Help Beat Colon Cancer

[Guest guest]

My name is Narice May and I am writing you to ask your consideration

of guidelines aimed at eliminating colon cancer by mandating

colonoscopy screening for all adults in the Commonwealth beginning

at age 18 NOT 50.

On December 5,2005 I lost my husband to colorectal cancer.

Phil was only 46. He NEVER was offered a colonoscopy despite the

fact his mother and grandmother died of Pancreatic and Uterine

cancer. These cancers are said to have some link to HEREDITARY colon

cancer. Even with this history Phil had no symptoms of cancer. He

was young, fit and appeared healthy so why would anyone even THINK

to test him?

BUT the same could be said about my 32 year old friend Amy

who died of

Breast Cancer and had no history. The difference is that today Amy

and her

daughter would be checked for BREAST & CERVICAL cancer regardless of

age. Why

don't we do the same for colon cancer?

A colonoscopy can detect polyps and eradicate them BEFORE cancer

develops.

There is NO OTHER CANCER that has that claim. We have the ability to

PREVENT

and possibly totally ELIMINATE colon cancer and yet 50,000 plus

people will DIE

of this brutal disease this year.

A Colonoscopy is paid for IF an adult is 50 and over but 50

didn't save my

husband. You see, a good number of individuals are 40, 30, yes even

20 something,

when they are diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Most are inoperable at

that point

meaning there is no cure just treatment to prolong life.

Treatment that costs hundreds of thousands of tax and/or state

insurance dollars.

Pennsylvania is paying out far too much in survivor benefits,

welfare, Medicaid and Disability.

Why? Because we have not demanded and mandated that we change the

guidelines

so that ALL adults can be tested every 3-5 years beginning at age

18. We spend

about 5-6,000 dollars every 3-5 years and we save taxpayers hundreds

of

thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance, health care costs,

and priceless

loss of friends and family to this heartless killer.

Project March is a grassroots organization under the auspices of The

Colorectal Cancer Network an organization comprised of those whose

lives have been forever changed by this disease.

You can find their guidelines and suggestions at:

http://www.colorectal-cancer.net/projectmarch.htm

I urge you to read these guidelines and consider that the answer is

so very simple.

Screen everyone and no one should get colon cancer and the tiny

percent that is not caught can be easily treated.

Don't go with the flow on this one. You have the chance to be the

person or group who took the time to take a stand and make a

difference.

Those of you who work in Oncology, Surgery, and GI practices have

seen the devastation up close. Now's the time. Here is your chance

to make a difference!

Won't you please join me in ending Colon Cancer?

Thank you for your time and concern

Sincerely,

Narice May,

Project March PA State Coordinator

Erie, PA

END COLON CANCER!!

Colonoscpies for ALL PA Adults

Not just those over 50

pm_pastatecoordinator@...

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