{"id":1826,"date":"2017-04-04T13:12:11","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T18:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=1826"},"modified":"2018-12-12T16:07:49","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T22:07:49","slug":"patient-stories-frank-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/patient-stories-frank-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"From Colonoscopy to Cancer-Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

Excuses.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what Frank Hill says stopped him from getting a colonoscopy after turning 50, as recommended at the time by the American Cancer Society and other advocacy groups.*<\/p>\n

The El Paso man says there was confusion over whether insurance would cover a colonoscopy \u201cso I didn\u2019t have the early screening. I didn\u2019t have a history of cancer in the family, so I just said I\u2019ll wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have,\u201d Frank said.<\/p>\n

The now 68-year-old was diagnosed with colorectal cancer three years ago.<\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women combined.\u00a0In 2017, it is estimated there will be 135,430 new cases and 50,260 deaths from\u00a0colon and rectal cancers in the U.S., according to Fight Colorectal Cancer, an advocacy group focused on research and finding a cure for the disease.<\/p>\n

Frank’s Story<\/h2>\n

\u201cI started noticing blood in my stools and it stayed pretty consistent, so I thought I better have it checked out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Frank visited Dr. Jessica White<\/a>, his primary care provider at OSF Medical Group \u2013 Minonk<\/a>, in February 2014.<\/p>\n

Dr. White said colorectal cancer wasn\u2019t the first thing she thought about when she discussed Frank\u2019s problems during that first visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that visit it actually sounded more like irritable bowel syndrome,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Dr. White referred Frank to Dr. David Rzepczynski<\/a>, a gastroenterologist in Bloomington.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got the colonoscopy because we were discussing GI issues and I noted he was overdue for a colonoscopy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Frank said Dr. Rzepczynski \u201ctold me I had a tumor before I left the office and he began arranging a treatment plan and eventually surgery. It was an early stage. The tumor was about the size of a walnut near the sphincter muscle. If I had had those early screenings, they could have caught it as a polyp.\u201d<\/p>\n

From April 16 to May 27, 2014, Frank underwent 26 days of radiation and 42 rounds of chemotherapy. Surgery with OSF HealthCare surgeon Dr. Travis Holt<\/a> followed on August 20, 2014, leaving Frank with a permanent colostomy due to where the tumor had been located. And then more chemotherapy from October 2014 until April 10, 2015.<\/p>\n

Positive Outcomes<\/h2>\n

Dr. White said despite Frank\u2019s diagnosis and treatment, \u201cHe always remained in good spirits and focused on the positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank said it was the optimism of his doctors that helped him remain in such good spirits.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the doctors told me to do something, I did it to the best that I could. I followed their directions because I wanted the best chance,\u201d he said. \u201cThey were very optimistic from the start, saying, \u2018This is a very common form of cancer, it\u2019s very treatable, very curable.\u2019 I had a light at the end of the tunnel the whole time. I wouldn\u2019t wish that year on anybody, but I was lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

The support of his wife, Linda, children, grandchildren and his faith encouraged Frank during his journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the Lord wanted me, he\u2019d have taken me,\u201d he said. \u201cBut he must have wanted me to stay around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Frank goes for check-ups every six months and is cancer-free. He also advocates for everyone to \u201cget your annual screenings as often as you\u2019re told to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* The American Cancer Society now recommends screenings beginning at age 45.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Excuses. That\u2019s what Frank Hill says stopped him from getting a colonoscopy after turning 50, as recommended at the time by the American Cancer Society and other advocacy groups.* The El Paso man says there was confusion over whether insurance would cover a colonoscopy \u201cso I didn\u2019t have the early screening. I didn\u2019t have a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":1842,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[101,223,735],"tags":[418,797,414,576],"coauthors":[688],"class_list":["post-1826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cancer","category-patient-story","category-preventive-health","tag-chemotherapy","tag-colon-cancer","tag-colonoscopy","tag-osf-saint-james"],"yoast_head":"\nFrom Colonoscopy to Cancer-Free<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Excuses. That\u2019s what Frank Hill says stopped him from getting a colonoscopy after turning 50. 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