Elliot Rhoades is a 71-year-old Vietnam veteran from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. When asked how old Elliot was when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, he responded “I was 59 when I was diagnosed, and I turned 71 this past year so it’s been about 12 years and so far I’ve been lucky and still surviving!”

It all started one day while he was doing work in his yard; Elliot took a break and had to use the bathroom. Elliot noticed blood in his stool, washed up, and then went into the living room to tell his wife and daughter what he had found.

They asked, “Is that normal?”

He said “No I never noticed that before.”

They replied, “Well do you want to get it checked out?”

Elliot replied, “Not really, I’m in no pain”. After further discussion, Elliot decided to get it checked out during a weekend.

During Elliot’s first visit, he was in no pain so the doctor suggested that it could be constipation and did not think it was that serious. Elliot decided to go back and he talked with the PA at the IHS hospital. His doctor then decided to do a colonoscopy, and scheduled him one in Bismarck, ND at the cancer center.

His doctor said, “Elliot we found a tumor… a pretty good size tumor and we think it’s cancerous.” Elliot’s doctor advised him to go back to his physician, have the tumor removed as soon as possible due to its severity. Elliot followed up with his physician and scheduled an appointment for surgery.

After his surgery, his doctor told him that they took the tumor out along with 6 inches of his colon. During Elliot’s process of recovery his doctor kept him in the hospital and monitored his progress until Elliot he felt he was well enough to be on his own. After a week of Elliot’s healing, his doctor followed up with him and started him on chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Elliot’s treatment lasted every day for 6 weeks, and his doctored advised him of the side effects. Elliot’s doctor warned him, “It may wear on you but it is necessary and it needs to be done”.

While Elliot was doing this for about four weeks, Elliot’s nurse was curious and asked “Elliot, who is driving you back and forth to treatment?”

Elliot’s said, “I am! This is my problem. It’s not my wife’s problem and it’s not my daughter’s, they’re both working and they don’t have time to be hauling me all over and driving me.”

Elliot’s nurse told him that she was stunned because other patients she was seeing had been having a hard time getting around during treatment. Elliot was surprised because he didn’t lose his hair and he felt completely fine. Finally on the last week, Elliot took the last week off of his treatment because he finally reached the point of being extremely exhausted. When Elliot completed the last week of his radiation chemo treatment, his physician advised him to do follow up visits quarterly for 2 years. So Elliot seen his physician every 3 months for follow up tests. They ran their tests for 2 years and everything was fine. After that his physician told him to come back twice a year and he finished that treatment. In the 5^th year of his treatment the physician told him that he has been cancer free for 5 year and graduated Elliot out of his treatment program, but his doctored advised him to get a colonoscopy every 3 years.

With Elliot’s last colonoscopy, his doctor mentioned “I won’t have to see you for the next 5 years.” As of this year Elliot is still cancer free, and participates in regular colorectal cancer screenings.

“I’m usually pretty tough about things, but in the end that treatment did get to me… If you want to live you will do mostly anything, I got my family, my wife, my kids, and I got some grandkids… I want to be around them for a few more year. Yes I went through a lot, but it was worth it! I am now a 12 year survivor of colon cancer.”

When we asked Elliot how colorectal cancer changed his life, he responded:

“It made me very aware of what cancer can do. It’s scary but, it doesn’t have to be a death threat. I’ve talked to groups here and other places around the rez and I told them my best advice I can give you that I went through is, you know your body better than any doctor or nurse… if something does not seem right or normal, get it checked out! No matter how scared you are or how afraid you are about what they are going to tell you, check it out… especially when it comes to cancer. Cancer can be defeated but you have to go in for a diagnoses, you got to go in for treatment, and you got to follow up on your visits after… that’s the only way you keep track of that thing and make sure it doesn’t come back. And that’s all I can tell you and I did it, and luckily I’m still here and everything turned out ok.”

Susan Schrader is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and grew up in Wanblee, South Dakota. Susan is the eldest child of Delores Winters-Schrader and Doug Schrader and is the mother of 5 children as well as a grandmother of 13 grandchildren. Not only does Susan love spending time with her children and grandchildren, but also being a Tribal Advocate in various capacities.

Eighteen years ago, Susan was concerned when her doctor in Pine Ridge said she had a positive test from her Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). Susan said, “The doctors said there was blood in my stool and I should get a colonoscopy.” Because of the difficulties with scheduling appointments through IHS, Susan put it off till recently when her daughter expressed concern about her need for preventive cancer screening.

Susan was prompted to take the test from the free screening and discovered polyps. She followed-up with a colonoscopy at Rapid City’s Medical Center. Susan said, “They just removed some polyps and said that there were some polyp’s way back there and that I should get another test in 5 years.” It was a quick procedure.

Today, Susan takes preventative measures by making healthy choices in her diet and in her everyday living. Susan said, “Whenever you turn middle age your time is limited and family is important, so it’s important to take care of your health and do whatever you have to do to be here as long as you can with your children and grandchildren”.

Cathy Jeffries is an enrolled member of Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She got her first colonoscopy at the age of 40, due to a family history of colorectal cancer. Because she has a family history of colorectal cancer Cathy must receive a colonoscopy, every five years.

Cathy lost her father Frank, to colorectal cancer at the young age of 52. When she learned about her father’s cancer diagnosis, she was very shocked and scared for her him. Cathy along with her four sisters and two brothers helped care for their father during his battle with colorectal cancer. She and her siblings would prepare his meals and also offer their father back and leg massages.
The community of Dupree, South Dakota also came together to support Frank, by hosting a bake sale at the community gym. Proceeds raised from the bake sale helped support Frank’s travel expenses. Frank received most of his treatment in Mobridge, South Dakota; which is a 90 minute drive from Dupree, South Dakota.
Cathy remembers her sister Debbie crawling under their father’s mobile home to repair damaged pipes. She was able to do the repairs through the guidance and direction of their father, who was too ill to do the repairs himself.

The nurses in Mobridge, SD were very compassionate and helpful throughout Frank’s cancer. Cathy remembers them saying how lucky Frank was to have his family’s support. Cathy said, “He was never alone, someone was always there with him.”

Frank lost his battle with colorectal cancer in 1982. Cathy’s advice for anyone caring for somebody who is battling colorectal cancer is “Find out all you can about it. Especially the diet, I think that is really important. Be with them and stand-by them.”

You can reduce your risk of getting cancer by making healthy choices. Exercise regularly. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Keep a high-fiber and low-fat diet. Maintain a healthy weight. And limit tobacco and alcohol use.

Steven Savoy is a 51-year-old man from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He got his first colonoscopy at the age of 50 and plans to get regular checkups from his doctor.

Steven is very well aware of colorectal cancer so he chose to be screened at an early age of 50. Steven has a family history of colorectal cancer.

“Getting a colonoscopy was easy and the care before and after was great,” said Steven. “There was no pain involved. I was able to leave the same day.”

Stevens’s results came back normal, and put his mind at ease as he is at higher risk. He plans to get regular screenings and encourages others to do so as well. Steven is a health advocate is his daily life so he promotes taking healthy steps in all areas of life.

“Colorectal cancer is a preventable cancer and it is common with men so I really stress it with everyone I encounter because it is treatable if caught early.”

If you or someone you know is over age 50 or at risk for colorectal cancer, call today for a screening. The older you get, the more your risk increases.

And if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of colorectal cancer—bloody stool, stomach pain that doesn’t go away, cramps or weight loss —call your health care provider right away.

You can reduce your risk of getting cancer by making healthy choices. Exercise regularly. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Keep a high-fiber and low-fat diet. Maintain a healthy weight. And limit tobacco and alcohol use.