Colon Cancer Stars Joins Forces with Cancer Pathways and Washington State Department of Health for March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
In partnership with Cancer Pathways and the Washington State Department of Health, Colon Cancer Stars proudly participated in a groundbreaking 4-part series for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month last month.
The EnCOMPASSing Cancer podcast, hosted and produced by Lauren Bineau, MPH, is a beacon of hope for individuals navigating the complex landscape of cancer. Its mission is to shed light on the socioemotional impacts of cancer, disseminate crucial health information from trusted sources, and elevate awareness about specific cancer types.
Anita Mitchell Isler, the founder of Colon Cancer Stars, initiated the series by sharing her invaluable experiences and insights as a stage 4 colorectal cancer survivor and advocate. Also featured prominently was Esther Hyun, the newly elected President of Colon Cancer Stars Board of Directors, who bravely recounted her journey with stage 4 colon cancer as a young mother of two.
The series delves deep into various aspects of colorectal cancer, ranging from early-onset cases and screening protocols to parenting through a cancer diagnosis and the importance of reducing health disparities. Each episode is rich in information, compassion, and resilience, curated to empower listeners to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves and their loved ones.
"We are honored to have been part of this series during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month," said Anita Mitchell Isler." At Colon Cancer Stars, we believe that knowledge is power, and through initiatives like these, we can equip individuals with the tools they need to confront colorectal cancer head-on."
Listeners are encouraged to access the series on popular podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify to gain invaluable insights and support in their journey towards prevention, early detection, and survivorship.
Listen to the series here:
Raising awareness about early-onset colorectal cancer and screening
This episode, Featuring Anita Mitchell Isler (@dressinbluelady), Founder of Colon Cancer Stars, focuses on common symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer, the rise in early-onset cases, why colorectal cancer screening is so critical, and the importance of collecting and understanding your family cancer history. This episode has so much great information, so please help us reach even more people by sharing it with your family members and friends.
Parenting and communicating with children through a colorectal cancer diagnosis
This episode features Esther Hyun (@parentingwithcancer), President of Colon Cancer Stars Board of Directors. Esther is a young mom of two and was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in early 2023 at the age of 36. Listen in as she shares with listeners what her initial symptoms were, the long process of getting her diagnosis, the importance of advocating for yourself to get the answers you need, how she communicated with her children about cancer, and the legacy she wants to leave for her kids. Please help us reach more people by sharing the episode with your family and friends!
Tips for preparing for a colonoscopy
In this episode, Michael Schofield (@mischof), who is a stage 1 colon cancer survivor, shares tips for preparing for colonoscopies, what to expect before, during, and after the procedure, why they're so important, what polyps are, and misconceptions people tend to have when it comes to colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer screening (FIT Kits, colonoscopy, Cologuard) and reducing health disparities
The final episode features Dr. Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS, a Gastroenterologist and Associate Professor at Fred Hutch and the University of Washington (UW) and the Director of the Fred Hutch/UW Medicine Population Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Dr Issaka talks about the different types of colon cancer screening tests, common barriers people experience when screening, existing disparities, and how public health organizations, individuals, and providers can work together to decrease disparities and improve colon cancer screening rates! Please help us reach more people by sharing this episode with your family and friends!