It was December 2012 when Laurel Vollono, RN, MidState Digestive Health Center, said she felt fatigued. She assumed it was holiday stress — nothing out of the ordinary. It turned out to be a symptom of colon cancer.

A coworker convinced her to get it checked out. Vollono ended up having a colonoscopy, which showed a mass. Within five days, Vollono’s life would forever change.

“I was surprised to find out they found a mass on my colon, but the doctors wasted no time,” said Vollono. “I had a CT scan the next day and by the end of the month, I had surgery to remove part of my colon. A port was inserted, and I started chemotherapy.” Vollono’s symptoms were minimal. If weren’t for her coworker’s suggestion, she may have waited another year before scheduling a routine colonoscopy. She uses her experience as an example for those at risk for colon cancer and urges them to have regular screenings.

“I tell people that they should get their screenings done every five years,” said Vollono. “I had a colonoscopy done at 50, and they found nothing at all. I was 59 when I was diagnosed with colon cancer — still within the 10-year time frame that is normally suggested.” Vollono underwent bi-weekly chemotherapy treatment sessions until the end of July. The earlier colon cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat, she pointed out.

“The earlier they find it, the less work you will have to do,” said Vollono. “Everyone says that they don’t have time for screenings, but the longer you wait, the more time you will have to give to chemotherapy sessions and treatments to the point where you don’t have time for anything else. Don’t take anything for granted.”