Saving Darryl Strawberry – A Lesson to be Learned?

Saving Darryl Strawberry

Colon cancer screening could end up saving your life. Former New York Yankee and Met great Darryl Strawberry was winding down his illustrious career in the late 1990’s. In 1998 Darryl had started to get severe stomach cramps before games that year, but attributed those pains to nothing more than being nervous. After all, playing for the Yankees was like performing on the biggest stage in the world. But the cramps continued and Strawberry’s wife pleaded with her husband to go to the doctors and get checked out.

Now this is a time we’ve all been at. No one likes to go to the doctors, it’s often thought of as a funny misconception, but in reality many a man has decided to graciously pass up the opportunity and always be able to conveniently find other things to do on a seconds notice upon the mention of THAT GUY. We go against our spouse’s wishes not because we don’t love them, but rather because we just don’t want to be bothered. After all we are Superman, and nothing can hurt us. We are a well oiled machine that has functioned rather flawlessly up to this point. Why potentially ruin a good thing?

In 1998, Darryl Strawberry listened to his wife and went to the doctors to get checked out. What was revealed was a grapefruit sized tumor on his colon. Immediately thinking the worst, Darryl nearly expected death. Surgery was immediately required and thus Strawberry’s season for the Yankees came to an abrupt halt. The doctors got to work and did their best to remove all of the tumor. Following surgery, Darryl struggled with six months of chemo-therapy. Doctors told Strawberry that if he could stay clear of cancer for five years that he would be in the clear. Just as all seemed to be going well with his recovery, the cancer returned in 2000. Darryl was nauseated with the thought of needing surgery again and going through more chemo. It was ultimately the thought of having his kids grow up without a father, that kept him fighting and wanting to live.

Darryl Strawberry is alive today and doing well. He has been cancer free since 2000 and is having his chance to see his children grow up and become young adults themselves. Doctors credited the fact that he was a professional athlete to him still being alive. They explained that because he was in such good physical condition that his ab muscles stopped the tumor from spreading and getting bigger. But ultimately Darryl has his wife to thank for making him go to the doctors. If she hadn’t been on his case about it, Mr. Strawberry might not be here with us today. The fact of the matter is the doctors were able to locate and remove the tumor early on so that Darryl had a fighting chance. Let Darryl’s story be a lesson to us that cancer screening is important and could even say our lives. It might be an annoyance to us to go to the doctors once in a while, but to save our time on earth as a husband and father, it’s worth it. – S. Vaccaro

Here are some additional facts about colon cancer from the American Cancer Society’s website:

Many times, colorectal cancer can be prevented. Still, it’s one of the 5 most common cancers in men and women in the United States. Colorectal cancer is also one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United.States. Don’t let these 5 common myths stop you from getting the lifesaving tests you need, when you need them.

Myth: Colorectal cancer is a man’s disease.

Truth: Colorectal cancer is just as common among women as men. Each year, about 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 die from the disease.

Myth: Colorectal cancer cannot be prevented.

Truth: In many cases colorectal cancer can be prevented. Colorectal cancer almost always starts with a small growth called a polyp. If the polyp is found early, doctors can remove it and stop colorectal cancer before it starts. These tests can find polyps : double contrast barium enema, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy).

To help lower your chances of getting colorectal cancer:

• get to and stay at a healthy weight
• be physically active
• limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• eat a diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less red or processed meat .

Myth: African Americans are not at risk for colorectal cancer.

Truth: African-American men and women are diagnosed with and die from colorectal cancer at higher rates than men and women of any other US. racial or ethnic group.

Myth: Age doesn’t matter when it comes to getting colorectal cancer.

Truth: More than 90% of colorectal cancer cases are in people age 50 and older. For this reason, the American Cancer Society recommends you start getting tested for the disease at age 50. People who are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer — for example, those who have colon or rectal cancer in their families — may need to begin testing at a younger age. Talk to your doctor about when you should start getting tested.

Myth: It’s better not to get tested for colorectal cancer because it’s deadly anyway.

Truth: Colorectal cancer is often highly treatable. If it is found and treated early, the 5-year survival rate is about 90%. But because many people are not getting tested, only about 4 out of 10 are diagnosed at this early stage when treatment is most likely to be successful.