Colon Cancer Awareness Month: Screenings should start at age 45

   Colon cancer screenings save lives. In fact, an estimated 60% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented with timely screening. So, when should you start the screening process? It is now recommended that colon cancer screening begin at age 45—or possibly younger if you have a family history.

   More than likely, you’ve heard of the colonoscopy as a screening tool for colon cancer. It is, after all, known as the “gold standard” of testing. Colonoscopies are recommended every five to 10 years for those at average to low risk. During the test, a physician (usually a gastroenterologist or general surgeon) uses a long, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and colon.

   “A colonoscopy is the most thorough screening option available, as it allows a physician to view your entire colon,” said King’s Daughters Digestive Health Nurse Navigator Deena Stewart, RN, CGRN, BSN. “The physician can remove any polyps that are found as well as some cancerous lesions.”

   If you’re not at high risk for colon cancer, there are a few at-home screening options available, including one called the FIT test and another that looks for DNA in the stool. FIT tests must be performed annually and use antibodies to detect blood, which can be an early sign of cancer. Stool DNA tests must be performed every three years and detect DNA markers associated with colon cancer and blood in the sample. 

   A positive FIT or stool DNA test will require a follow-up colonoscopy.

   “Colon cancer is currently the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States, but the good news is that the disease is preventable, treatable and beatable,” said Stewart. “Early detection is key, so the best screening is the one you get done.”

Family History

   Family history plays a large role when determining when you should be screened for colon cancer. About a third of all colorectal cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed in people who have a close relative – mother, father, sister, brother – who have been diagnosed with the disease. And the risk increases as the number of affected relatives goes up.

   Another risk factor? Age at diagnosis. If that relative was diagnosed before the age of 50 – the personal risk is even greater.

   If you have a parent, sibling or two secondary relatives (grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.) who have/had colon cancer or precancerous polyps (adenomas), subtract 10 years from their age of diagnosis to determine when you should be screened. For example, if your mom was screened at 47 and they found adenomas, you will need to get screened by 37.

   “Family history isn’t the only potential risk factor, so it’s important to talk with your provider to determine if early screening is necessary,” said Stewart.

   For more information or to schedule a colon cancer screening, call King’s Daughters Digestive Health at 606.408.8200. Screenings are covered by most insurances for those 45 and older. A referral is not required for screening colonoscopy.

   King’s Daughters also offers a free online Colon Cancer Risk Assessment at KingsDaughtersHealth.com/HRA to help patients evaluate their personal risk for colon cancer.

Free, Year-Long Diabetes Prevention Program

Available through King’s Daughters

   King’s Daughters is offering the Centers for Disease Control’s PreventT2 program, a free, year-long program for those with prediabetes. The goal is to help patients make lasting lifestyle changes that can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program is delivered through weekly online meetings with healthcare professionals.

   With the PreventT2 lifestyle change program, patients can receive:

• a CDC-approved curriculum
• the skills needed to lose weight, be more physically active, and manage stress
• a trained lifestyle coach to guide and encourage their progress
• support from other participants with the same goals
• a year-long program with weekly meetings for the first six months, then once or twice a month for the second six months

   Those interested in joining the program can register for an online information session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 13. To register, contact Kim Bayes, KDMC’s Center for Healthy Living, at 606.408.1560 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

   One out of three American adults have prediabetes, and most do not know it. Prediabetes means someone’s blood glucose (sugar) level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

   Without weight loss or moderate physical activity, many people with prediabetes can develop type 2 diabetes within five years. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to health issues such as heart attack; stroke; blindness; kidney failure; or loss of toes, feet, or legs.

   Risk factors for prediabetes and developing type 2 diabetes include:

• being 45 years of age or older
• being overweight
• a family history of type 2 diabetes
• being physically active fewer than three times a week
• having diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds

   An online quiz, “Could You Have Prediabetes?” is available at: www.cdc.gov/PreventT2. If the score shows a high risk for prediabetes, patients are strongly encouraged talk to their health care provider or contact our program.

King’s Daughters Brings Rescue Inhaler Program To The Greenup County School District

   Families and educators in Greenup County can breathe easier thanks to the region’s first albuterol rescue inhaler program, a collaboration between King’s Daughters and the Greenup County School District. This program is available in all seven Greenup County school facilities and extends to two Greenup County athletic trainers employed by King’s Daughters.

   Albuterol is a prescription inhalant to treat asthma and other chronic lung diseases. In an emergency situation, such as an asthma attack, staff can administer the medication as a lifesaving measure, much like they would CPR or an EpiPen. King’s Daughters is providing training to school-based clinic staff and athletic trainers on recognizing respiratory emergencies and effective inhaler administration.

   “King’s Daughters is pleased to be able to assist the Greenup County School District with the albuterol rescue inhaler program,” said Jennifer McComis, director of the pulmonary service line at King’s Daughters. “As a respiratory therapist, I’ve seen the fear and helplessness experienced by these indi-viduals in respiratory distress. This program empowers staff to take action with lifesaving medication that would not otherwise be readily available.”

   “When families send their children to any of our educational or extracurricular events, they are entrusting them to our care,” said Traysea Moresea, Greenup County School District superintendent. “It’s important that we, in every possible way, exceed their expectations in providing a safe and healthy environment for all. That’s why Greenup County School District is proud to partner with King’s Daughters in this initiative.”

   Jennifer Trippett, a Greenup County school nurse and program lead for the district, shared why this access to rescue inhalers matters.

   “More than 150 children in the United States die each year due to asthma. In most cases, that’s preventable if early intervention, such as a rescue inhaler, is available and administered,” Trippett said. “While that number may not seem astronomical compared to other disease mortality rates, losing just one student is unimaginable and unacceptable. That’s why this program is not only good—it’s vital.”

   King’s Daughters pharmacist Sarah Holbrook, Pharm. D., emphasized the families’ role in keeping students healthy and safe.

   “While we have this emergency supply available, this should in no way replace personal preparedness,” Holbrook said. “Ensuring your student’s inhaler is filled, not expired, and at the ready is the best way families can help school staff keep everyone safe.”

   Senate Bill 127 permits schools to stock bronchodilator rescue inhalers available for students with documented asthma. Greenup County School District and Jefferson County Public Schools are among the first schools in Kentucky to implement the rescue inhaler program.

   The rescue inhaler program is part of an overall quality improvement initiative focused on expansion of asthma self-management education (AS-ME) resources, treatment and prevention partnership between King’s Daughters, the Kentucky Department for Public Health Kentucky Asthma Management Program, and UK HealthCare’s Kentucky Regional Extension Center. Funding for this program is provided, in part, by a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

   For more information about outpatient asthma education services at King’s Daughters, please call 606.408.LUNG (5864).

Beacon Hoops: February 28, 2023

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

BOYS 64th DISTRICT

BOYD COUNTY 74 ASHLAND 67- DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

   Boyd County earned its first district championship since 2019 with a 74-67 defeat of Ashland. Cole Hicks paced the Lions with 16 points. Jacob Spurlock and Rhett Holbrook had 14. Jason El-lis added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Griffin Taylor finished with 12.

   Zander Carter led the Tomcats with 24 points. Tristin Davis had 20. Rheyce Deboard added 11. Nate Frieze had 10.

   Boyd County will meet East Carter in the opening round of the 16th Region Tournament Thurs-day at 8 p.m. at Johnson Arena. Ashland opens the boy’s event with Morgan County Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

BOYD COUNTY 108 FAIRVIEW 69

   Hicks led the Lions with 22 points to lead Boyd County to a 101-69 win over Fairview in the opening round of the district tournament. Ellis had 20 and pulled down 11 rebounds. Spurlock tossed in 19 and grabbed 12 boards. Rhett Holbrook finished with 13. Drew Smith added 12. Taylor had 10.

   Tanner Johnson led the Eagles with 33 points. Steven Day added 22.

   Fairview closes the season at 15-16.

ASHLAND 89 ROSE HILL 31

   Deboard led Ashland with 16 points as Ashland upended Rose Hill 89-31 in the opening round of the district tournament. Carter had 14 points. Davis added 10.

   Collin Wilburn led the Royals with 12 who close the season at 7-23.

BOYS 63rd DISTRICT

LEWIS 66 RUSSELL 50- DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

   Lewis County led wire-to-wire to pull off the upset with a 66-50 win over top-seeded Russell. Caden Box led the Lions with 17 points. Trey Gerike added 14. Xavier Prater had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Drew Noble added 10.

   Carson Blum paced Russell with 12 points. Elijah Neel added 10.

RUSSELL 61 RACELAND 45

   Neel led the Devils with 19 points as Russell defeated Raceland 61-45 in the opening round of the district tournament. Blum added 11. Damon Charles, Caleb Rimmer and Gavin Carter had 10 each.

   Christian Large led the Rams with 13 points. Jonah Arnett added 11.

   Raceland closes its season at 13-18.

LEWIS COUNTY 57 GREENUP COUNTY 53

   Gerike netted 27 points to send Lewis County to the district championship with a 57-53 win over Greenup County in the opening round of the district tournament. Noble added 10 for the Lions.

   Cohen Underwood led the Musketeers with 14 points. Kasey Gammon tossed in 12. Bryson Chandley had 10.

   Greenup County closes its season at 11-18.