DIG THIS WAY
Use the proper garden tool—not
your hands—when digging in the
dirt. Buried sharp objects or debris
could cut your hands.
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
COOL TO THE TOUCH
Hot sun can quickly turn a play-
ground slide into a scorching ride.
Make sure a slide is cool to prevent
a child’s legs from being burned.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Donald
Goodin, MD
Hematology
and Oncology
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Platteville, WI
Permit No. 7
T.J. Samson Community Hospital
1301 N. Race St.
Glasgow, KY 42141
Screening tests like colonoscopy
can detect colon cancer early, when
treatment works best. It can even
stop cancer before it starts. How?
By finding and removing abnormal
intestinal growths (polyps), from
which most colon cancers arise.
Most people should start screen-
ing at age 50. “And that goes for men
and women,” notes Dr. Goodin, an
oncologist-hematologist at T.J. Sam-
son Community Hospital. “Instead
of just crossing your fingers and
hoping you won’t get colon cancer,
this is something you can actually go
out and do for your health.”
Getting older is a risk factor for
colon cancer—thus the reason for
starting screening at 50, if you’re at
average risk. So is having a family
history of colon cancer, including
a genetic condition called Lynch
syndrome. Diets high in processed
or grilled meats are linked to colon
cancer too, Dr. Goodin notes.
Beyond screening, it’s good to
know about some potential colon
cancer warning signs.These include
unusual bowel changes (such as
pencil-thin or flat stools); pain-
ful bowel movements and bloody
stools. Other things, such as hem-
orrhoids, can cause some of these
problems. “But it is a flag that maybe
you should have it looked at,” Dr.
Goodin says.
BETTER TREATMENTS
Another key message about colon
cancer? “Treatment has come a long
way,” Dr. Goodin says. And those
treatments are available right here
at T.J. Samson.The options depend
on such factors as the tumor’s stage
When it comes to
your best defense
against colon cancer,
the message is clear:
“Screening, screening,
screening,” says
Donald Goodin, MD.
“This is preventable and
curable, if caught early.”
(whether it has spread).
“For early-stage disease—which
only involves the colon itself—
surgery alone is often curative,”
Dr. Goodin says. Some people
might need additional treatment,
such as chemotherapy.
For stage III cancer (lymph
nodes are involved), six months of
chemo after surgery may reduce the
likelihood of the cancer returning
by roughly 40 percent, according to
Dr. Goodin. Late-stage cancer that
has spread to other organs can often
be controlled. In a few instances,
treatment may even render someone
with stage IV cancer disease-free,
he says.
“There’s virtually no one that
couldn’t be treated in some shape or
form,” Dr. Goodin says. “The vast
majority of people we can treat—
and often very effectively.”
DUE FOR A SCREENING?
Talk to your primary care doctor
about colon cancer screening. You
may need to start before age 50, de-
pending on your risk. You also can
discuss the different types of tests
and how often to have them.
D E S T I N AT I O N
HEALTH
A JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND WELL - BE ING
APRIL 2017
On guard
against
colon cancer