Cancer devastating physically and financially.

March is Colorectal Awareness month. I'm sharing a story this morning about a friend, who is a colorectal cancer survivor.

When 58-year-old Erika Brown knew something wasn't right with her body, she went to a doctor, and then a second and third doctor. After 2 years of examinations, the best they could come up with was that she had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). When she was finally diagnosed correctly, it turns out she had final-stage colon cancer. In a matter of days she had surgery, followed by 6 months of intense chemotherapy and a full-year of recovery.

Today, she's healthy. Unfortunately, she can't say the same about her finances. Choices she made in her treatment cost her financial well-being, sending her into bankruptcy. In hindsight and with the information she now knows about chemotherapy, she would have done it differently.

Erika is the Mayor of "ColonTown," a vibrant community of colon cancer survivors active on both Facebook and Linkedin.

Erika's story is all too common, says Kristin Gustafson of Chemo101.com. More than 1.5 million people are diagnosed with cancer annually; of those who undergo chemotherapy treatment, nearly 40% wind up bankrupt. Unfortunately, when they need it most, patients who are diagnosed with cancer rarely have easy access to information about their treatment options and costs.

While the focus is on colorectal cancer this month, it's really about awareness of all types of cancers and the impact they have on patients, caregivers and health care providers.

A key element in the fight is information. Do yourself a favor and conduct a health insurance checkup of just what your benefits are, what's covered and not covered. Attend open enrollment meetings where you work, or check with your HR department. Ask questions, be prepared-- just in case.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"