Ginger Dancy: Shedding Light on the Importance of Colonoscopy

When it was time for my routine colonoscopy in September 2022, I knew I wanted Dr. Laura Wittwer with Rutherford Surgical Associates to do it. Having had several routine colonoscopies in my life with good outcomes and not having any symptoms to be concerned about, I didn't dwell on any possible results other than negative for cancer.

When the news came that suspected cancer was found and the pathology report confirmed it, Dr. Wittwer did a resection that removed 12+ inches of my colon that contained the cancer. She then referred me to oncologist Dr. Sini Kalapurakal at Levine Cancer Institute in Forest City. Given the circumstances of having removed the cancer with no cancer cells found outside of the colon, they determined that no further treatment was recommended...thanks be to God. Follow up colonoscopies have been done since the surgery with no additional cancer found.

In traveling this medical journey, I am so thankful to have the expertise of Dr. Wittwer and Dr. Kalapurakal, the excellent medical care I received at Rutherford Regional Medical Center, and the love and concern of my family and friends who lifted me in prayer the whole time.

I have had several friends tell me they felt the need to schedule their colonoscopy because of my unexpected diagnosis. I am a prime example of how important it is to follow the suggested schedule for colon cancer screening.

Ginger Dancy