A colorectal cancer awareness program was held at Burke Auditorium of the McGowan School of Business at King’s College featuring a panel of area physicians, along with Aimee Brown, who was recently treated for colorectal cancer. From left: Julie Jiang, M.D., Radiation Oncology, Geisinger; Ahmad Hanif, M.D., Hematology Oncology, Geisinger; Karthik Penumetsa, M.D., Gastroenterolgy, Commonwealth Health; Aimee Kearney; Duane Deivert, D.O., Gastroenterology, Geisinger; Essam Almeky, M.D., Family Medicine, Comonwealth Health; Thomas Mangan, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and at the podiumn, Thomas Erchinger, MD, Colon & Rectal Surgery, Geisinger.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
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Dr. Thomas Erchinger, Geisinger colon & rectal surgeon, discussed surgery procedure for colorectal cancer.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Geisinger gastroenterology physician Duane Deiver, D.O., fields questions during the Q&A portion of the colorectal cancer program at King’s College. Aimee Kearney, left, was on hand to discuss her journey with colorectal cancer.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Dr. Essam Almeky, of Commonwealth Health, seated, fields questions from the audience on colorectal cancer. Behind is Dr. Thomas Morgan of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, who served as moderator for the evening at McGowan School of Business’ Burke Auditorium at King’s College on Wednesday evening.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Aimee Kearney, daughter of Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, was front and center at the panel table discussing her diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. Her message to others is to get screened — it could save your life.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, far right, thanks the panel for participating in colorectal cancer awareness. He noted special thank to his daughter, Aimee Kearney, far left, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, on telling her personal story.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE– Aimee Kearney had no idea that she had colorectal cancer.
In fact, the 45-year-old thought she was perfectly healthy until an inability to swallow in the summer of 2022 prompted her to visit her doctor.
What she thought was routine bloodwork came back showing extremely low hemoglobin levels and she was rushed to the emergency room for a blood transfusion, followed by an endoscopy and colonoscopy just days later.
The results of her colonoscopy showed she had a rectal tumor the size of a walnut — which left her virtually symptomless.
“I couldn’t believe it at first,” Kearney said.
“I was shocked and I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. It was an out-of-body experience, but then I immediately went into survival mode.”
Kearney, who has two daughters, aged 22 and 17, said she had to show them that her diagnosis was not the end.
“Things happen and this was my thing. I took it head on and I remained positive, and I think that was a major factor. I was sad, but I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t questioning ‘why me?’ or wishing it happened to someone else.”
What followed after her diagnosis was months of oral and IV chemotherapy and radiation and an operation to remove her rectum, anus and 80% of her colon as well as creating a permanent colostomy.
On Wednesday, Aimee and her father, Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, hosted a colorectal cancer awareness program, “Aimee’s Story,” at the Burke Auditorium at the McGowan School of Business on the campus of King’s College. According to her, the event was put in place to prevent others from facing the same fate.
During the program, Aimee shared her journey from discovering that she had colorectal cancer, through treatment, surgeries and recovery to becoming cancer-free.
The program also included a panel discussion led by Wilkes-Barre native Thomas Mangan, M.D., an emeritus gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Geisinger physicians include Julie Jiang, M.D., radiation oncology; Thomas Erchinger, M.D., colon and rRectal Surgery; Ahmad Hanif, M.D., hematology oncology; and Duane Deivert, D.O., gastroenterology.
Just about 100 people attended the event, which gave in-depth information regarding colorectal prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
According to Aimee, the disease is rarely discussed due to its believed taboo nature — a reality she hoped the panel would change.
“It’s very important to speak about this in the community, because I want people to raise awareness so they know that it is preventable and if they catch it early they have a really good chance of surviving it. It’s not a comfortable thing to talk about, but it’s necessary,” Kearney said.
One in 24 Americans are at risk for developing colorectal cancer — a statistic that Kearney says could be lessened with proper screening and testing.
“Don’t be afraid to get tested. It’s important, and I think in this day and age with all the numbers showing that more younger people are being diagnosed with it, there’s something that needs to be changed and maybe that’s more diagnosis and testing,” Kearney said.
As for getting screening done, Kearney said it’s a necessary evil that comes with a major reward.
“The colonoscopy is not as bad as everyone says it is. It’s not pleasant — the night before is terrible, but the relief you have after a good screening is unbelievable. You can’t explain that relief you have when they come in and tell you you don’t have to worry about this for ten more years,” she said.
As the program ended, plenty of folks found their way to the front to ask the medical professionals questions and share their own stories. According to Kearney and Brown, this is exactly what the event set out to do.
“It was a wonderful turnout, and even if they didn’t know me and they were just coming to find out information, that’s exactly what this is for. We wanted people to come here and ask a question that they didn’t have access to ask otherwise,” Kearney said.
“Hopefully, it all came down to sending the message of getting tested. Don’t be afraid to get it done — it could save a life,” Brown said.