Local colon cancer nurse and survivor react to lowering colon cancer testing age
Credit: WLFI
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Made it successfully through the statehouse this legislative session.
News 18's anna darling talked with a local nurse and a colon cancer survivor about why this is a great move for hoosiers.
"i was actually quite shocked when the doctor woke me up and said that word" colon cancer.
Darla slade had a stage two encased tumor in her colon.
And she almost didn't get the test done.
"of course turning 50 they tell you you need to get your colonoscopy done and i was like yeah well i don't really want to do that " but she went against that nagging feeling and got it done anyways at franciscan health.
She says getting the news was especially shocking for one reason.
"i had no symptoms, none whatsoever."
Something franciscan health nurse holly cummins says is more common in colon cancer.
"about one in 20 americans will get some form of colorectal cancer in their lifetime."
Governor eric holomb signed a bill earlier this month lowering the testing age from 50 to 45.
It will officially become law statewide on july 1st.
"i do think that a younger age will probably be even better as we are seeing colorectal cancer in younger patients more and more often" "had i been tested five years earlier, there's a possibility that i may not have went through the journey that i went through" slade is one of the lucky ones.
"they were able to get it all, i don't have to do radiation, chemotherapy or anything" but she says she feels lucky for other reasons too.
"support from my family.
Feeling the love and support means the world" anna darling news 18 franciscan health