Personal Testimonials

Steve Hart- "Walking the Talk"

Q: What motivated you to get screened for colorectal cancer?
As an American Cancer Volunteer I'm always urging people to adopt healthy behaviors to beat cancer. That includes screening for colorectal cancer. I couldn't continue to "talk the talk" unless I "walked the walk."

Q: What screening option did you choose?
I chose to have a colonoscopy. I liked the fact that it is an exam of the entire colon and that if results are normal, the procedure is only repeated every ten years.

Q: How was your colonoscopy experience?
The procedure itself was a cakewalk. Preparing for the exam was another story - to be honest, the clear liquid diet and the "cleansing cocktail" were not fun.

On the day of the exam, after being given an intravenous sedative, I recall the doctor asking me to turn on my side. The next thing I knew the nurse was telling me I could get dressed! My wife drove me home, I took a nap and had a real dinner. The next day I went back to work.

Q: What would you say to people who are not convinced of the importance of screening for colorectal cancer?
I'm a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery Program. Every week I drive patients to their radiation therapy appointments. Too often I hear the words "if I'd only listened and had it checked sooner". I want everyone reading this to heed those words and get screened.