Local cancer survivor honored by PGA Tour Champions

GRAFTON — "How old are you?" "Have you been screened?" "Why not?" These typically are the first three questions Jay Overy asks anyone he meets, followed by one not-so-simple statement: "Well, it saved my life." Overy, of Grafton, has shown no evidence of disease for three years, but his battle with stage 2 rectal cancer and his desire to help others beat it keeps him fighting for the cause. His work prompted him to be chosen as one of 13 Fight Colorectal Cancer virtual participants honored by PGA Tour Champions as part of the annual Cologuard Classic golf event in Tucson, Arizona, last month. Overy was paired with PGA Tour champion and colorectal cancer survivor Tom Lehman, who wore a ribbon with Overy's name during the competition. Diagnosed during a routine colonoscopy in November 2017, Overy showed no symptoms of the disease. He endured six surgeries and lost 60 pounds during his fight. "What I went through. … I don't like what it did to me, what it did to my body, but I have a venue to touch people," he said. "If I can get people to get screened, I hope I can save a few people. And I know we have. There is no better feeling in my life than that, and it doesn't take anything to talk about it." It's fitting that Lehman was paired with Overy for this year's golf event. Lehman was diagnosed with the same type of rectal cancer in 1994 that Overy had. "If I could have picked any pro out there, it would have been him," Overy said. "I was just blown away." Overy, who works for the U.S. Postal Service, travels around the state as an ambassador for Fight colorectal cancer. "Colorectal cancer is the most curable and the most deadly cancer," Overy said. "I felt I needed to spread the word. Guys are stupid. You know your body. You're going to know what's wrong. But guys just don't want to get tested." So, Overy talks. And talks. And talks. He openly talks as a guest speaker at events. He stealthily wears clothing with slogans like "Fight CRC" or "Get Behind the Cure." And then he waits. Inevitably, someone will ask. And so, he talks. "I'll never stop doing it," he said. "I don't care where I go. I'll wear the ribbons. My clothes will have patches on them. Colorectal cancer is starting to touch so many people at younger and younger ages. You have to be your own advocate to get screened." Overy has another advocate, though, his wife of 17 years, Kathy. The 1983 Midview High School graduates were middle school sweethearts, who drifted apart and eventually came back together. Overy, a Marine, and Kathy, a registered nurse, lived parallel lives for a while. Each has 30-year-old sons and 32-year-old daughters. And when Overy signed on to be an ambassador, Kathy was by his side as a caregiver, a supporter and an educator. Together, they helped to raise $40,000 to fight colorectal cancer. As a survivor, Overy can talk about what it was like to be a patient, but as a nurse and caregiver, Kathy is able to talk about the medical side. The Cologuard Classic at the end of February kicks off Colorectal Awareness Month in March. This will be the fourth year Fight CRC, the country's leading colorectal cancer advocacy organization, has participated. Overy also participated in the classic two years ago. Colon and rectal (colorectal) cancers make up the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. among men and women combined. Sixty percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented or treated with screening. "It's the most beatable cancer," Overy attests. "You've just got to be screened." To learn more or how to encourage others to get screened, visit fightcrc.org. Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@chroniclet.com. To get screened The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person's stool (a stool-based test), or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum (a visual exam). *For screening, people are considered to be at average risk if they do not have: • A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps. • A family history of colorectal cancer. • A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease). • A confirmed or suspected hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC). • A personal history of getting radiation to the abdomen (belly) or pelvic area to treat a prior cancer. People who are in good health and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75. For people ages 76 through 85, the decision to be screened should be based on a person's preferences, life expectancy, overall health and prior screening history. People older than 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening. *SOURCE: American Cancer Society