Byesville Rotary learns colonoscopies save lives

Pictured: Tanya Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President; Dr. Sarap, SEOMC; Shana Fair, Speaker Host.

Dr. Sarap, surgeon at Southeastern Med, spoke to the club about colorectal cancer. This type of cancer is the 2ed leading cause of cancer death. In Guernsey County, over 53% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is in its late stages of development. This means that a person’s survival rate drops to about 8%. The survival rate in Guernsey County is one of the worst in the state of Ohio.

If caught early, up to 90% of colorectal cancer patients survive. Early screening, which should begin at age 50 for most people, can prevent colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy screening allows a doctor to identify and remove pre-cancerous polyps or catch cancer at an early stage.

If early screening can prevent colorectal cancer and increase a person’s chances of surviving the disease from 8% to between 85% and 90%, why are only half of people over 50 years of age getting screened?

Dr. Sarap explained there are three obstacles to getting screened: 1) lack of patient and doctor awareness of the need for screening; 2) lack of access to health care and insurance; and 3) fear of embarrassment.

In response to the problem of colorectal cancer in Guernsey County, Dr. Sarap and a group of dedicated individuals formed a task force—now named the Tina Kiser Colorectal Cancer Coalition. Their mission was to inform Guernsey County residents about the dangers of colorectal cancer and about the effectiveness of colonoscopy screening.

The Coalition worked in four different areas to implement their mission. They began to educate local physicians about colonoscopy screening and to raise public awareness about the disease. The purchase of a giant pink colon is one of the most visible of the Coalition’s public education efforts. The Coalition also actively advocates for cancer support services at the state level.

Additionally, the Coalition works to provide colonoscopy screening for free or at a reduced cost for indigent patients. This program is unique in Ohio. Fifteen counties in Ohio have referred patients to Guernsey County for this free service.

The Coalition’s efforts have yielded positive results. In Guernsey County, the number of colonoscopy screenings has increased by 22% in the last three years. People are more aware of the dangers of colorectal cancer and have begun to ask their family doctors about the need for screening. All of this means that cancer deaths from colorectal cancer are being reduced in Guernsey County.

Dr. Sarap stated that the aggressive actions taken in Guernsey County prove that …”organizational, financial, and social commitment” can remove the barriers between people and better colorectal health.

Byesville Rotary meets every Tuesday, 7:30 am, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary is welcome to attend a meeting or call 740-685-3828, or 740-685-8294.