Bethel Park mother featured in national nonprofit's colorectal cancer awareness campaign

Patrick Varine, The Tribune-Review, Greensburg
·2 min read

Feb. 19—There are more than a million colorectal cancer survivors in the U.S., and telling their stories is one of the most effective ways that Missouri-based nonprofit Fight Colorectal Cancer has found to make others aware of the importance of cancer screenings.

That is why Lynne Ireland-Knight of Bethel Park will light up Times Square in New York City later this year, one of 24 people chosen for Fight CRC's "No Excuses" campaign.

Ireland-Knight's son, Jordan, is fighting late-stage colon cancer after being diagnosed at age 29.

"We were like deer in the headlights," Ireland-Knight said. "It was uncharted territory."

Colon and rectal cancers make up the second-leading cause of combined cancer deaths in the U.S. for men and women.

Fight CRC officials said 60% of those deaths could be prevented with proper screening.

Due to his late diagnosis, Jordan Knight has very few options for effective treatment, according to Fight CRC spokeswoman Elizabeth Fisher, and his mother has opted to dedicate a years' worth of volunteer time to help raise awareness as one of the nonprofit's ambassadors, using her family's story in an effort to save lives.

"As he continues this fight, I want to stress the importance of early detection," Ireland-Knight said. "No one is immune."

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Fight CRC President Anjee Davis said the volunteer work Ireland-Knight and others will do is crucial.

"These ambassadors bravely rally to raise awareness for this disease," Davis said. "We're certain that their stories will resonate with people and provoke them to look past the excuses and get screened."

Industry trade publication Clinical Oncology News projects that the delay and postponement of many colorectal cancer screenings due to the covid-19 pandemic will result in a 12% increase in cancer deaths over the next five years.

"I'm here to offer comfort and hope when it's needed, realizing most of us can make a huge difference in others' experience," Ireland-Knight said.

For more, see FightCRC.org.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick at 724-850-2862, pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .