EARLY DETECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER BEGINS WITH SCREENINGS

Despite the availability of various screenings and positive outcomes for early detection, colorectal cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Louisiana has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates in the country.

Cancer that starts as a growth or polyp in the colon is called colon cancer. When it begins in the rectum, it is rectal cancer. If the point of origin is either organ—both of which are part of the large intestine—it may be referred to as colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer affects all genders and races, with African Americans at a 20% higher risk of having the disease. Due to an increase in cases among younger adults, healthcare experts now recommend that screenings for persons with average risk should begin at age 45 and continue every 10 years afterwards if results are normal. When caught early, it is one of the most preventable and treatable cancers with an average 90% five-year survival rate. So why does it continue to be the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and third leading cause of cancer death in this country? According to the American Cancer Society, it’s due to only about 66% of adults over age 50 being up to date on their screenings.

While a colonoscopy remains the gold standard of screenings, there are several other options including at-home stool sample tests that can alert you to anything suspicious.

March is National Colorectal Awareness Month and a good time to schedule a screening. Talk with your doctor about any concerns or call Thibodaux Regional Cancer Institute at (985) 493-4008 to find out more about the five types of screening tests recommended by the National Cancer Institute.

Colonoscopy

The most well-known screening procedure is a colonoscopy. With the patient sedated, the doctor inserts a thin, tube-like colonoscope through the rectum and into the colon. A light and lens attached to the scope allow close views of possible growths or polyps. With this one-stop test, the doctor can also remove precancerous polyps before they cause other problems. It takes about 10 years for polyps to turn into cancer.

Sigmoidoscopy

Similar to a colonoscopy, this procedure also uses a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and lens to look inside the rectum and sigmoid— or lower colon—for polyps, abnormal areas or cancer. Polyps or tissue samples may also be removed during a sigmoidoscopy for a closer look under a microscope for signs of cancer.

Virtual colonoscopy

A virtual colonoscopy uses a series of x-rays known as computed tomography to make a pictures of the colon. The pictures create detailed images to show polyps and other unusual areas inside the colon.

According to the National Cancer Institute, a virtual colonoscopy poses fewer risks than a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Possible harm from radiation exposure during X-rays is unknown. The X-rays can also reveal problems with other organs that could lead to more testing.

Fecal occult blood test (FQBT)

With the FQBT, patients collect stool samples in containers that are sent to their doctor or laboratory. Technicians check the sample under a microscope for blood, which may be a sign of polyps, cancer or other conditions.

DNA stool test

The at-home DNA stool test—known by the brand name Cologuard®—checks for genetic changes in stool cells that could indicate colorectal cancer.

Results of either the FQBT or DNA stool test can be effective when done regularly. However, anything suspicious requires a follow-up colonoscopy.

Screening works!

While most screening tests have risks, colorectal cancer often doesn't cause symptoms in the early stages. The primary reasons to screen for colorectal cancer are:

• It’s preventable—The earlier cancer is detected, the better the survival chances. An estimated 50 percent of colorectal cases resulting in death are preventable.

• It’s treatable—Surgery to remove cancerous growths results in cure approximately 50 percent of the time.

• It’s easily detectable—A cancerous polyp can take from 10 to 15 years to develop into cancer. With early detection, doctors can remove polyps before they become cancerous.

Stay up to date on screenings to lower your colorectal cancer risk. To learn more talk with your healthcare provider or call Thibodaux Regional Cancer Institute at (985) 493-4008.

Whether recovering from a stroke, fall, or other medical condition, our customized rehab program helps you recover quickly so you can get back home. If you’re getting ready for long-term living, we make the transition from home to our community as rewarding as possible. A variety of spacious resident suites offer the ultimate in privacy and comfort.

In the year 1521, when explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed at the Philippines, he faced a big problem. For five unscheduled months, he had been forced by hard winter to anchor along the coast of South America, where his fleet suffered wrecks, scuttlings, mutinies, and desertions. Then, after finding passage across the icy tip of the continent through the strait that today bears his name, maps told him to expect only a few days travel across the Pacific Ocean to reach the Spice Islands. But the Pacific proved much vaster than cartographers knew at the time. His men were desperately hungry and afraid of falling off of the edge of a flat Earth. And the sails of his ships were lifeless and askew because he had run out of fresh rope.

First landing at the islands some five centuries ago this month, the destitute Magellan met an influential islandic king who ordered all villages to gather and bring supplies. Among these supplies were fibrous, stone-ripped strips of leaf stems from the abacá tree. Magellan immediately recognized the importance of these strong, stringy strips. Playing cool, he asked one of the villagers, “Boy, make me some rope from this!” To which the boy, in turn playing cool, replied, “Hindi ako ang anak mo, Ferdinand!“ (I ain’t your boy, Ferdinand!”)

With much laughter, the boy yelled out to the villagers: “Nag-utos ang magarbong lalaking Portugues!” (Fancy Portuguese man gives orders!”) Magellan knew a rallying cry when he heard one, and he suddenly had a bigger problem than finding new rope. The villagers rushed Magellan and crew, weaponized the abacá strips, and proceeded to thrash and bloody the ironclad Europeans with the strong, unbreakable fibers of their native plant. And being a relative of the banana tree, abacá fruit made nicely firm grenade-like projectiles that turned slimy and slippery on impact—a perfect, two-pronged weapon for downing an enemy. The fight that day ended Magellan’s life, and, after a few additional back-stabbings and poisonings, survivors of his crew departed and returned westward to the Iberian Peninsula, effectively completing the first circumnavigation of the world--without spice and without falling off the edge.

After those few days of hostilities, native islanders realized that they had received something lasting from the visiting Europeans. No, not smallpox or typhoid or herpes or any other nasty microbial disease but rather the concept of turning the strong fibers of abacá into manufactured products—like rope. And the retreating Europeans inadvertently showed the trade route from which the islanders could profit from these products. It wasn’t long before the region known as Manila became a major trading port to Asia and world, exporting high-strength rope, whipping weapons, bananas, and, importantly, paper-like materials.

And there I was, 502 years later, on a very long flight in a crowded plane over the Pacific, surveying my mind for all the evidence that indeed there was no edge to a flat world to be concerned about. Like always, I carried reading materials to keep my mind off of in-flight drudgery. But not books like many other passengers carried aboard. Instead, I carried raw material not yet collected in books—a few scientific journal papers and reports and, as a diversion, a printout of new poetry or short fiction. Each of these were printed on 8.5” x 11” sheets and stapled at the upper left edge. Importantly, I carried them in a manilla folder (written here with two L’s to denote that it’s no longer made from abacá.)

And I thought about how important and cool I looked reading from within this historical, buff-colored bifold that contained cutting edge information from which I would triage worldly importance with my neon yellow highlighter and red gel pen. So cool, in fact, that beneath the hum of jet engines the cabin passengers erupted into conversation about me. “Look, Mom!” one kid’s thought cloud read. “He must be important! He doesn’t even read books!” And “Yes,” all the sighing mothers’ clouds would read, longingly, “What an important man and mind.” And all the dads’ clouds would say, “Stop looking at the important guy and look at me instead.” And all the lonely travelers agreed: “So cool. I wish I would come to know him. If only he would meet me for coffee and scones one day,” their clouds read.

Amidst all this coolness, however, like a psychic abacá thrashing, one young woman’s cloud gave me flack for using disposable paper products instead of the kind of illuminated tablet screen she was using. I assured her with my own thought cloud that the plants used to make my folder and papers were ultimately renewable resources, unlike the photons she was burning that are fueled by excavating hillsides for lithium to build batteries and either hydrocarbon combustion or nuclear fission to charge them—neither of which are renewable. Suddenly, her cloud disappeared. Maybe she was distracted by the large Chinese weather balloon floating outside. Maybe I should not have used such defensive capital letters in my thought cloud.

And then, all the thought clouds in the cabin evaporated, and the entire cabin conversation about me ended—just like that. In the capriciousness of human society, opinions about others can change in a matter of seconds, just like it did 502 years ago. Luckily, I and my folder survived the thrashing. And, as soon as we landed, we had coffee and scones and company. POV

BCCM Play it Forward Fundraiser

March 3, 7 p.m.

Foundry On The Bayou

The Bayou County Children’s Museum will host its annual Play It Forward Fundraiser under the theme Havana Nights! The special evening will benefit the BCCM and feature a one of a kind cocktail trail, local food, gaming tables, silent auction, exciting live auction and great live entertainment.

Roux for a Reason

March 11, 12 p.m.

Southdown Plantation

Roux for a Reason will host the 6th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off at Southdown Plantation. The event will feature a gumbo cook off, live music, and kids activities, making it fun for the whole family. Admission is $15, and proceeds will be dedicated to funding a comprehensive nutrition program at Mary Bird Perkins TGMC Cancer Center.

Grand Caillou

White Boot Clean Up

March 18, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Grand Caillou Recreation Center

Are you ready to create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful community for your friends and neighbors? Join Keep Terrebonne Beautiful and volunteer to remove litter and debris from roadsides, highways, and waterways for a safer, cleaner community. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt (while supplies last) and entrance to the after-party celebration.

Paddle Bayou Lafourche & St.

Patrick’s Day on the Bayou

March 11, 7:30 a.m.

Downtown Thibodaux

Join BTNEP and Friends of Bayou

Lafourche for a jam-packed day of bayou fun! Begin your day with a beautiful paddle down Bayou Lafourche, and end celebrating St. Patrick’s Day along the bayou-side. Paddlers will choose either a 13.7 or 8.7-mile paddle, all the way down to Downtown Thibodaux, where FOBL's St. Patrick’s Day celebration will be in full swing. The celebration will offer a family-friendly atmosphere with cardboard boat races, food and drinks, kids activities, live music and more.

The Haven Gala

March 25, 6:30 p.m.

Barry P. Bonvillian Civic Center

Presented by Thibodaux Regional Health System, The Haven invites you to enjoy an evening of food, spirits, music and auctions. Money raised at the event is a vital source of funding that ensures a local refuge for abused women and children. Attire for the evening is dressy casual.

Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie

March 25, 10 a.m.

Bayou Terrebonne Distillers

There’s nothing like a boucherie to remind us of the importance of community! Join the Hache Grant Association, Inc. in downtown Houma at the Third Annual Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie for a day of food, festivity and teamwork. In addition to mounds of pork, there will be a white bean cookoff, live music, and the famous Cajun Cup, including a series of bayouthemed competitions. Whether spectating or participating, it'll be a day of good Cajun fun for the whole family. C'mon out and pass a good time! General admission is free.

Terrebonne Orchid Society Orchid Show and Sale

March 24-26

Southland Mall

The Terrebonne Orchid Society Show and Sale that will take place on Friday, March 24 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday, March 25, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m, and Sunday, March 26, from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Members of the Terrebonne society and other orchid societies from Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mississippi, Lafayette, Texas will all be in attendance. A variety of orchids will be on display, including orchids available for purchase. The event is open to the public and free of charge. POV