The township committee presented a proclamation at its March 9 meeting acknowledging March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Mantua, as it is also known around the country.
The proclamation was issued in honor of late Mantua resident Trish Peterson, who called Mantua home for 35 years, according to Mayor Robert Zimmerman. She passed away in January after battling Stage 4 colon cancer for eight years.
“Trish was a member of Church of the Incarnation, and in her spare time she enjoyed reading, gardening, cleaning and cooking,” notes Peterson’s obituary. “She made sure everyone was fed and not hungry.”
According to the Red Cross, an estimated 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and 55,230 people will die from it. After decades of decline, overall rectal cancer incidence has increased by 1% per year since 2018 and now accounts for about one in three diagnoses.
Nearly half – 45% – of new colorectal cancer diagnoses are in adults younger than 65, up from 27% in 1995, reflecting a major shift toward younger generations.
There was a moment of silence at the committee meeting for Peterson and Monica Hammel, a 42-year-old resident of Washington Township who passed away on March 8, also from colorectal cancer.
“I’ve been trying to even think of what to say on losing one of my lifelong friends, Monica Hammel, but there are truly no words,” Michele Fedorko posted on social media. “This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg of our friendship, but just a quick highlight. I have some of the best memories growing up with, becoming mothers with, and just being friends, no matter how much time went by.
“It was like a friendship that’s once in a lifetime.”
This year’s proclamation also cites Mantua resident Lisa Issa, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer at 26. She is now in her late 30s.
“She was fortunate enough to be able to battle the disease and is in remission now,” Zimmerman noted of Issa, who was unable to attend the meeting. “She’s gonna meet with me and it should be interesting. We’re gonna do a mayor’s video this week and get that out there this month, so that she can tell her story to help spread awareness.”
Another proclamation cited retired police chief Darren White for his 25-year career in law enforcement.
The next township committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, April 13.
