Guests from Ascension addressed TM Rotary at Columbia St. Mary's Ozaukee to discuss the risk factors and screening process for colorectal cancer, a disease with a lifetime risk of 1 in 21 people being diagnosed.
Colon and rectal cancers are referred to as colorectal cancer because they have many features in common. Cancer can develop in any part of the colon or rectum. The cancer typically develops slowly over a period of several years. Before the cancer actually develops, there are usually precancerous growths, referred to as polyps.
Screening for colorectal cancer offers a powerful opportunity for prevention, early detection and successful treatment of the cancer. While people cannot change their genetic makeup or family health history, many people can help reduce their risk of this type of cancer by following screening guidelines, maintaining a healthy weight, increasing physical activity levels and limiting intake of processed or red meats.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Wisconsin for males and females combined. From '09-'13, an annual average of 950 residents died of the disease. The cancer mortality rate for that period was 14.2 per 100,000 with a rate of 16.8 per 100,000 for males and 12.1 per 100,000 for females.
Hereditary and medical risk factors include personal or family history, inherited genetic conditions, personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease), and Type 2 diabetes. Modifiable risk factors include lack of exercise, a diet high in red or processed meat, obesity, long-term smoking, alcohol consumption and very low intake of fruits and vegetables.
The most common form of screening for colorectal cancer is a colonoscopy every 10 years for those over the age of 40, or as recommended by a doctor for anyone with a family history of the disease.
On Tuesday, February 13th, we honored our February Student of the Month, Chelsey Kim. Chelsey is a resident of Mequon and is the daughter of Jake and Young Too Kim. Chelsey also has two sisters.
Chelsey is a senior at Homestead High School where she is the co-president of the Rotary Interact Club, an organization for young people ages 12-18 that focuses on Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” by developing leadership skills through various school and community service projects. Through Rotary Interact, one of the events that Chelsey led raised money to purchase over 100 books for St. Marcus in Milwaukee. She shared a heartwarming story with our club describing the gratitude and emotion from these young children as they delivered the books to children, most of whom had never before owned a single book. She also launched a new “Trick-or-Treat for Hunger” project which raised over 760 pounds of food for the Ozaukee Food Pantry.
For the past 4 years, Chelsey has played the violin for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. She also plays violin for her church and several local nursing homes. She is an active member of Best Buddies, the Spanish Club, Girls Exploring Math & Science and Forensics, among several other clubs.
As for college, she is planning to study Psychology and is still deciding between Rochester University, Emory University and University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Chelsey, we thank you for your “Service Above Self” and all that you have done to make your school and community a better place!
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