Health Dept. Targets Colorectal Cancer

By SHANTEE WOODARDS Staff Writer

By medical standards, Margaret Divine was doing everything right to reduce her risk of colorectal cancer.

She made sure to get a colonoscopy every three to five years, which is generally recommended for people age 50 and older. But when she was tested in April, doctors detected a precancerous polyp. If it was left untreated it would have developed into colorectal cancer.

Since Mrs. Divine belonged to Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s LifeScreen program, she was able to get the surgery for free. Out of pocket, those services would cost at least $1,200, officials said.

“The main thing that scared me was the word ‘cancer,’ ” said Mrs. Divine, 63, of Arnold. “Every time I heard that word, I cried. I felt for sure with my age, I would die.”

More than 100,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year, making it the third most common cancer found in the United States. The term refers to diseases of both the colon and rectum, which can lead to unexplained weight loss, frequent stomach discomfort and even death.

The disease made headlines last month after it killed former White House press secretary Tony Snow. Marylanders died from the disease at a rate of 206 per 100,000 from 1999 to 2002, the latest statistics available from the 2006 Cancer Report. The rate for county residents was slightly higher with 214 per 1000,000, officials said.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health received $200,000 to launch LifeScreen in November. It started with six patients who were uninsured and met income requirements. By joining, they received colonoscopies, which places a thin tube into the rectum so doctors can see the entire colon. Department officials admitted the procedure is not a favorite, but it is the best way to detect cancer. Generally, doctors advise patients to begin the cancer screenings once they reach age 50.

“There are a variety of tests, but (with the colonoscopy) you have the opportunity to see the colon,” said Kathleen Browning, the department’s program manager for adult risk reduction. “If the polyps are small, they can be removed. You turn 50 and that gets to be your birthday present.”

To date, 63 people have been screened through LifeScreen. There were no diagnoses of cancer during this time, but three people – including Mrs. Divine – had precancerous polyps. Health officials continue to try to publicize the program by sending information to area doctors.

When Mrs. Divine learned about the polyp, she wasn’t sure what it meant. She would’ve put off scheduling the surgery if she hadn’t talked to Barbara Sands, the department’s program manager for cancer screenings. It was those discussions that made Mrs. Divine realize she should make having the polyp removed a priority.

Mrs. Divine was able to undergo surgery at Anne Arundel Medical Center at the end of April, making her one of three LifeScreen patients who had precancerous polyps. Now, instead of getting a colonoscopy every three to five years, she has to get one annually. Her next one is scheduled for May.

“(The surgery) was very hard on me and I think that’s because of my age,” Mrs. Divine said. “No one wants to do this; it’s not a nice thing to have done. … (But) no one wants to hear the word ‘cancer.’ “

For more information about LifeScreen, call 410-222-7979 or visit www.aahealth.org

The county Department of Health recommends the following to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer:

Start colorectal cancer screenings at age 50

Eat a diet high in fiber and low in fat

Lose excess weight

Quit smoking

Exercise regularly {Corrections:} {Status:}

NEW ‘LIFESCREEN’ PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TESTING

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