When Scott Furey lost his father to a stroke on Oct. 29, 2021, he didn’t expect to have health problems of his own. But two days later, on Halloween, he developed constipation that wouldn’t go away.
After struggling with symptoms for several days, he sought help. His primary care provider suggested the constipation was linked to Scott’s grief. He prescribed a laxative. And because Scott was 45, the doctor also scheduled him for a colonoscopy, a screening test that can detect colorectal cancer.
The test results put Scott on the path for rectal cancer treatment at WVU Cancer Institute.
An Advanced Diagnosis
Scott’s constipation continued to get worse. By the day of his test at WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Hospital, his rectal pain was so severe that it hurt to sit down.
“I’m a teacher, and I bought a standing desk because I literally couldn’t sit down anymore. The pain was that bad,” said Scott, who teaches engineering at Mineral County Technical Center and Keyser High School in Keyser. He also coaches at the high school. “When I drove to work, I hovered over the seat.”
The images from his colonoscopy explained the extreme discomfort. Scott had a tumor located only 9 centimeters from his anus. Doctors referred Scott to two WVU Cancer Institute experts, Douglas Murken, MD, a colorectal surgeon, and Kevin Shannon, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist.
Dr. Murken performed a lower endoscopy. This procedure with a long, flexible tube lets doctors examine the lower gastrointestinal tract and obtain a biopsy from the tumor. The test confirmed that Scott had locally advanced Stage 3 rectal cancer.
“Scott’s colonoscopy and MRI images showed his cancer had spread to his local lymph nodes,” said Dr. Shannon, who led Scott’s cancer treatment. “It was likely he was going to need total neoadjuvant therapy – radiation and chemotherapy, and then, possibly, surgery.”
An Unexpected Response to Treatment
As a high-energy, busy individual, Scott refused to let his diagnosis and treatment regimen get him down or slow him down.
“When we first discussed my treatment schedule, I told Dr. Shannon I was too busy to sit around and be upset because I had cancer,” he said. “I made my cancer treatment a priority, but I was determined it was just going to be a part of my life.”
Scott brought his upbeat energy to every appointment. For nearly six months, he underwent some form of cancer therapy nearly every day. Over 16 weeks, he received eight rounds of intravenous chemotherapy. He completed the first half at WVU Cancer Institute at Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland and the second half at the new WVU Cancer Institute at Potomac Valley Hospital, closer to his home. Then, for five weeks, he received radiation and oral chemotherapy Monday through Friday. These treatments occurred at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown.
“We gave him the full course of aggressive therapy right from the very beginning,” Dr. Shannon said. “He stuck with it the entire time. He never missed a day, never missed a treatment. He was remarkably robust and strong. Scott is just an amazingly optimistic and energetic guy.”
Scott’s response to treatment reflected his positive attitude. After the first round of chemotherapy and radiation, he said his pain started to go away. He didn’t experience the usual side effects like nausea, vomiting, or fatigue. And by the end of his treatment plan, his tumor was gone. He was the first cancer-free patient to “ring the bell” at Potomac Valley – and he avoided surgery.
A Watch-and-Wait Approach
Scott was fortunate. Most people with Stage 3 rectal cancer still need surgery after radiation and chemotherapy, Dr. Murken said. But results from his post-treatment MRI and flexible sigmoidoscopy opened the door for a nonsurgical care option. A flexible sigmoidoscopy examines the rectum and lower colon.
“Scott’s test results were excellent. When I saw Scott after he finished treatment, we discussed the pros and cons of each management strategy going forward. He opted to take a watch-and-wait approach,” Dr. Murken said. “Patients must commit to a lot of follow-up tests over several years. And they must be ready to go through surgery right away if their cancer returns.”
Scott has been just as dedicated to this watch-and-wait approach as he was to his active treatment. Since 2022, he’s returned to Dr. Murken for nine MRIs, 10 lower endoscopies, and CT scans every six months. He’s also undergone frequent blood work.
“Even though it’s a lot of tests, Dr. Murken assured me that new research supports the safety and effectiveness of watching and waiting,” Scott said. “So, I’ve been doing it now for three years and have stayed cancer-free.”
An Advocate for Screening and Community Care
Scott knows everyone responds to cancer treatment differently. But he also believes more people could have better outcomes if they knew more about rectal cancer. That’s why he’s dedicated to raising awareness in his community.
Along with 15 other community members, Scott serves on the first WVU Cancer Institute Community Advisory Board. In this role, they work with Institute leaders to provide feedback that helps the Institute focus on the state’s biggest health issues. With their input, Institute leaders are creating strategies that bring prevention and early detection services, like mobile breast cancer and lung cancer screenings, to communities across West Virginia.
“My biggest thing is that healthcare shouldn’t take you away from your daily life. As an engineering teacher, I didn’t want to miss school because I needed a chemotherapy treatment or my port flushed,” Scott said. “Having the high-quality services and expert providers in a nearby locale reduced all that stress. You can’t put a price on that for people.”
In addition, Scott takes a more personal approach to educating the community about rectal cancer.
“I love telling my story because it’s a positive one. And with colon cancer rates up in men between ages 30 and 50, I feel like it’s my responsibility to mentor and help more people learn about rectal cancer and the great care that’s available right here close to home,” he said. “Once I had my first colonoscopy, I encouraged everyone I knew to get theirs. Lots of guys have gone in already and dealt with some precancers or early cancers.”
Scott recently launched a fatherhood group to encourage as many men as possible to be proactive about their health. This group is a place where men can talk about wellness, family, or work issues. The goal is to educate people about screening tests and early detection. Scott also wants to break down the barriers that make it hard for many men to discuss their well-being.
“It’s difficult for men to admit they’re having struggles or that they’re experiencing certain health issues,” he said. “I want guys to view this group as a place where they can bounce things off each other – and feel comfortable talking about anything and asking any questions.”
Dr. Shannon said Scott’s vocal advocacy has the potential to save lives.
“He’s a great advertisement for the importance of screening colonoscopy,” he said. “He’s out there advocating for screening tests that lead to early detection and easier treatments. He’s wonderful for this aspect of preventive medicine.”