Note: Please speak with your doctor about the screening options that are best for you.

Checking her emails one day this spring, a particular message caught the eye of 78-year-old Wilma Hathaway of Palmyra.  It was about the Blessing Cancer Center distributing no-cost take-home colorectal cancer screening kits as it has done each March - National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - since 2017.

“I thought, well, I had not done that for a while.” she said. “I’ll just do it. It won’t hurt anything,”

Wilma was right. Completing the free at home test did not hurt anything. In fact, it helped her avoid a serious health problem.

“They called me and told me that my test was positive,” Wilma said. “I had no idea that I had any problem.”

That’s typical for colon cancer. Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, when it is most treatable. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early.

Symptoms appear in later stages of the disease and may include:

  • A change in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of the stool;
  • Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool;
  • Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain;
  • A feeling that the bowel doesn't empty completely;
  • Weakness or fatigue; and
  • Unexplained weight loss.

A woman of strong faith, the test result did not cause Wilma to panic. She had an appointment with her primary care provider, Dr. Gina Pontius of Hannibal Clinic, after receiving the test result. They discussed the result and Dr. Pontius referred Wilma to Hannibal Clinic surgeon Dr. Melissa Matrisch, who suggested a colonoscopy. It confirmed the finding of the free take-home test kit – Wilma had early stage colon cancer. Dr. Matrisch referred Wilma to Dr. Harsha Polavarapu, Blessing Health’s board-certified colon and rectal cancer surgeon.

“I thought he was wonderful,” Wilma said. “Dr. Harsha is very caring and very thorough. I was very pleased.”

Blessing Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a High Performing Hospital in colorectal cancer surgery for delivery of care determined to be significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes.

While Wilma has two daughters who work for Blessing Health, this was her first experience as a patient.

“I was treated very well at Blessing Hospital. Everybody was so professional,” she said.  “I was very happy with my care.”

Wilma had minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery on a Friday and was back home in Palmyra on Sunday. This type of surgery requires smaller incisions than traditional, open surgery - contributing to less blood loss and pain, and quicker recovery time. She had a portion of her colon removed, in addition to 28 lymph nodes for testing to ensure the cancer had not spread. It had not.

“They are a lifesaver,” Wilma said of the free take-home colorectal cancer screening kits that the Blessing Cancer Center gives away each spring.  “I tell everybody you need to do it. It is such an easy thing to do.”

For more information on Blessing Health’s colorectal cancer care go to blessingheath.org/colon.