1 in 3 Quad Citians is at risk for colon cancer

I was 71 when I had my first screening.

It’s a busy life for 71-year old Rosane D. Turner, a grandmother who also enjoys running a woodworking business with her husband, Elba, of 55 years. “I had always put off the colonoscopy because I was so busy” she recalls. Her husband has had two colonoscopies and polyps removed both times, but she never found the time to get one scheduled. “I was 71 when I had my first screening. Looking back, I did have symptoms. I did notice I was more constipated, and I had blood in the stools.” Her family doctor, Dr. Daniel Arnold, Davenport, referred her to a gastroenterologist.

Dr. Lauri Harsh, Eastern Iowa Gastroenterology, found a cancerous tumor. “Dr. Harsh came in after the test and didn’t sugar coat the news. She suggested that day I see Dr. Douglas Khoury, a Davenport surgeon who could remove the tumor.” Since Rosane’s surgery in December 2008, she has routine tests every four months and is scheduled for annual colonoscopies.

Turner says that learning she had cancer was as hard on her family as it was on her. “My husband, family and friends were a great source of strength, and my faith in God gave me peace about the diagnosis. I tell everyone, ‘Go get that colonoscopy!’ I feel very blessed. My daughter just turned 50. She has already had one. My son is 54 and needs to have one, too. He keeps putting it off, but he says he’s going to have it done.”

You have to get past the mental block and take the test. Everyone I run into, especially guys, I tell them to get it done.

Clyde Eversole, a self-employed floor coverer, waited a decade between colonoscopies. Eversole did not go for the second test until he had symptoms at age 52. “I had some symptoms for a long time. Now and then I would see blood, so I decided to have it checked out. It was good thing because it would’ve been too late. I was playing with fire. I have eight brothers and sisters, and I called every one of them.”

Dr. Bavikatte Shivakumar, Gastrointestinal Clinic of the Quad Cities, found the tumor – it was only the thickness of a piece of paper from going through the colon’s lining, but it was still contained. Dr. Shiv recommended a radical surgery, leaving Eversole with an ostomy bag for the rest of his life.

“I said ‘No.’” recalls Eversole. “Dr. Shiv worked with me and understood that I wanted to lead a normal life, especially because I am so active in my business. They removed the polyp, and he rechecks me every six months.” That was in 2006. So far, there have been no recurrences. Still, Eversole says, “You have to get past the mental block and take the test. Everyone I run into, especially guys, I tell them to get it done. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m still healthy and work like a horse every day.”

All I heard was ‘cancer,’ and my brain shut down

Sixty year-old Sandra Hirstein, a Moline teacher, has always been scrupulous about her health. “I was so good about my annual exams, but thought since I hadn’t had my colonoscopy at 50, I should really get one scheduled.” At 57, she made the appointment and is glad she did. Although there were no signs of colon cancer, Dr. Sreenivas Chintalapani, Gastrointestinal Clinic of the Quad Cities, found a small tumor in her small intestine.

“All I heard was ‘cancer,’ and my brain shut down,” recalls Hirstein. “Dr. Chin took the extra time to explore my small intestine and found a carcinoid tumor, so tiny that it didn’t show up in x-rays. Because he caught the cancer early, it spread only as far as a couple of lymph nodes, and it was easily removed with laparoscopic surgery.

“My husband, Dan, has a family history of colon cancer and he also gets screened every year. His dad had colon cancer. They have found polyps, but they’ve not been cancerous,” says Hirstein. Now Sandra is checked annually. “Dr. Chin is my hero!”