News

Born with congenital heart disease, 41-year-old Christin Murphy has undergone three heart surgeries to repair pulmonary valves. They have been tough to get through, but Murphy says this latest one at Saint Luke’s changed her outlook.

In 2023, an emergency colonoscopy led to Michael's diagnosis of stage 3 cancer. Because of his experience, Michael Kathrens, 70, advocates for proactive health screenings and being an advocate for your own health.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults and one in six youths aged 6-17 experience mental health illness each year in the U.S.—and 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14.

Nellie Jo Gaston received a lifesaving surgery after an abnormal result from an at-home colon cancer screening test. After treatment at Saint Luke’s, she is cancer-free.

Weeks shy of the bar exam, the trajectory of Jackson’s life was rocked off course when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. The 26-year-old’s diagnosis was an obstacle that he refused to let topple him.

Jackson Auer was two days away from his 26th birthday when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. 10 months later, Jackson is now cancer-free, newly engaged, and hoping to raise awareness of the disease.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, and this week, we are talking with Sabrina Kidd, MD, about colon cancer screenings, treatments, and possible factors contributing to the rise in diagnoses among young adults.

According to the American Cancer Society, those under the age of 50 are experiencing an increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses, but also an increase in colorectal cancer deaths.

The American Cancer Society recommends people who are at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screenings at the age of 45. While a large majority of deaths related to the cancer could be prevented, many people have never been screened.