Watch This: Colon Cancer Awareness on YouTube

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Hot Links

(CBS)

As many of you know, I lost my husband Jay to colon cancer 10 years ago.

Since then, colon cancer awareness and prevention have been causes near to my heart. And March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. My message: Early detection saves lives. I'd like to urge everyone over 50 to get screened.

Over the past decade, a lot of people have helped me get this message out – and we've made a lot of PSAs along the way. Some of them are inspiring. Some are really funny. So we decided to compile some of the best in a single video.

I posted it on my YouTube channel. You'll find it in the featured box at the top of the page. While you're there, check out the other stuff I've been posting — you'll get a good idea of what I've been up to behind the scenes. It's sort of "Katie Unplugged."

So take a look. Don't hesitate to let us know what you think. And if you're over 50 – you know what I'm going to say, but I can't stress it enough – talk to your doctor about getting screened. And if you're under 50 and have a family history or any symptoms like bloating, unexpected weight loss or rectal bleeding, talk to your doctor.

I don't want anyone to die of embarrassment.

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by etienne3260 March 23, 2008 9:07 AM EDT: Katie,

It was great to see you on Larry King yesterday (I''m in South Africa, so not sure what day it was for you, but it was 22 March 2008 for us, my deceased wife''s birthday).

I lost her to brain cancer when she was only 34 years old and I also have two daughters.

Its been a tough road, but it is encouraging to hear you speak and you seem so bubbly.... whenever (if ever?) you are in South Africa let me know and perhaps we can be in contact.

Kind Regards
Etienne; Reply to this comment


by hankstall March 23, 2008 1:27 AM EDT: Katie,
Thanks for your efforts to get us guys to get colonoscopies.My
three daughters insisted I have this done in Jan. 1999 @ age 63 because Katie kept explaning it was necessary. All went well - all clear.
But in Jan 2004 followup, 3 precancerous polpys were removed.
Five colonoscopies followed with 7 polyps removed by 05/07.
At nov annual exam, CEA reading of 12 in blood work indicated colon cancer . Colonoscopy was clean but pet scan pictured small tumor just outside colon.
Colon surgery removed most of this cancerous tumor.
Doctors explained this CEA READING INDICATES COLON CANCER similar to PSA indicating prostate cancer.
I am going thru radiation and oral chemo with a good prognosis because of early detection- thanks to CEA checks.
If you find otthers may alsc benefit - you may consider spreading the word about CEA CHECK ALONG WITH
PSA FOR US GUYS. Thanks. H.N.Stall; Reply to this comment


by hankstall March 23, 2008 1:27 AM EDT: Katie,
Thanks for your efforts to get us guys to get colonoscopies.My
three daughters insisted I have this done in Jan. 1999 @ age 63 because Katie kept explaning it was necessary. All went well - all clear.
But in Jan 2004 followup, 3 precancerous polpys were removed.
Five colonoscopies followed with 7 polyps removed by 05/07.
At nov annual exam, CEA reading of 12 in blood work indicated colon cancer . Colonoscopy was clean but pet scan pictured small tumor just outside colon.
Colon surgery removed most of this cancerous tumor.
Doctors explained this CEA READING INDICATES COLON CANCER similar to PSA indicating prostate cancer.
I am going thru radiation and oral chemo with a good prognosis because of early detection- thanks to CEA checks.
If you find otthers may alsc benefit - you may consider spreading the word about CEA CHECK ALONG WITH
PSA FOR US GUYS. Thanks. H.N.Stall; Reply to this comment


by bethwatson-2009 March 21, 2008 6:23 PM EDT: Ten years? I can hardly believe it. RIP Jay Monahan.; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw March 21, 2008 5:32 AM EDT: Dear Katie,

Thanks for the great advice & all you do in the area of colorectal cancer awareness, in memory and honor of your husband Jay.

All those public service announcements on you tube done by all those celebrities are very effective and will certainly convince many people to get screening colonoscpies, as will your own Picture of Health posters at the airports.

Let''s all sign up for our colonoscopy screenings today, so we can be Pictures of Health,too,

Peter; Reply to this comment