CityView Magazine

42 March 2022 BY KIM HAST Y HEALTH G rowing up in Panama in a family of 14 children, Maria Iwanski could always find a game of soccer to join in. Later, in high school, she added track and field to her athletic repertoire. "I've been very active all my life," she said. "I thought I was taking good care of myself." But Iwanski, now 64, admits she overlooked a basic preventive procedure that would have proved vital: A regular colonoscopy, as recommended by the American Cancer Society for anyone starting at age 45. "Now I call everyone I know and tell them, 'Please, do it,'" she said. "Just do it. I could have avoided a lot of pain and stress." Iwanski was diagnosed in November 2021 with Stage 2 colon cancer. She was fortunate that she didn't ignore her symptoms and that Cape Fear Valley Health Chief of Surgery Ravinder Annamaneni, MD, was able to devise an effective treatment plan. Dr. Annamaneni has specialized training in laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgery from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and he completed a fellowship in minimally invasive colorectal surgery as well. He performed surgery on Iwanski in January, and she is scheduled to embark on a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy this month. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, giving healthcare providers an opportunity to educate the community and promote awareness of the importance of colorectal cancer screening, prevention and treatment. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America, but polyp-related colorectal cancer can be prevented, Dr. Annamaneni said. e disease develops from benign polyps. He said these polyps are "mushroom-like growths on the lining of the colon and rectum." "Removing these polyps before they become cancerous may prevent cancer from developing," he said. "Between 80 and 90 percent of colorectal cancer patients are restored to normal health if their cancer is detected and treated in the earliest stages." COLORECTAL PATIENT'S ADVICE: Get the colonoscopy March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, giving healthcare providers an opportunity to educate the community and promote awareness of the importance of colorectal cancer screening, prevention and treatment. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America, but polyp-related colorectal cancer can be prevented. Photo by Rachael Santillan

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