My name is Narice May and I am writing you to ask your consideration
of guidelines aimed at eliminating colon cancer by mandating
colonoscopy screening for all adults in the Commonwealth beginning
at age 18 NOT 50.

On December 5,2005 I lost my husband Phillip to colorectal cancer.
Phil was only 46. He NEVER was offered a colonoscopy despite the
fact his mother and grandmother died of Pancreatic and Uterine
cancer. These cancers are said to have some link to HEREDITARY colon
cancer. Even with this history Phil had no symptoms of cancer. He
was young, fit and appeared healthy so why would anyone even THINK
to test him?

BUT the same could be said about my 32 year old friend Amy Carter
who died of
Breast Cancer and had no history. The difference is that today Amy
and her
daughter would be checked for BREAST & CERVICAL cancer regardless of
age. Why
don't we do the same for colon cancer?

A colonoscopy can detect polyps and eradicate them BEFORE cancer
develops.
There is NO OTHER CANCER that has that claim. We have the ability to
PREVENT
and possibly totally ELIMINATE colon cancer and yet 50,000 plus
people will DIE
of this brutal disease this year.

A Colonoscopy is paid for IF an adult is 50 and over but 50
didn't save my
husband. You see, a good number of individuals are 40, 30, yes even
20 something,
when they are diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Most are inoperable at
that point
meaning there is no cure just treatment to prolong life.
Treatment that costs hundreds of thousands of tax and/or state
insurance dollars.
Pennsylvania is paying out far too much in survivor benefits,
welfare, Medicaid and Disability.

Why? Because we have not demanded and mandated that we change the
guidelines
so that ALL adults can be tested every 3-5 years beginning at age
18. We spend
about 5-6,000 dollars every 3-5 years and we save taxpayers hundreds
of
thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance, health care costs,
and priceless
loss of friends and family to this heartless killer.

Project March is a grassroots organization under the auspices of The
Colorectal Cancer Network an organization comprised of those whose
lives have been forever changed by this disease.
You can find their guidelines and suggestions at:

http://www.colorectal-cancer.net/projectmarch.htm

I urge you to read these guidelines and consider that the answer is
so very simple.
Screen everyone and no one should get colon cancer and the tiny
percent that is not caught can be easily treated.

Don't go with the flow on this one. You have the chance to be the
person or group who took the time to take a stand and make a
difference.
Those of you who work in Oncology, Surgery, and GI practices have
seen the devastation up close. Now's the time. Here is your chance
to make a difference!
Won't you please join me in ending Colon Cancer?

Thank you for your time and concern
Sincerely,






Narice May,
Project March PA State Coordinator
Erie, PA
END COLON CANCER!!
Colonoscpies for ALL PA Adults
Not just those over 50
pm_pastatecoordinator@...

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