During the procedure , Gastroenterologist Alexis Ayonote , MD , discovered a tumor in Keith ’ s rectum .
“ It ’ s an overwhelming thing to hear ‘ you have cancer ,’” Keith said . Keith ’ s parents and daughter , who was just 12 at the time , were devastated by the news . His brother and sister , Kevin and Kathy , immediately scheduled colonoscopies at the SBL Gastroenterology Clinic upon their doctor ’ s urging , since the three are triplets . While the siblings gained peace of mind , Keith began the fight of his life .
Keith was scheduled for an aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimen to shrink the size of his tumor prior to surgery , but doctors stopped his chemotherapy treatments early when Keith became extremely sick . He suffered through bouts of nausea and diarrhea , yet he continued to receive radiation treatments daily . Keith had to dig deep for strength that he didn ’ t know he had . “ There were times when I didn ’ t want to go through it anymore , but I have to give credit to my family and friends ,” he said . They helped him become a fighter .
In February 2009 , Keith underwent a five-and-a-half-hour surgery at Barnes Hospital in St . Louis to remove a portion of his rectum and lower colon . The pain and soreness he experienced during the recovery are still vivid in his mind . “ The ride home from the hospital was the worst . My parents took the seats out of the van and piled blankets in there to make it more comfortable , but I cringed whenever we hit any little bump in the road ,’’ he said .
Keith also needed a colostomy bag , which he had a difficult time adjusting to both physically and mentally . What made it tolerable was learning a month after the surgery that the procedure had been successful and that the cancer hadn ’ t spread . After healing from the surgery , Keith went through high-dose chemotherapy treatments every other week for six months as a preventive measure .
Keith captured his journey on his CaringBridge website , which allowed many of his friends and relatives to travel by his side to make the journey a little less scary . Their support both motivated him to push through the dark days and taught him just how amazing his friends and family are . “ I will say that no part of this journey was easy , but I did overcome the obstacle . You must fight the fight ,” he said . “ I ’ d say the best thing after it was all said and done was getting to sit on the toilet again . It ’ s just great to feel normal again ,” he said .
While Keith still struggles to eat certain foods and he can ’ t be far from a restroom , he is grateful to have his energy back . As soon as he could , Keith returned to his full time job as a press operator and maintenance mechanic at United Graphics , LLC ., in Mattoon , where he has worked for nearly 30 years . He receives follow-up care from SBL Family Practitioner Gary Mikel , MD , and he undergoes screening colonoscopies .
Colorectal cancer ( cancer of the colon or rectum ) is the third most common cancer in the U . S . in men and women , with nearly 150,000 new cases each year . The rates are rising in adults under age 50 – people who , like Keith , are not typically screened for such cancers . Colorectal cancer is one of the easiest cancers to survive , if caught early .
Keith ’ s message to everyone is to trust your instinct . “ If something doesn ’ t seem right , then it probably isn ’ t . Please do not ignore the symptoms you have . They could be the warning you need to save your life ,” he said .
FREE Colon Cancer Screen
A limited number of free Hemosure colon cancer screening kits are available on a first-come firstserved basis .
Who Should be Screened
• People between 50 and 75 years old
• People with a strong family history of colon cancer
• People who have never had a colonoscopy
• People with the following symptoms : – Diarrhea / Constipation – Rectal bleeding – Black or tarry stools – Change in bowel habits
What is involved with the screen ? The kit you receive allows you to easily collect a stool sample in a plastic container . Return it discreetly in a provided brown bag to any Sarah Bush Lincoln clinic or the hospital outpatient lab . Test kits should be returned to Sarah Bush Lincoln by June 29 .
Where and when can I get a kit ?
Available while supplies last .
11 am to 1 pm
June 2 Mattoon Rural King
June 9 Sullivan Ace Hardware
June 16 SBL Tuscola Clinic
June 23 SBL Casey Clinic
How will I receive the result ? If your test result is negative , you will receive a letter in the mail from the Sarah Bush Lincoln Gastroenterology Clinic . If your test result is positive , you will receive a phone call from the SBL Gastroenterology Clinic and a certified letter alerting you to the results and the actions you should take for further investigation .
For more information , call the Sarah Bush Lincoln Gastroenterology Clinic at 217-258-4155 . may 2017 healthstyles 9