Two-time survivor shares story
- Published on May 19, 2011
- Andrew Chisholm
Colorectal cancer statistics released Wednesday
Sandra Reeves knew something was wrong in 2001 but fear kept her from seeking help.
She thought the symptoms would eventually go away but they didn’t.
In December of 2002, she approached her doctor who discovered a tumor the size of a plumb on her rectum. Reeves was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer.
She underwent surgery within a month of her diagnosis and was assigned to oncologist Dr. Dagny Dryer.
“One of the first things she said to me was, ‘I have good news and I have bad news’,” said Reeves.
The good news was she wouldn’t lose all her hair but the bad news was she would have to spend five weeks in Halifax for treatment.
“That takes a number on you because you’re away from your family.”
The treatment worked and five years later she was still cancer-free.
Then, after routine screening in 2008, Reeves was again diagnosed with cancer.
“This second diagnosis totally shocked me. I was being careful about my health and had no symptoms at all.”
Screening detected the cancer in its early stage while it was still treatable.
The two-time cancer survivor shared her story Wednesday at a Canadian Cancer Society news conference in Charlottetown announcing the 2011 cancer statistics. The society used the conference to launch Get Screened P.E.I., an awareness campaign encouraging Islanders to get screened for cancer.
“Cancer screening needs to be part of our healthy lifestyles,” said Marla Delaney, prevention and public issues manager with the society.
“Just like we put dentist and eye appointments on our calendars, we need to do the same for screening.”
The campaign includes television and radio advertisements directing Islanders to the Get Screened P.E.I. website.
The statistics estimate 910 Islanders will be diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and 350 will die.
The most common cancers found in Island men are prostate, lung and colorectal. For women the most common cancers are lung, breast and colorectal.
Although breast cancer is the second most common cancer for women, deaths caused by the disease have declined by 30 per cent since 1986.
“I think it’s important for people to know that breast cancer is a big success story and part of that’s due to improved screening and improved treatments and we’re hoping for the same result in colorectal cancer,” said Dryer.
The province launched a colorectal screening program last April.
The program offers Islanders a more discreet way to screen for colorectal cancer by offering a take home kit for privacy.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Reeves. “I think Islanders should be a lot more comfortable with picking up the kit, doing it at home and dropping it off for testing. It’s so important Islanders 50 and over do that.”
Reeves didn’t talk much about her first bout with cancers but now she feels it’s important to let me know what she has went through and how screening can save lives.
“If I can tell someone my story and help somebody I am more than willing to do it,” she said.
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