Brothers and Sisters,

I hope this article finds you working and preparing for a busy summer and profitable 2024. Next month on April 2^nd we will vote on where to put our wage increase effective January 1, 2025. I hope that everyone who can make it will.

Since I get to write this article every 2 weeks, I want to take this time to talk about March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I know it’s not the subject most of you would think I would want to talk about. In May of 2019 I was diagnosed with stage 3b rectal cancer and spent the next year and half I went through 8 rounds of chemo and 27 rounds of radiation. Prior to being diagnosed with rectal cancer I had no clue what it was or what the symptoms were. I did some research as I want all of you to have some knowledge and this is what I found.

In 2020, colorectal cancer was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer type worldwide, with nearly 2 million new cases. It ranked third among men and second among women (after breast cancer). Regular screening is the key to preventing colorectal cancer. If you’re between 45 and 75 years old, make sure to get screened regularly. Even if you’re younger than 45 or older than 75, discuss screening options with your doctor. Colorectal polyps and cancer often don’t cause noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages. That’s why screening is crucial—it can detect abnormalities before symptoms appear.

I was very fortunate that I was diagnosed at stage 3 and not stage 4. If I had waited or dismissed my symptoms you would have had a new Business Rep. writing this article. It was in my favor that I was 47 years old (at the time of diagnosis) and had Kaiser Permanente as my health and welfare provider. They acted fast and made sure that I had a team full of medical professionals to take care of my every need. At the end of this month (March 31^st) I will celibate being 4 years cancer free. On Saturday April 13 in Sacramento there will be a VAC for the Sacramento Walk to End Colorectal Cancer. I would love to personally invite you and your family to come out and walk with Team Butts Matter Too. Below is a link to sign up and it is free to sign up. 

https://impact.ccalliance.org/event/2024-sacramento-walk-to-end-colon-cancer/e494404/register/new/select-tickets

For more information on Colorectal Cancer and early detection

https://impact.ccalliance.org/event/2024-sacramento-walk-to-end-colon-cancer/e494404/register/new/select-tickets