2/20/2003 11:26:51 AM

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(KSDK) -- When their mother died last March, a St. Louis West County brother and sister got mad. Now they're working to conquer the disease that caused their mother's death.

Lori Shelton's life was full, focused on her children, her family. "You would look at my mother who was practically a vegetarian and she didn't drink, she didn't smoke. She was very healthy and beautiful and I think it actually worked against her because she looked so good and healthy that nobody thought anything was wrong with her,” said Julie Lin-Nichols, her daughter.

However, Julie says, something was wrong. "She started having symptoms probably seven years before she was diagnosed. And those symptoms were fatigue, anemia and stomach problems."

A medical procedure she had never heard of found the answer. "When she went in August of 1999 she was diagnosed with Stage Three Colon Cancer. The colonoscopy found the baseball-sized tumor at the very end of the colon. A sigmoidoscopy would have missed it," said Julie.

Now Julie and her brother Dave Goldfarb have begun their own private crusade of awareness. It's the only weapon they have to fight the disease that killed their mother. "This is killing 57,000 people a year and it can be stopped by just going to get a colonoscopy,” said Julie.

Dave adds, "By sharing our story with other people and letting them know (we want to) basically put a name and a face and a personality to this issue. We know we can accomplish that and we can make a difference."

With their own money, Julie and Dave have started the Lori Shelton Alliance for Colon Cancer Awareness. They've begun preparing brochures, which they hope to place in doctor's offices and hospital waiting rooms throughout the Bi-State area.

"And everybody who gets out material gets more information than our mom had. At least they're filled with the tools they need to get this job done to get the test run to save themselves and their family from the devastation of a disease that is not pretty," said Julie.

"It's a shame that this has to happen to anyone. And it was devastating that it happened to our mom and that's what we want people to understand is that it really doesn't have to happen. It's virtually, entirely preventable," said Dave.

That's one of the most frustrating parts about dealing with colon cancer according to Dr. Christian Stone, a Washington University Gastroenterologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. "We see way too many cancers that could have been prevented. It's really a failure of screening. It can't be overstated, doing a colonoscopy for screening purposes beginning at age 50 is one of the best tests you can do to prevent colon cancer."

A life saving message with personal urgency Dave and Julie want to share with everyone. "We were devastated at the loss of our mother to a disease that basically 98 per cent preventable. And if she had just known to go and get a colonoscopy at age 50 she would still be here."

It's a rather simple procedure. It only takes about 15 minutes. However, colonoscopy really is a lifesaver. You can get more information on the Lori Shelton Alliance for Colon Cancer Awareness by logging onto LSACCA.org