Are You Anemic? Get Tested....

"Recently I had an opportunity to have lunch with some work colleagues I had not seen for a year. I shared the sad story of Lynne's passing and went on to discuss the warning signs of colon cancer and the statistics I've been reading on this blog site. It turns out that one colleagues husband was a colon cancer survivor. Get this... he had a heart attack and so his doctor performed regular blood tests. One such blood test showed he was anemic. His doctor immediately said, there is only one reason for you to be anemic.. internal bleeding!!! You either have ulcers or colon cancer. He sent him for a colonoscopy and he had colon cancer but was so fortunate that is had not penetrated the colon wall. He was operated on and is now cancer-free!! What an incredible insightful doctor. This is the second time I have heard anemic is one of the warning signs for colon cancer. So many of my friends have been anemic and never had a colonocopy. Another colleague's mother had passed from colon cancer at the age of 73, she was never screened until it was too late. As he said "you know that generation, hard to convince them of screening!". So lets not forget our Mom & Dads in this alert! His siblings have all been tested and you guessed it polyps everywhere. The third colleague was over 50 and she had been screened, they found polyps and removed them, she now gets tested every 3 years. I was amazed that even though all 3 had been personally touched by colon cancer, they knew little of the statistics and symptoms. Thankfully I believe our conversation will prompt them to talk more about this disease and it's prevention and have their relatives get tested AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. I also found out that recent studies suggest COUSINS are apparently showing the same gene for colon cancer so start finding out about your extended family history. Also remember, just like Lynne, there does not have to be any family history to get this disease, someone has to be the first!. Thank goodness for proactive Doctors.. if you are anemic get tested. Lynne's spirit may have saved some family & freinds of my colleagues yesterday..as they now have the knowledge and are motivated to share... God bless her"... An Actively Concerned Close Friend of Lynne's