Routine screening was just in time
Renee Mitchell , 51 , didn ’ t get a recommended colonoscopy when she was 50 . Fortunately , the one she got a year later may have saved her life .
Renee needed the colonoscopy to clear her for bariatric surgery . It revealed a cancer tumor that had been growing in her sigmoid colon for at least five years . She was referred to Dr . Anuj Parikh for surgery .
“ When I heard cancer , I was so sure I was going to die . I was making plans for my funeral ,” Renee said . “ But at Dr . Parikh ’ s office , his nurse , Jennifer Krantosky , looked me in the eye and said I was going to be fine . I feel like they really care . I can call them for anything ,” she said .
Renee ’ s care plans stayed on track , even when she was sidelined for a few weeks by COVID-19 . After she recovered , she rescheduled her operation . Dr . Parikh performed robotic surgery , removing parts of her bowel above and below the tumor , as well as 12 lymph nodes .
“ I was lucky . Dr . Parikh removed it all , nothing spread , and I didn ’ t need chemo ,” Renee said . “ From the first moment , everyone was wonderful , watching out for me .”
While admitting that it was a rough six weeks , Renee is proud that she coped with a cancer diagnosis , and now takes time to appreciate life . “ I don ’ t sweat the small stuff anymore ,” she said . “ But when people complain about getting a colonoscopy , I tell them my story and they change their tune .”
“ Some days I don ’ t even feel like I had cancer .”
— Renee Mitchell , cancer patient
60 %
OF
COLORECTAL CANCER DEATHS COULD BE PREVENTED WITH A COLONOSCOPY . *
* Fight Colorectal Cancer ( FIGHT CRC ) on fightcolorectalcancer . org / prevent /
SCAN HERE TO VISIT ahn . org / jefferson
565 Coal Valley Road Jefferson Hills , PA 15025
90-1010 Higbee Drive Bethel Park , PA 15102