It’s a busy life for 72-year old Rosane D. Turner, a Davenport grandmother who also enjoys running a woodworking business with her husband, Elba of 56 years. “I had always put off a 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, referred her to a gastroenterologist.
Lauri Harsh, D.O., 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 of 2008, she has routine tests every four months and is scheduled for annual colonoscopies – but she’s cancer free for now.
“My husband and I are enjoying life every day and are grateful for our health.”
Stories like Rosane Turner’s are common and reveal both the prevalence of colon cancer and the hope early detection can bring. Since one in three Quad Citians is over the age of 50, many in our community are already at risk for colon cancer. Now, anyone can log on to becoloncancerfree.com and take a 2-minute risk assessment to determine whether one exhibits enough risk factors to warrant a colonoscopy.
While those over 50 are at-risk, adult children and siblings of colon cancer patients need to be screened at younger ages. Web visitors can also email friends and family to remind them of their potential family risks, learn more about the disease or where they can schedule the procedure.
Turner credits her Gastroenterologist Dr. Harsh with saving her life and for being honest and up front about what she could do to battle the disease. Today, Turner is an advocate for early detection for her friends and family.
“My daughter and husband 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.”
