Survivors Exhibit Promotes Colon Cancer Screening

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 25, 2010) —A poster exhibit featuring Kentucky colon cancer survivors will open Aug. 26 at the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center with a special reception at 1 p.m in the atrium of the cancer center's Combs Research Building. 

The exhibit, "Faces of Colon Cancer," was coordinated by the Kentucky Cancer Program (KCP) to spread the message that colon cancer screening saves lives. Each poster has a photograph of one of the nine featured survivors, along with a brief personal statement. 

"The diagnosis of colon cancer totally shocked me," reads the statement of John Paul Amis, superintendent of Perry County Schools in Hazard, who is scheduled to speak at the reception. "I was only 44 and had no family history of the disease. Today I encourage family and friends to talk with their doctor about colon cancer screening. I tell them that my colonoscopy probably saved my life." 

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Kentuckians, but it doesn’t have to be, says Dr. Mark Evers, director of the Markey Cancer Center. With a screening colonoscopy, the disease can be detected early or even prevented entirely by removing pre-cancerous polyps at the time of screening. Even when there is a positive finding of cancer, colorectal cancer can be cured about 90 percent of the time, when the disease is found in its earliest stages. 

"The good news is that Kentucky's screening rates rose from 34 to 63 percent of the age-eligible population from 1999 to 2008," Evers said. "We have seen a corresponding decrease in both incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer. This is encouraging, but much remains to be done. As long as Kentuckians continue to die from this highly preventable disease, we must continue to get out the word that everyone age 50 and older should get regular colorectal cancer checks." 

About 2,700 Kentuckians are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year, and around 850 die of the disease annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the five year period 2002-06, Kentucky ranked second among all states for both colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. 

"Faces of Colon Cancer" will remain on display at UK in the Combs Building atrium for two weeks. The exhibit will then be displayed in various communities throughout Central and Eastern Kentucky over the following 12 months. Local exhibits, including educational materials and speakers, will be coordinated by KCP regional staff in collaboration with district cancer councils and other community groups. 

KCP is a state-funded cancer control program jointly administered by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. It includes 14 regional offices across the state. KCP at UK serves Central and Eastern Kentucky. 

The Markey Cancer Center is one of just six cancer centers nationwide to have been awarded a Specialized Program of Research Excellence grant in gastrointestinal cancers (GI-SPORE) by the National Cancer Institute. For more information about the Markey GI-SPORE, please visit http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/publications/healthfocus/fact_sheets/gispore.asp. 

All photos in "Faces of Colon Cancer" were taken by Richmond photographer Tim Webb, who donated his time. For more information about scheduling the exhibit in your community, contact your local KCP office. For contact information, go to www.kcp.uky.edu and click on "Regional Offices."