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MURRAY — An avid traveler, 72-year-old Eva Brinley lives her life to the fullest.
But things took a turn a few years ago after her physician encouraged her to get a colonoscopy.
"I went in and had it done, and they found colon cancer," she said. "It was a dark moment. I have lost many friends from different types of cancers, and so my first thought was, 'I'm done.'"
Brinley had 15 inches of her colon removed. She then met with Dr. Mark Lewis, director of gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Health, and told him she was concerned about the side effects of chemotherapy.
Fortunately, she was eligible for another type of treatment: immunotherapy.
"A lot of patients, understandably, when you tell them they require chemotherapy, will refuse it, so it is incredibly appealing to patients that we now have another option to treat cancer, and that's immunotherapy," Lewis said. "The entire point is to turn on the immune system and allow the patient's own body to destroy the cancer."
Not everyone is a candidate for immunotherapy, and Lewis noted with this kind of treatment, there is a risk of developing an autoimmune disease.
"I'm not going to pretend that these treatments have absolutely no side effects, but for the most part, these treatments are far more tolerable than chemotherapy," he said.
Brinley went in for an IV every three weeks for two years. She experienced nausea at first but said she had no other side effects.
"It was very successful, and I'm in remission," she said. "I feel great. I feel really good. Strong and healthy."
Her cancer journey hasn't been easy, but she has remained positive, focusing on her family and her religion. She's now encouraging others to make their health a priority, especially since she didn't experience any signs or symptoms before being diagnosed.
"I just can't stress enough how important it is to do those checkups," she said. "Stay healthy. Eat right. Have your checkups, and be aware."
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. While some people may not have any symptoms, like Eva, warning signs of colon cancer may include persistent or progressive abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, such as constipation or diarrhea, blood in the stool and unintentional weight loss.
Experts recommend people at average risk of colon cancer begin screening at age 45. To schedule a colonoscopy with Intermountain Health, visit its website.
