By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Thanks to emphasizing early detection, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer patients are the most prevalent survivors, an American Cancer Society representative informed Dowagiac Rotary Club Thursday noon at Elks Lodge 889.
Sixty-one percent of cancer survivors are older than 65, Pam Hughes said.
The average age of survivors is 69 for males, 64 for females.
"Approximately 14 percent of the estimated 10 million cancer survivors were diagnosed over 20 years ago," Hughes said.
"Basically, what we're saying is more people are surviving cancer due to early detection. We're getting the word out there, telling women to get mammograms and everyone to get colonoscopies at 50. There are more aggressive and effective treatments. Obviously, we're also looking at healthier lifestyles."
Hughes, of Fisher Lake in the Three Rivers area, serves as community development director for the Southwest Michigan Area Service Center, Great Lakes Division Inc., of the American Cancer Society, covering a seven-county area including Cass, from her Portage office.
With 2007-08 Cass County Relay for Life Chair Cathy Merrill of Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union in the audience, Hughes announced that the annual fundraiser exceeded its $95,000 goal by $965.
The ACS fiscal year ended Thursday.
President Brad Yazel said the Red Cross blood drive Rotary supported last Friday exceeded its 51-pint goal by six with 57.
Yazel also shared a postcard from Daniel Crandall, People to People ambassador, thanking the club for its donation toward his trip to Greece and Italy.
Hughes highlighted free programs the American Cancer Society (ACS) provides besides Relay, which Rotarians support, including "our first line of defense," the "palm card," a business card with the mission statement on one side and contact information on the other: 1-800-ACS-2345 for up-to-date cancer information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, delivered by a human being rather than a recording; the Web site, www.cancer.org for information, events and breaking news; and the online community Cancer Survivors Network for survivors and caregivers to connect with others with similar experiences through the www.cancer.org Web site.
"Reach to Recovery" is breast cancer survivors support program. A year after treatment volunteer women help other patients. "We try to hook them up with someone who has children who might be the same age. We're seeing younger breast cancer patients."
"Road to Recovery" offers transportation help for cancer patients to get to their treatments. There are no volunteer drivers in Cass County. "We are working with different organizations trying to get them gas cards because gas is so expensive," Hughes said. "We really need help down in this area" with the nearest drivers in Van Buren County. Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital offers chemotherapy on Mondays, but other patients might need to travel to Kalamazoo.
"Cass, we need your help," Hughes said.
Hughes said where breast cancer was once considered a taboo topic to talk about, now there is Man to Man, a prostate cancer education and support program, because "it's increasing and we need to talk about it."
Hughes also promoted "Making Strides," a 2.5-mile walk Saturday, Oct. 21, at Midlink Business Park in Portage.
"All the money that we raise goes directly to breast cancer research," she said.
Another brochure, At Work in Our Community," spells out various free programs ACS offers.