To the editor:
I am a colon cancer survivor.
At the age of 35, an unrelated ER visit led to the discovery of my stage 3 colon cancer. I completed 11 of 12 rounds of a particularly unpleasant chemotherapy with side effects I still feel today. Unfortunately, my story is not uncommon. It can, however, be made less common.
I learned a couple weeks ago that 3,300 Hoosiers are projected to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. With current trends, more than 300 of those Hoosiers will be under age 50 and at more advanced stages of the disease.
While it may not have helped me, the bill Indiana lawmakers are considering that lowers the screening age to 45 will give many more people under the age of 50 the opportunity to live longer lives.
Please join me in asking our lawmakers to support lowered colorectal screening guidelines for Hoosiers.
Andrea Bauer
Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
