Lifestyle

Colorectal cancer in situ recovers after early diagnosis | Colorectal cancer awareness


SHREVEPORT, La. – Robin Merkle knows that screening for colorectal cancer – a malignancy in the colon or rectum that can spread throughout the body – is important. After a routine colonoscopy, she experienced the value of early detection.

“They found a few places they were interested in,” she said.

Doctors found polyps during the examination. So she had to have surgery to remove what turned out to be cancer.

“They removed those and decided that I might need chemotherapy for follow-up,” Merkle said.

The situation that came took Merkle by surprise.







Robin Merkle

Robin Merkle


“I went from never being sick to being sick,” she said. “It’s very concerning.”

Chemotherapy took some money.

“It was difficult,” she said.

She received a lot of help from friends and family, and especially her caring husband, who kept notes during every doctor visit.

“I call him the scribe,” she said with a smile. “He comes with me and takes notes, he can listen and take care of me.”

With routine colonoscopy, doctors can detect Merkle’s cancer before it spreads.

“Fortunately, they discovered it early enough to surgically remove it,” she said. “Chemotherapy is a kind of maintenance.”

Dr Anil Veluvolu, an oncologist and hematologist with the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center, says early detection is key in preventing colorectal cancer from spreading.

“The problem with this disease is that it is preventable with repeated appropriate testing,” says Veluvolu.

Merkle has a message for anyone starting a colonoscopy.

“Find it early, don’t ignore it,” she says. “And do what the doctors recommend. And listen carefully.”

And she says having someone with you when you go to the doctor is a real help as you get through it.

“You need someone with a clear head who can listen and then come home and can understand some of the things you heard,” says Merkle. She adds that emotional stress sometimes keeps patients from hearing all they need to know when they see a doctor.







Dr Anil Veluvolu

Dr Anil Veluvolu


Now, Merkle is in a good place.

“I’m just glad I’m fixing it. And they had everything,” she said. “The Willis Knighton experience was amazing.”

“I think the biggest thing when a patient comes here is the fear of the unknown,” says Veluvolu. “And so we like to think we give them some peace in dealing with their illness. And we want them to know that they are not alone. We will fight them. ”

Merkle said: “I am very grateful.

Colonoscopy is now recommended starting at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should have your first colonoscopy ten years before the youngest family member is diagnosed. guess.

—–

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.



Source link

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button
Immediate Peak