WWAY’s Randy Aldridge talks preventative tests after cancer diagnosis

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — March marks a month of awareness for colorectal types of cancer.

We’re spotlighting the preventative tests for the disease with an update from our favorite patient WWAY’s Randy Aldridge.

Doctors recommend a colonoscopy for anyone around 50, but also for African-Americans aged 45. Screenings are starting to be recommended earlier, even as early as age 40 now.

Our Randy Aldridge is in the middle of chemo and radiation treatments for his stage 3 cancer.

He graciously took some time to share some advice for those apprehensive about being tested as well as what his road ahead looks like.

“I didn’t do any of the things that I told people to do for years,” Aldridge said. “I just completely ignored all of the warning signs and didn’t do it. If I had done it sooner things might have been easier for me now. In terms of how they find out this is working (for me)… they won’t know anything until maybe a month and a half or so from now.”

The American Cancer Society believes more than 51,000 people are expected to die this year from colorectal cancer. Some of those deaths, Dr. Frederick Opper says, could be prevented.

“It’s common, colon cancer can kill you and here’s the main thing is a lot of colon cancer can be prevented,” said Dr. Opper, a specialist in gastroenterology in Wilmington.

A lot of how doctors and nurses can test for it has changed. Hanover Gastroenterology uses new methods centered around patient ease; from colon cleansing to sedation during the exam.

“The procedure itself has come a long way. You’ll be asleep for it,” Dr. Opper said. “You’ll wake up feeling good from it.”

Let’s face it, getting a screening is not a popular option for many men and women in their mid to late 40s.

“For most patients I talk to, it’s the unknown,” nurse Julie Overpeck said.

But be aware: more and more doctors recommend a preventive screening as you near 45 to 50 years of age. It’s something during our conversation with Randy that he kept coming back to.

“It has been a very, very long road, and it’s been more difficult than I could have ever imagined,” he said.

Randy is almost done with his upwards of 28 radiation treatments with some chemo thrown in. After the radiation, comes the wait.

“There’s three to four weeks that the radiation is still in you, and it keeps working, and then after that time maybe another three to four weeks to heal, and it’s about that time when they will found out if the cancer is gone,” Randy said.

The love and support so many of you have sent Randy has been overwhelming. Please keep it up and if you can’t send him something, send his message to others.

“This happens to people much younger than me, so get tested, listen to your body and do as your told,” he said.

You can show Randy some love and see his progress on his Facebook page.

However, you can do more by spreading awareness and telling family members who are between 45 to 50 to get a stool sample test or even a colonoscopy. Dr. Opper says patients who had family with diagnosed colon cancer have special options for screening. He says you can be tested 10 years prior to the age your relative was when they were diagnosed, and insurance most likely can work with the patient if that medical history turns out.

“At least get some colon cancer screening even if it’s those stool tests that I mentioned, but some screening is better than no screening at all,” Dr. Opper said.