Community Health Charities- Colorrectal Cancer Screening

Meet Jose: Why Getting Screened is So Important

Jose Mendoza Silveiras, MD, PhD was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2008. He's young, fit and highly educated. He knew he had a family history of colorectal cancer, but didn't think that was something he needed to worry about until he was older. Well, Jose wants you to learn from his near fatal mistake.

Jose first joined the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) community as a Buddy, a CCA peer-to-peer survivor and caregiver program. His volunteer role has evolved and he now advises the Colon Cancer Alliance as its first Latino Medical Consultant. Jose received his Medical Doctor Degree from Venezuelan Central University, Caracas-Venezuela. His work experience includes serving as the Clinical Trial Center Director at the Naval Medical Research Center and as the Medical Director of Sanar Espacio Terapeutico for cancer and HIV patients in Venezuela.

Jose recently met with Jasmine Greenamyer, Vice President of the Colon Cancer Alliance, to discuss why he's so passionate about colon cancer and creating a call to action in the Latino community.

Why are you a volunteer with the CCA?

“I believe that the CCA's mission is very important to all communities, including the Latino community. I love the tagline, "Inform. Prevent. Support." The CCA is great for people who are newly diagnosed or who have been touched by colon cancer. But, if we want to create change, we need more people to be passionate about preventing this cancer.

There are only a few cancers that you have the power to prevent, and this is one of them. Go get a screening test. I want to encourage more people to get involved with this cause before they are diagnosed with colon cancer.”

How can the CCA be impactful in the Latino community?

“We have our work cut out for us in the Latino community. This is such a quiet cancer. There are a lot of taboos about the body, about health – it’s going to be hard. You can't do a self-check for this. You have to go to a doctor.

We need to make the case for being proactive – it will make things easier for you in the long run. Do something before you have to think about the treatment costs. We want you to be informed so you can help your family. Let's motivate our families to get screened. Tell your doctor you want your colon checked.”

Early detection is vital – over 90% of all cases of colon cancer can be prevented with recommended screenings. Despite its high incidence, colon cancer is one of the most detectable and, if found early enough, treatable forms of cancer.

The Colon Cancer Alliance, a proud member of Community Health Charities, offers numerous resources about this important topic:

• How screening can reduce your risk
• Screening methods
• Who should be screened and when
• Frequently asked questions

To learn more, please visit www.ccalliance.org.

Source: Colon Cancer Alliance

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