A TRIBUTE TO HENRY R. SALTER, SR.

	HENRY R. SALTER, SR. My Battle With Colon Cancer
What is Colon Cancer? Colon cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the large intestine, or colon. Who gets it? Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States; anybody can get colon cancer. Can it be treated? When detected early, colon cancer has a very high cure rate. Up to 90% of cases can be cured without radical surgery. Where does it come from? Colon tumors start out as small, benign growths - called POLYPS - in the lining of the colon. Is it possible to keep polyps from developing into cancer? Colon cancer can be prevented by removing polyps, usually without surgery, before they develop into cancer. What increases the risk for colon cancer? Your risk of colon cancer is increased if you have a parent, brother or sister with a history of polyps, colon cancer or other cancers. A regular program of prevention and early detection would be of special benefit to you. If you have a history of polyps, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease, then you are also at increased risk of colon cancer, and a regular program of prevention and early detection would be beneficial. How do I know if I have polyps? With a variety of tests, a doctor can determine whether you have polyps. For most people who are 50 or older, periodic check-ups with the following tests are recommended: Stool Blood Test Annually Sigmoidoscopy Every 5 Years Colonoscopy Every 10 Years If your family or personal medical history puts you at increased risk of colon cancer, then you should have a colonoscopy every five years beginning at age 40. How else can I reduce my chances of getting colon cancer? Studies suggest that your lifestyle may affect your chances of developing colon cancer. Experts suggest that you: Decrease the amount of fat in your diet Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables Maintain the proper body weight for your size Engage in regular physical activity Where can I get more information? There is a wealth of information on the internet and links to three excellent sites are provided at the bottom of this web-page. You can call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345. Don't forget to talk openly with your personal physician regarding your health and your risk for various types of cancer - not just colon cancer. No one cares more about your health than you, so take control of your own destiny. Get educated, get tested and give yourself the best chance to live a long, healthy life!	I was blind-sided by colon cancer. Please don't let it happen to you... Hi. My name is Henry Salter and I died of colon cancer on April 25, 2000 - on my 69th birthday. The purpose of this web-page is to tell my personal story so that others can learn about the seriousness of colon cancer and can take steps to prevent the disease or at least catch it early enough so that it can be cured. I was 68 years old in August of 1999 when I started exhibiting some of the symptoms of colon cancer: fatigue, loss of appetite and unexplained anemia. My doctor attributed these symptoms to "iron poor blood" and by the time I was diagnosed with colon cancer in January of 2000, my prognosis was very bleak. I underwent surgery on January 24th to remove the cancerous portion of my colon but, during the operation, the surgeon discovered that my tumor had punctured the bowel wall and had spread to the lympth nodes, the liver and to the small intestine. The surgeon worked on me for hours and did all he could, but after the operation I was told that I had only a few months to live. The cancer had been allowed to progress so far that there was nothing that could be done to stop its continued growth. I underwent chemotherapy, but the cancer was too far advanced and I finally lost my battle 3 months after the surgery. The real tragedy of this story is that it did not have to turn out this way. There are many tests and diagnostic tools that can detect the precursors of colon cancer way before the cancer develops. Anyone over the age of 50 should have regular check-ups that include a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) annually, a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every five years and a colonoscopy every ten years. If your family or personal medical history puts you at increased risk of colon cancer, then you should have a colonoscopy every five years beginning at age 40. If you are reading these words and have any reservations about getting yourself tested because of the discomfort or personal embarassment or just not wanting to know that you may have cancer, I say: please reconsider! If you take the test and you are OK, think of the peace of mind you will have. If you take the test and your doctor finds one or more polyps, they can be removed before they become cancerous. If the doctor does discover some cancerous cells, the earlier the cancer is discovered, the better chance you have to remove and beat the cancer. If you do nothing and the cancer is there, then there is a very good chance that you will end up like me. Why do I say that? Because, if you wait until you start having the symptoms, it means that the cancer has been growing for a while and it is most likely too late to cure it. Why take that chance? Please, get tested for colon cancer. Colon Cancer Alliance - The Voice Of Survivors http://www.ccalliance.org/ Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center http://www.mskcc.org/ American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/ 2023 H.R. Salter Sr Memorial Scholarship Awarded!!! Click the Link At The Left For More Details...

FEEDBACK:

Click HERE to email us if you have any comments about this page or have benefitted from any of the information provided.

PERSONAL TESTIMONIES

After hearing your father's story, I told my doctor that I wanted a colonoscopy. Since I am only 47 and have no family history of colon cancer, my doctor recommended that I wait until my 50th birthday. I was adamant about getting a baseline, so my doctor suggested that I start out with a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy to check the lower portion of the colon. He performed the Sig Flex and was surprised to find a polyp, so he ordered a colonoscopy to remove it and to completely check out the rest of my colon. He found another polyp in the ascending portion of the colon! Both polyps were removed for biopsy and were found to be benign. I feel very fortunate that you happened to be spreading the word about colon cancer at this time in my life and that I was able to find the resolve to go through with the testing. Thank-you very much!
--Brian

I had just retired and was looking forward to enjoying my new-found freedom and catching up on some old projects, but first I had to take the test. I had heard my co-worker telling the story about his dad's battle with colon cancer, so I wanted to get a colonoscopy for my own peace of mind and to be able to tell him that he was making a big deal out of nothing. Thank God I took the test...they found a constriction and the biopsy confirmed that it was cancerous. The doctors said that I was very fortunate to catch it early and the CT scans showed that the cancer was quite small and had not spread to any lympth nodes or other organs. On Friday, June 23rd I underwent surgery to remove the cancerous portion of my colon and by Tuesday I was at home recovering nicely. I have a very good prognosis for a complete recovery, but I will need to watch this closely to make sure it doesn't come back. There are no words to express the gratitude I feel! I am a believer now: colon cancer is a BIG DEAL! Get yourself tested!
--Joe

First of all, let me express my sympathy to you and your family on the loss of your father. Second, let me thank you for the tribute card of your father and for spreading the word about colon cancer. My husband just got checked and had three non-cancerous polyps removed. My brother-in-law also got checked and had five polyps removed. Who knows if they ever would have gone cancerous, but thank God they have been removed! Keep spreading the word!
--Melinda

What a wonderful tribute!! Through your efforts and love for your father, there will be people saved from the heartache and loss you and your family have had. My father was one of the lucky ones. His colon cancer was diagnosed early enough for surgery and no treatments were necessary. His doctor was very emphatic that I and my brother each have the colonosopy exam, which we have each had and will continue to do. Best wishes to you and your family.
--Janet

OTHER INTERESTING EMAIL

In case you didn't see the full-page ad in the July 13, 2000 USA TODAY, Judge Judy had this to say: "My mother died from colon cancer when she was just about my age. Today, colon cancer is still the number two killer among all cancers, but if you catch it early it's completely curable 90% of the time. Those are the facts. So please, use some judgement and talk to your doctor about the simple test that could save your life." For more information on the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (co-founded by Katie Couric, Lilly Tartikoff and the Entertainment Industry Foundation), please call 800-872-3000 or visit their excellent web-site at http://www.nccra.org/.
--Arvin

Hello! My name is Michelle Burns (Assistant Volunteer Coordinator of CCA). I am including our general volunteer orientation web page link so you can get a feel for the workings of CCA. Please check it out and email me if you would like more information or would like to become a volunteer. Web-site: http://members.aol.com/amycca/CCA.html
--Michelle (Email: mailto:Mburns61@aol.com

Hi! Check out the attached article from the July 20, 2000 Orlando Sentinel. It casts some doubt on the effectiveness of the Sigmoidoscopy in detecting colon cancer. Keep spreading the word about the colonoscopy - it is the gold standard for detecting colon cancer!
--Anon

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease
without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.