DOMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." Dr.

RICH AND A PANEL OF EXPERTS DISCUSS CANCER RISK, PREVENTION AND HOW TO ACCESS EARLY DETECTION SERVICES.

THEN WE JOIN 13THIRTY CANCER CONNECT IN SYRACUSE WHERE MEMBERS FLIP THE SCRIPT ON THEIR CANCER EXPERIENCES TO PUT ON A NIGHT OF LAUGHS.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, TIM CHAN EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING YOUR COLONOSCOPY SCREENING.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS, IT'S A COMPLEX OPPONENT, ONE THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.

EVERY MOVE, EVERY DECISION HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEIGHT.

ST.

JOSEPH'S HEALTH HAS PARTNERED WITH ROSWELL PARK, THE REGION'S ONLY DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER TO OFFER YOU ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED THERAPIES AND LEADING ONCOLOGISTS RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AMONG THE MANY MOVES YOU CAN MAKE, THIS ONE HOLDS THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

I'M YOUR HOST RICH O'NEILL.

BEAUTIFUL SCIENCE HAS LED TO BETTER DETECTION AND TREATMENTS FOR THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES, CANCER.

BUT IT IS STILL OUR SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, IN PART BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD DO BUT OFTEN DON'T, TO REDUCE OUR OWN RISK.

JOINING US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG C ARE Ms.

TESS MICHAELS, PUBLIC HEALTH CANANDAIGUAOR WITH THE ONONDAGA COUNTY CANCER SERVICES PROGRAM, Mrs.

WENDY HUNT, PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE UPSTATE MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY VAN AND Dr.

STEVEN DUFFY, ONCOLOGIST AND HEMOTOLOGIST AT GUESS WHERE, HEMOLOGY ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES, THE INCIDENTS OF CANCER HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GREAT PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATES IN THAT TIME.

I WOULD SAY A WATER HEAD MOMENT WAS IN 1964 WHEN THE SURGEON GENERAL STATED THAT SMOKING CIGARETTES WAS HAZARDOUS FOR YOUR HEALTH.

>> AND THEN IN 1965, THE SURGEON GENERAL STARTED PUTTING THE MESSAGE ON THE PACKAGE ABOUT HOW SMOKING IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

>> YEAH, AND SMOKING IS A HUGE RISK FACTOR FOR ALL KINDS OF CANCERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATE SMOKING WITH LUNG CANCER, BUT IT REALLY IS EVERY SINGLE CANCER, EVEN CERVICAL CANCER.

PEOPLE WITH A CERVIX WHO SMOKE ARE TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP CERVICAL CANCER.

>> WOW.

I'VE HEARD THAT ACTION BY THE SURGEON GENERAL DESCRIBED AS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION IN THE MODERN ERA.

>> I WOULD SAY, LIKE ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT MILESTONE WAS WHEN MAMMOGRAPHY BECAME A MAINSTREAM WAY TO SCREEN FOR BREAST CANCER BECAUSE THAT STARTED PROBABLY ABOUT THE MID 80S AND THEN BY ABOUT 1990, I'D SAY IT WAS 40% DECREASE IN MORTALITY CONTRIBUTED TO BREAST CANCER LARGELY DUE IN FACT TO THE USE OF MAMMOGRAPHY BECAUSE IT BECAME MORE PREVIOUS VENT-- PREVALENT IN OUR WORLD.

>> WITH THAT THOUGH, IT IS STILL ONE IN EIGHT WOMEN THAT WILL DEVELOP BREAST CANCER IN THEIR LIFETIME.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM AND GET SCREENED.

>> RIGHT.

>> ONE IN EIGHT.

THAT IS AMAZING, BUT WHAT ABOUT MEN?

DO MEN GET BRANCHES BREAST CANCER?

>> IT'S LESS COMMON, 1% OR LESS OF BREAST CANCER IS IN MEN.

THERE IS NO STANDARD SCREENING LIKE MAMMOGRAPHY FOR MEN UNLESS THEY HAVE CERTAIN GENETIC RISK FACTORS OR CERTAIN GENETIC MUTATIONS THAT MAKE THEM AT HIGHER RISK.

FOR MEN WE STRESS BREAST AWARENESS, DOING PHYSICAL EXAMS, LOOKING FOR BREAST CHANGES AND HOW THIS CAN BE SERIOUS.

>> WHAT KIND OF CHANGES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

>> NEW BUMPS ON THEIR BREAST.

NIPPLE CHANGE OR DISCHARGE.

>> LIKE FOR WOMEN.

>> VERY SIMILAR TO WOMEN.

IN MEN WE HAVE THOUGHT THAT BREAST CANCER WAS WORSE IN MEN BUT IT'S REALLY THAT THEY'RE JUST FINDING IT AT LATER STAGES.

IT GOES NEGLECTED OR UNNOTICED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING IT SO IT'S GREAT TO BRING THAT... >> IT'S NOT PART OF THEIR NORM TO LOOK TO SCREEN FOR THAT LIKE WOMEN ARE TAUGHT TO DO THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO OUR OWN BREASTS.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CANCERS?

>> SO FOR BIOLOGIC WOMEN WOULD BE BREAST CANCER AND THEN CO-OWE RECTAL.

>> LIVER CANCER?

>> LIVER CANCER IS UP AND COMING.

YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE-- HOW THIS WORKS IS CIRRHOSIS CAUSES LIVER DAMAGE WHICH LEADS TO LIVER CANCER SO CANCER THAT STARTS IN THE LIVER ALMOST ALWAYS COMES FROM CIRRHOSIS.

IT USED TO BE THE LEADING CAUSE OF CIRRHOSIS WAS HEPATITIS INFECTION, MORE RECENTLY IN THE SETTING OF OBESITY EPIDEMIC IT IS FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

IT CAN LEAD TO CANCER.

>> SO WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR CANCERS?

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO BE ON THE... >> THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR ACROSS THE BOARD, THINGS SUCH AS SMOKING, USE OF ALCOHOL, YOUR DIET, A POOR DIET, OBESITY, LACK OF EXERCISE.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE FAIRLY COMMON FOR ALL CANCERS.

>> SO DIET IS A BIG ONE THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T THINK ABOUT A WHOLE LOT?

WHAT IS A GOOD ANTICANCER DIET.

>> EATING GOOD FOODS, FRUITS, VEGGIES, NOT EATING RED OR PROCESSED MEATS.

WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO'S CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES.

>> SAY THAT THREE TIMES.

>> THAT'S YOUR LEVY GREENS,-- LEVY GREENS, SO LEAFY GREENS.

>> KALE MY FAVORITE.

>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT A HEALTHY DIET SO THAT-- >> WHOLE FOODS.

>> UNPROCESSED FOODS.

>> AVOID THOSE HIGHLY PROCESSED THINGS WHICH WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT.

>> NO POP TARTS.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE LEADING FACTORS OF COLORECTAL CANCER IS YOUR DIET.

SO FOODS THAT ARE HIGHLY PROCESSED, YOUR RED MEATS.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TRY TO REDUCE YOUR INTAKE OF BACON.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE HEALTHCARE THAT BECAUSE BACON IS TASTY.

>> PEOPLE LOVE BAKE BACON.

>> WE WANT TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT A HEALTHIER DIET INTO THEIR LIVES.

>> I THINK YOU HAD TWO GOOD POINTS.

ONE, THERE IS DATA SHOWING CONNECTION BETWEEN DIET AND CANCER.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION MADE A CONTROVERSIAL BACK IN 2015 AND CALLED PROCESSED FOOD PROCESSED MEAT IN PARTICULAR A GRADE ONE OR CLASS ONE CARCINOGEN.

MUCH OF THAT IS FROM COLORECTAL DATA.

RED MEAT IS CLASS 2 WHICH IS HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE BUT NOT DEFINITIVE.

THE MAJOR GUIDELINES ORGANIZATIONS ARE SAYING YOU NEED TO EAT WITH A PLANT SLANT.

>> I LIKE THAT, PLANT SLANT.

>> SO MINIMIZING THOSE MEATS AND PROCESSED FOODS, AVOIDING WHEN POSSIBLE BUT AGAIN WHOLE FOODS.

THE OUTER AISLES OF THE GROCERY STORE.

>> THE OUTER AISLE.

STAY AWAY FROM THE BURRITO OR DORITO AISLE.

I LOVE CHEESE DOODLES.

I HAVE THROUGH WORK TO GET RID OF THOSE IN MY DIET.

SPEAKING OF, PEOPLE REALLY CLING, LIKE MY FRIEND WITH THE BACON, THEY CLING TO EATING WHAT THEY LIKE EVEN THOUGH THEY HEAR, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT REALLY GOOD FOR YOU.

ANY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO GET OURSELVES AND OTHER PEOPLE TO SHIFT AWAY TO THE GOOD STUFF?

>> I THINK ALSO THE POINT TESS WAS HITTING ON, PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONNECTED TO THEIR DIET.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE DATA IS SO DEFINITIVE ON DIET AND CANCER, PEOPLE REALLY HAVE PERSONALLY HELD BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT THEY EAT.

IT CAN BE LIKE AN ATTACK ON SOMEONE'S, YOU KNOW, ON DECISIONS THEY HAVE MADE WHEN YOU COME AT THEM ABOUT THEIR DIET.

>> FOOD CAN BE A COMFORT THING, TOO, SO I THINK YOU ASSOCIATE THAT WITH COMFORT OR MAYBE WITH GET TOGETHERS AND FAMILY AND IT MAKES-- IT BECOMES IMPORTANT AROUND THAT TO HAVE CERTAIN FOODS AND, YEAH, THAT CAN BE... BECAUSE THEY'RE NEVER GOOD FOODS.

>> WITH YOUR FAMILY.

AND BY THE WAY, PSYCHOLOGISTS RESEARCH SHOWS IT CHANGES THE STUFF IN YOUR BRAIN TO EAT THE BAD STUFF.

>> THESE ARE PERSONALLY HELD BELIEFS AND HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT?

LEADING BY EXAMPLE IS ONE.

SO, YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS SURROUNDING THEM BY GOOD FOODS AND AS ADULTS JUST KIND OF LIVING THAT HEALTHY HIVE WE ALL WANT A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO.

AND DIET IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

>> I ALWAYS SAY THAT, TOO.

WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL HERE, TO LIVE LONG HAPPY HEALTHY LIFE.

SO IF YOU CAN START IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO REACH THAT GOAL, WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO START.

>> EVEN TO ADD ONE AT A TIME YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE.

>> I SAY THAT WITH EXERCISE, TOO.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT EXERCISE IS A GREAT FORM OF MEDICINE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME, TAKE 10 MINUTES.

10 MINUTES AFTER YOU EAT TO GO FOR A WALK.

>> SOMEBODY SAYS TO ME EXERCISE SNACKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

10 MINUTES HERE, 10 MINUTES THERE.

WALK AROUND THE OFFICE.

>> WE CANSER SIDES ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES OUT, THERE IS SO MUCH DATA IN PREVENTING CANCER, DECREASING THE CHANCE OF RECURRENCE IF YOUR A CANCER SURVIVOR IN HELPING WITH CANCER TREATMENT.

IF EXERCISE WERE A PILL, I WOULD BE FIGHTING TO PRESCRIBE IT, RIGHT?

IT IS SUCH A VALUABLE PART OF LIFE.

I LOVE THE SNACK IDEA OF JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKING THIS PART OF EVERY DAY.

>> SO PUT DOWN ONE CHEESE DOODLE AND PICK UP ONE GRAPE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> WE'LL START SMALL.

WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE DO TO REDUCE RISK?

>> SO THERE ARE SOME CANCERS THAT WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO SCREEN FOR THOSE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SO THAT YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT'S DEVELOPING, THEY CAN WATCH IT, KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND MAKE SURE.

MAMMOGRAPHY IS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS.

IT'S A GREAT TOOL FOR WOMEN WHO ARE AT AVERAGE RISK OF BREAST CANCER.

THEY SHOULD BE SCREENING ON A YEARLY BASIS.

ONCE THEY START 40 IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE-- >> AT 40.

>> YES.

>> HOW ABOUT PEOPLE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY?

YOU MIGHT WANT TO START EARLIER.

I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR, TO SEE WHAT THE DOCTOR RECOMMENDS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME WOMEN DO START EARLIER, PROBABLY-- I HAVE HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER, SAY MOTHER, SISTER, THAT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY START 10 YEARS PRIOR TO THE AGE THEY WERE DIAGNOSED AT.

>> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY VAN.

>> WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL APRIL UPSTATE.

IT'S AN RV OUTFITTED WITH A MAMMOGRAPHY MACHINE.

AND WE TRAVEL AND ALL AROUND CENTRAL NORTHERN NEW YORK AND PROVIDE SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS FOR WOMEN.

OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THAT SERVICE TO PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE A HARDER TIME GETTING INTO A FIXED SITE TO GET SCREENED.

>> YOU GO ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> WE OLD FORGE, ST.

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY, HERKIMER, AUBURN.

>> DO YOU NEED INSURANCE?

>> NO, WE WORK WITH TESS' PROGRAM.

>> SO WE WORK-- >> YOU PAY THE BILL.

>> TESS PAYS THE BILL.

>> I PAY THE BILL.

SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH MOBILE UNIT SO AT THE CANCER SERVICES PROGRAM, WE HELP PEOPLE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE GET FREE CANCER SCREENINGS FOR BREAST, CERVICAL AND COLORECTAL CANCER.

STARTING AT AGE 40 FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE SCREENED FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL AND AGE 45 FOR COLORECTAL.

WE DON'T DO THE SCREENINGS IN OUR OFFICE.

WE REFER PEOPLE TO LIKE THE MOBILE UNIT.

WE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY, SO WE WORK WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROVIDERS FOR THAT.

BUT, YEAH, WE REFER PEOPLE TO GET THEIR MAMMOGRAMS, GET THEIR PAP SMEARS THEIR HPV SCREENINGS.

>> STOP THERE FOR A SECOND.

>> TELL US ABOUT HPV.

>> HPV CAUSES 90% OF ALL SERVE CALL CANCERS.

>> HPV, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY IS HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS.

>> IT IS A VIRUS.

THE MOST COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION.

NEARLY ALL PEOPLE WILL GET HPV BUT USUALLY YOUR BODY FIGHTS IT OFF SO THERE ARE CERTAIN HPV STRAINS THAT CAN LEAD TO CANCER.

SO ESPECIALLY CERVICAL CANCER AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF CANCERS AS WELL BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET SCREENED FOR THAT WITH A PAP SMEAR THAT STARTS AT AGE 21.

>> SCREENED FOR... >> CERVICAL CANCER.

BUT WAYS TO PREVENT THAT IS ACTUALLY THE HPV VEIN.

SO-- VACCINE CHILDREN START GETTING IT AT AGE 9.

>> THE VACCINE.

>> AT AGE NINE.

PARENTS CAN TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN'S PEDIATRICIAN TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN DO.

I THINK OF IT AS A GREAT WAY, LIKE DO YOU WANT THIS SHOT NOW WHEN YOU ARE A KID TO POSSIBLY PREVENT CANCER LATER IN LIFE?

SO WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THAT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

>> WHY BOYS AND GIRLS?

>> BECAUSE BOYS CAN SPREAD IT.

THEY CAN BE A CARRIER OF THE OF IT AND SPREAD IT TO THEIR PARTNER.

IT'S A SHOT TO PREVENT CANCER.

>> WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE BE DOING TO HELP OUR KIDS NOT GET CANCER?

>> SUN SCREEN.

>> SUN SCREEN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING... >> I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A CANCER SURVIVOR BUT I ACTUALLY AM BECAUSE I HAD A MELANOMA RIGHT HERE.

AS I THINK I MENTIONED TO YOU GUYS, I WAS A BIG RUNNER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND OF COURSE MOST OF RUNNING IS DONE OUTSIDE.

I WOULD WEAR A HAT AND SUN SCREEN AND I STILL GOT THE MEDICAL GNOME A. MY SURGEON IS A GREAT SURGEON.

DID A VERY NICE JOB.

I WAS AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO MAKE MY EYE DROOP BUT HE DIDN'T.

AND IN ANY EVENT, I'M ABSOLUTELY-- I WAS RELIGIOUS ABOUT IT BEFORE, NOW I'M SUPER RELIGIOUS.

WEARING SUN SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT.

>> ME, TOO.

>> WHAT ELSE FROM YOUR... >> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, YOU KIND OF TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT SCREENINGS.

AND SUCCESSES AND COLON CANCER IS AN INTERESTING STORY BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING GREAT SUCCESS IN PREVENTING COLON CANCER IN PEOPLE OVER 50.

>> OVER 50.

>> THE RATE IS GOING DOWN AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

UNDER 50, IT'S ALARMING HOW MUCH THE RATE IS GOING UP.

>> GOING UP.

>> YES, JUST IN 2023, THEY RELEASED A NEW STATISTIC THAT AS OF 2023, THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF CANCER DEATH IN PEOPLE UNDER 50 WAS COLON CANCER WHICH HAD CHANGED FROM NUMBER 5 BACK IN 1990.

>> I ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHOSE SON-IN-LAW, WHO IS LIKE 35, JUST DIED OF COLON CANCER.

AND WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE HE DIDN'T-- HADN'T GOTTEN A COLONOSCOPY BECAUSE WHO THINKS AT 30 YOU ARE GOING TO GET COLON CANCER.

>> IT'S SOBERING.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY DID DECREASE THE AGE FOR COLONOSCOPY FROM 50 TO 45.

SOME PEOPLE ARGUE NOT YOUNG ENOUGH GIVEN THE INCREASING INCIDENTS.

IF YOU ARE A HEALTHY PERSON, NO FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER AND NO SYMPTOMS, WHAT IS THE AGE FOR COLONOSCOPY.

WHY DO WE HAVE THESE INCREASING RATES?

SOMEONE BORN IN 1990 HAS QUADRUPLE THE RISK OF RECTAL CANCER THAN SOMEONE BORN IN 150.

THE HUMAN GENOME HAS NOT CHANGED BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN INTRINSIC FACTOR CAUSING THIS INCREASE.

THAT'S AN AREA OF GREAT RESEARCH.

IT'S HARD NOT TO LOOK AT DIET AS A POSSIBLE IMPLICATION BECAUSE THE FOOD YOU EAT HANGS OUT IN YOUR COLON.

BUT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, OTHER FACTORS BEING STUDIED AS WELL.

>> YOU GET SCREENED FOR MAMMOGRAPHY, AND COLONOSCOPY, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT?

>> FOR MAMMOGRAPHY, IF THE RADIOLOGIST SEES SOMETHING, THEY WILL CALL THE PATIENT BACK TO GET ADDITIONAL IMAGING AND IF THERE IS AN AREA OF CONCERN, DO A BISHOPS AND MAKE BIOPSY AND SEE IF IT IS CANCER.

IF IT IS CANCER, THEN TREATMENT.

>> THE SAME THING FOR COLONOSCOPY.

>> YES, BUT THE REASON COLONOSCOPY IS SO GREAT, IT CAN PREVENT CANCER FROM FORMING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CLONE SCAR STARTS FROM ABNORMAL CELLS COLLECTING MUTATION AND GROWING INTO POLYPS WHICH GET MORE ABNORMAL AND FORM INTO CANCER.

IF YOU CAN FIND THE POLYPS WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG, GET THEM OUT OF THERE.

>> COLONOSCOPY IS AN AMAZING THING.

>> PEOPLE GET NYLIFTIC ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN STOP IT FROM FORMING IF YOU GET IT EARLY ENOUGH.

>> BOTTOM LINE, NO PUN INTENDED, SCREENING, MAMMOGRAMS, COLONOSCOPY, HPV VACCINE, HEALTHY DIET, EXERCISE AND LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE COOL STUFF YOU GUYS.

OUR "CYCLE OF HEALTH" TEAM JOINED THE 13THIRTY CANCER CONNECT GROUP IN SYRACUSE TO MEET FOLKS WHO FLIPPED THE SCRIPT ON THEIR CANCER EXPERIENCES TO PUT ON A NIGHT OF LAUGHS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> TEENS AND ADULTS WONDER, WHERE DID I GET MY CANCER?

WHERE IT DID COME FROM?

IS IT THE SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK I GOT FROM NOT SENDING THE CHAIN TEXT MESSAGE, YOU KNOW.

>> I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT 13THIRTY CANCER CORRECTS.

WE PROVIDE FREE PEER SUPPORT FOR TEENS AND YOUNGS ADULTS.

OUR PEER SUPPORT ALLOWS THEM TO FIND OTHERS THREE AGE THAT THEY CAN CONNECT WITH THROUGH EXPRESSIVE ART PROGRAM, NUTRITION AND FITNESS AND SOCIAL HANGOUT PROGRAMS.

WE DO THAT IN ROCHESTER NEW YORK AND SYRACUSE NEW YORK.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK IS OYER ANNUAL COMEDY SHOW AND STARTED OUT OF OUR YEARLY GALA THAT WE DO CALLED JOURNEYS.

DURING THE GALA OUR MEMBERS DO A PERFORMANCE.

AND ONE YEAR A LOCAL COMEDIAN TODD YOUNGMAN CAME TO US AND HE WAS LIKE WHY NOT STANDUP COMEDY.

>> THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR ME IN MAY BESIDE THE FACT THAT I HAVE A COLONOSCOPY COMING UP ON THE 27th.

YES.

>> AT FIRST WE WERE LIKE, NO WAY.

OUR MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET UP THERE.

TODD SAID LET'S TRY IT OUT AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY.

IT CAUGHT ON.

LET'S DO IT AT THE COMEDY CLUB THAT FOLLOWING SPRING.

AND NOW EVERY SPRING SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DO IT.

>> YOU WILL NEVER GUESS HOW WE MET.

>> CANCER.

>> OUR MEMBERS CREATE THEIR OWN SETS.

SO THEY WRITE IT THEMSELVES.

IT'S ALL THEIR STORY.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST A WAY FOR THE AUDIENCE TO GET A PEEK INTO WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING A TEEN OR YOUNG ADULT WITH CANCER AS WELL AS GIVING OUR MEMBERS THE SPACE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, WITHOUT THE KIND OF SAFETY BLANKET OF COMEDY OR A LAUGH AROUND IT MAY BE HARD TO TALK ABOUT.

ANY HEAVY TRAUMATIC EVENT IN YOUR LIFE, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE GO TO DARK LYMOR HUMOR.

WHEN YOU ARE IN ONE VEIN YOU GO TO THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

IF I'M HAVING A SAD TIME, RHYME GOING TO TRY TO LAUGH.

SO THE COMEDY SHOW ALLOWS STRUCTURE INTO A PIECE ABOUT THEIR CANCER AND HAVING IT WITHIN THE AGE RANGE AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES ALONG WITH BEING A TEEN OR YOUNG ADULT.

THERE IS A LOT OF TURMOIL IN THAT AND CANCER PUTS ITS HAND IN ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> LAST YEAR I WAS IN A MEETING AND SOMEBODY MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING HAD CANCER.

AND I MID MEETING GO OH MY GOD.

I HAD CANCER, TOO.

THE HORROR.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED WITH CANCER, I TELL THEM WE DO THIS CANCER COMEDY SHOW, THEY'RE LIKE WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

LIKE WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT THIS?

BUT ANYONE I TALK TO HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY IT IS LIKE OH MY GOD, THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

I GOT CONNECTED WITH 13THIRTY WHEN I WAS 15.

I WAS DIAGNOSEDDED WITH HOTCH KINS LYMPHOMA I WAS HESITANT AT FIRST TO JOIN.

I WAS A HAND GUNNER.

I WANTED TO LEAVE IT BEHIND ME.

I FIGURED DO IT ONCE AND BE DONE WITH IT.

IT CAUGHT ON AND I REALIZED THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT WITH MY CANCER, EVEN INTO MORE SURVIVORSHIP THAN ACTIVE TREATMENT.

I HAVE SEEN MEMBERS WHERE THEY BRING UP A SIDE EFFECT THEY ARE MAKING A FUNNY JOKE ABOUT IT AND SOMEONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WILL SAY I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND RIGHT THERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY NOW FEEL CONNECTED AND THEY FEEL LESS ALONE IN THAT JOURNEY THAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH.

>> I HAD A TYPE OF CANCER CALLED EWING SARCOMA.

NO ONE HERE HAS EVER HEARD OF IT CLEARLY.

[LAUGHTER] I.

>> I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR FRIEND TELLS YOU THEY HAVE CANCER BRING IT UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO REACT.

IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, IT'S NERVE RACKING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY THE WRONG THING, YOU ALSO DON'T WANT TO SAY NOTHING SO THIS MODE OF COMEDY ALLOWS THE AUDIENCE TO GET A PEEK WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT THEN I THINK, TOO, WHEN THEY CAN SEE THEIR FRIENDS OR PEOPLE ARE JUST JOKING ABOUT THEIR CANCER, IT ALLOWS THEM TO KNOW THAT LIKE THEY'RE STILL JUST YOUR FRIEND AS MUCH AS THEY WERE BEFORE.

THERE IS JUST THIS ADDED UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE.

OUR MEMBERS EACH WEEK COME TOGETHER AND ONE BY ONE, THEY GET UP AND THEY SAY THEIR JOKES, THEY DO THEIR SETS AND ALL THE MEMBERS WILL GIVE FEEDBACK.

THEY WILL MAYBE SAY HOW TO CHANGE A CERTAIN JOKE, WHETHER THAT IS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION A LOT OF TIMES ALL OF US ARE SO USED TO BEING IN THE CANCER WORD THAT WE USE TERMS THAT WE THEN REALIZE ARE LIKE THE MODERN PERSON IS NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND THIS WHO ISN'T IN THE CANCER WORLD.

IT'S REALLY FUN.

AS MUCH AS THEIR STORIES ARE UNIQUE, AGAIN, THEY'RE ALL IN?

ASPECTS, CONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER SO THERE ARE LITTLE MOMENTS THAT WE ALL, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE GONE THROUGH TOGETHER.

BUT NOW WE CAN KIND OF LAUGH AT.

>> CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT WEIRD LASTING SIDE EFFECTS THESE DRUGS ARE GOING TO HAVE ON MY BODY OR HOW THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE ME LOOKING BACK ON IT AND WHAT OTHER WE ARE ROADS THIS IS GOING TO DON'T LEAD ME DOWN.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

THAT'S MY TIME.

>> 1, 2, 3, CANCER.

>> BEFORE WE WRAP OUR SHOW, IT'S TIME FOR OUR MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE.

THIS WEEK Mr.

TIM CHAN EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PAINLESS PEEK WHERE THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE.

LET'S TAKE A PEEK.

>> HI, I'M TIM CHAN, MEDICAL STUDENT.

IF YOU WERE OR A LOVED ONE HAD COLON CANCER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

IT'S THE FOURTH MOST COMMON CANCER IN ADULTS AND IS BECOMING MORE COMMON AMONG YOUNG ADULTS.

FORTUNATELY WHEN CAUGHT AND TREATED EARLY, THE SURVIVAL RATE IS 90%.

THE GOLD STANDARD FOR SCREENING IS COLONOSCOPY WHEN THE DOCTOR USES A CAMERA TO EXAMINE THE BOWELS AND THEY CAN REMOVE SUSPICIOUS POLYPS THAT CAN TURN INTO CANCER.

DON'T WORRY, YOUR DOCTOR WILL SEDATE YOU.

YOU CAN MINIMIZE YOUR RISK OF COLON CANCER WITH REGULAR EXERCISE, AVOID TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND PROCESSED MEATS.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS STILL SUGGEST GETTING SCREENED AT 45 AND IF HAVE YOU A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER, YOU MIGHT NEED TO GET IT EARLIER.

ALTERNATIVES TO COLONOSCOPY SCREENING INCLUDE HOME TESTS AS WELL HOWEVER COLONOSCOPIES OFFTRACK ARE THE MOST ACCURATE.

DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

I'M TIM CHAN.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR ANTICANCER TEAM.

Ms.

TESS MICHAELS, PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR WITH THE ONONDAGA COUNTY CANCER SERVICES PROGRAM.

Mrs.

WENDY HUNT, PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE UPSTATE MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY VAN.

AND Dr.

FRUITS AND VEGGIES, STEVEN DUFFY ONCOLOGIST AND HEMOTOLOGIST AT HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

TO HEAR OUR COMPANION COMMUNITY RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITY FM AND IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE AND PAST SEASONS AND SEE SOME COOL RESOURCES FROM OUR PANELISTS, VISIT WCNY.ORG/"CYCLE OF HEALTH."

AND JUST FOR FUN VISIT MY WEBSITE Dr.

NECK-UP.ORG.

I'M PSYCHOLOGIST Dr.

RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN WITH US.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

NEXT WEEK ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH..." OUR PANEL TAKES A LOOK AT SLEEP AND WHY WE ARE ALL NOT GETTING ENOUGH OF IT.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BODIES WHEN WE DON'T AND HOW DO WE FIX IT?

THEN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO GETTING A SLEEP STUDY.

AND ON THE NEXT MEDICAL STUDENT MINUTE, EXPLAINING HOW SLEEP PLAYS A ROLE IN REDUCING ALZHEIMER'S RISK.

THAT'S COMING UP ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

CANCER, IT'S NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS, IT'S A COMPLEX OPPONENT, ONE THAT CAN ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.

EVERY MOVE, EVERY DECISION HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEIGHT.

ST.

JOSEPH'S HEALTH HAS PARTNERED WITH ROSWELL PARK, THE REGION'S ONLY DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER TO OFFER YOU ACCESS TO PERSONALIZED THERAPIES AND LEADING ONCOLOGISTS RIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AMONG THE MANY MOVES YOU CAN MAKE, THIS ONE HOLDS THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER...