Colorectal Cancer Survivor Urges Colonoscopies

Last June, during a routine colonoscopy performed at Healdsburg District Hospital, Dr. Richard Auld took a biopsy of suspicious tissue. It was just two days later that registered nurse, Mary Doll, heard the news we all fear—it was cancer. Healdsburg surgeon Dr. Henry Flores operated just six days later at the hospital.

“I decided to do everything quickly,” said Doll. “I had to go to American Idols Live. After all, I had my priorities.”

Doll decided to speak out because she knows she is one of the lucky ones. Though specialists believe the tumor was growing for some 15 years, it had grown slowly. When the tumor was removed it was Stage 1. While she'll receive extensive follow-up screenings, most people with Stage 1 go on to live long lives.

“I wasn’t having any symptoms,” Doll stated, “though I had been diagnosed as anemic during blood work done months before.”

“It was happy because I fed it well,” quipped Doll. “But I want people to know it’s serious.

“I want people to know they need to be screened—anyone 50 and over and anyone under that with a family history, needs to be screened.”

She went on to say that colonoscopies and cancer surgery don’t require a trip out of town. These services are available at Healdsburg District Hospital

According to the American Cancer Society, excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined. It is expected to cause about 51,690 deaths during 2012.

But it is one of the most preventable and curable when found early.

“Regular screening can often find colorectal cancer early, when it is most likely to be curable. In many cases, screening can also prevent colorectal cancer altogether. This is because some polyps, or growths, can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer,” cites the American Cancer Society.

Doll, who turned 60 in November, said she used all kinds of excuses not to go for a colonoscopy. From fear of anesthesia to fear of losing control to “I’m fine, I don’t have any symptoms,” self-talk, she put off the essential test.

She said that March’s being National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month offered her the perfect opportunity to share her story with the community.

“I wanted to use my experience to help other people do what they need to do,” said Doll who knows all about helping people. She has been a nurse for 36 years, most recently at Healdsburg District Hospital.

“I don’t want people to have to go through sitting across from the oncologist hearing what stage cancer you have,” said Doll.

Doll stated that local surgeons, Henry Flores, MD and Mitchell Bailey MD both perform surgery at the hospital. In addition, Digestive Health Consultants, including Dr. Auld, perform diagnostic endoscopy and colonoscopies as well as many other procedures in Healdsburg.

For more information about local services, call Mark Blankenship, the manager of peri-operative services at Healdsburg District Hospital at 328-3533.

To steal a fitting phrase from Flannery O'Connor, “the life you save, may be your own.”