideas (Weekdays at 9 AM)
- Friday, Sept. 25
Colon Cancer & Expensive Drugs: Hosted by ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda. Earlier this year a published study indicated that a drug used to treat colon cancer was too expensive for the benefits it provided. This provides a platform for discussion about a larger issue focusing on "how much is too much?" when it comes to the cost of drugs/treatments when compared to expected or even hoped-for outcomes.
Had two sections of colon removed on Jan 23, 2008 to eradicate the cancerous tumors residing there. The operation was 9.5 hours long, spent a day and a half in recovery, 15 days in hospital trying to rid me of infection, both and viral and fungal. I have spent a year in which every day was bad--some of them really bad. I have learned to control the painful periods with diet (lots and lots of celery!) (lol), and with not mixing starches and protein.
I have a point with all this grousing--first of all--I am enjoying my life as I have not been able for years. Even with the (now) occasional pain, I am rejuvenated. I have lost weight, have more energy, am more engaged with life in general then I have been for years and years!
Secondly, for those of you (us) listening, if you are 50+ yrs old and have not had a colonoscopy--have one. Don’t let this disease get ahead. It saps your energy while it is in residence and will take your life from you if not addressed in time. It takes a long time for this insidious disease to form but one in nineteen of us have it. I just had a follow up colonoscopy to the operation and had four polyps that had formed in just a year and a half--removed--so, prevention is waaaay more pleasant than drastic surgery.
Enuff said :-j
Jerry Hoff
Jerry Hoff 11:10 AM 9/20/09