A Surprise He Never Saw Coming: Kevin’s Colon Cancer Journey

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about one of the most common, yet most preventable, cancers in the United States. Screening can detect colorectal cancer in its earliest stages — or even prevent it altogether. Kevin Hazure’s story is a powerful reminder that even without obvious symptoms, a routine colonoscopy can make all the difference. His journey underscores one simple truth: getting screened can save your life.

Kevin Hazure has been married for 44 years to his wife, Deirdrea, and together they’ve built a life rooted in family. He’s a proud dad to four grown children and a grandfather of three. At home, he’s known for his cooking and for taking just as much pride in his lawn as he does in the kitchen.

After retiring from Delta Airlines following a 30-year career, Kevin pictured this season of life filled with travel perks, time with his wife and the simple joys, like walking their Shi Tzu, who likes to run the house, and their 17-year-old toy poodle, who may not see or hear much anymore but definitely wags his tail.

“I have a large family, and when we all get together, it’s a happy time,” Kevin says with a smile. “There’s always food, conversation, and a lot of laughter.”

Colon cancer was never something he imagined interrupting that rhythm.

A Life-Saving Colonoscopy Screening He Almost Skipped

In 2022, at age 62, Kevin’s primary care physician, Michele Cooper, MD, affiliated with New Orleans East Hospital, recommended that he undergo a colonoscopy simply because of his age.

“I never had any colonoscopies,” Kevin admits. “The only thing I ever did was one of those stool tests you mail in. It came back negative.”

Aside from recurring constipation, he had no alarming symptoms. No bleeding. No pain. And no family history of colon cancer.

Still, Dr. Cooper encouraged him to move forward with a colonoscopy, a procedure where a thin, flexible camera is used to examine the lining of the colon for polyps, blockages or signs of cancer. She referred him to Abdul Khan, MD, a gastroenterologist who performed the exam at New Orleans East Hospital.

That decision changed everything.

Why Colon Screening Matters

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States among both men and women and is increasingly being diagnosed in patients under age 50. Yet it remains one of the most preventable and most treatable cancers when caught early. Current screening guidelines recommend that adults begin screening at age 45. Earlier screening may be recommended for individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or new concerning symptoms such as rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits.

Colonoscopy remains the gold standard because it allows physicians to detect cancer at an early stage and remove precancerous polyps before they become dangerous.

“Colorectal cancer can be detectable in its earliest stages,” said Dr. Khan. “We can often find and remove precancerous growths in the same procedure. When cancer is identified before it spreads to the lymph nodes, outcomes are significantly better. That’s why routine screening is so important, even if you feel well.”

Kevin felt healthy when he walked into his colonoscopy appointment which is what makes what happened next so important.

The First Blockage

During Kevin’s colonoscopy, Dr. Khan discovered a blockage in Kevin’s colon. A biopsy confirmed early stage (Stage I–II) colon cancer. The cancer had not spread to his lymph nodes, which meant it was caught at a stage where treatment could be very effective.

“It was a complete shock,” Kevin said. “As far as I knew, nobody in my family had colon cancer.”

Kevin was promptly referred to Touro, where Michael Adinolfi, MD, performed a colon resection surgery to remove the cancerous portion of his colon.

Following surgery, Kevin underwent several months of oral chemotherapy under the care of his oncologist.

Even during chemo, Kevin stayed active mowing the lawn, walking the dogs, and doing his best to maintain normal routines.

A Blood Test Raises Concern

After surgery, Kevin continued regular surveillance. During one follow-up visit, a blood test called a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test showed elevation. The CEA test measures the level of a protein in the blood that physicians often monitor over time to look for trends that might signal cancer recurrence.

“In Kevin’s case, his baseline CEA level had been around 2.5 to 3. When the level rose to approximately 6, it wasn’t dramatically high but it was a noticeable increase that prompted further evaluation,” his care team explained.

That elevated level led to additional testing.

Precision and Partnership

During a surveillance colonoscopy, Dr. Khan identified a serrated lesion with high-grade dysplasia in Kevin’s colon. High-grade dysplasia means the cells are precancerous but very close to becoming invasive cancer.

Kevin was referred to Elyse Bevier-Rawls, MD, a colon and rectal surgeon at Touro.

Dr. Bevier-Rawls repeated the colonoscopy to precisely mark, or “tattoo,” the lesion so it could be accurately located during surgery.

“In Kevin’s case, we marked the lesion during colonoscopy to guide a minimally invasive robotic right colectomy,” Dr. Bevier-Rawls explained. “The goal is to remove the affected portion of the colon while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.”

Kevin remembers how carefully she walked him through the plan.

“Dr. Bevier explained everything,” he said. “She told me what she was looking for, what she might find, and what the plan would be if I needed surgery. Dr. Bevier-Rawls was amazing. She made me feel comfortable. I wasn’t in the dark about anything.”

In 2023, Kevin underwent a robotic right colectomy to remove the affected portion of his colon.

Final pathology from the surgery confirmed a second primary colon cancer with positive lymph nodes, consistent with Stage III colon cancer.

Chemotherapy and Pushing Through

Following the second surgery, Kevin required infusion chemotherapy delivered through a port.

The port used for chemotherapy had been placed during his earlier surgical care. After his second surgery, chemotherapy was administered intravenously through that port.

“I would go to the hospital and they’d hook up the chemo bag to my port,” Kevin explained. “Then I’d go home with it still attached. I wore it for about 48 hours straight. After two days, I’d go back so they could disconnect it.”

After the fourth and fifth sessions, the fatigue set in.

“That’s when I really started to feel it,” he said. “I was tired — just fatigued and lethargic. But throughout the whole process, I still did my regular thing. I cut the grass, walked the dogs and tried to keep life as normal as possible.”

Through it all, his wife of 44 years and his children remained his anchor.

“That was the main thing that kept me going,” Kevin said. “My family. Everybody was constantly checking on me to make sure I was doing okay.”

Grateful for a Team That Worked as One

Kevin reflects often on the coordinated care he received between New Orleans East Hospital and Touro, saying that everyone worked together and “nobody dropped the ball.”

“My PCP, Dr. Cooper, was great. She’s the one who recommended I get the colonoscopy because of my age. Dr. Khan found the first blockage. My oncologist oversaw my chemotherapy. Dr. Adinolfi performed my first colon surgery — bless his soul. And Dr. Bevier-Rawls stepped in and took over my continued care.”

“I am really blessed,” he adds. “If my former colon surgeon hadn’t referred me to Dr. Bevier-Rawls, I don’t know what would have happened. That referral made all the difference.”

His Message for March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Today, Kevin continues close surveillance with his care team.

Patients with colon cancer typically undergo close follow-up for the first five years after treatment, when the risk of recurrence is highest. Surveillance commonly includes clinic visits every three to six months, blood tests to monitor CEA levels, periodic CT scans to check for metastasis, and follow-up colonoscopies at one year, three years and then every five years if no additional polyps are found.

Kevin continues to follow closely with his surgical team, oncologist and gastroenterologist. His most recent colonoscopy was clear. “There’s no signs of cancer,” he said. “Everything’s good.”

For Kevin, the lesson is simple.

“If you’re uncomfortable about getting a colonoscopy, just tell yourself, ‘I’ve got to do this. You don’t want to be caught off guard. I had never had one before, and then all of a sudden, I had cancer.”

A negative at-home stool test did not detect his cancer. A colonoscopy did.

“You want to walk into your next appointment and hear the words, ‘Everything is clear,’” he says. “That’s what I heard at my last colonoscopy and that feeling is worth it.”

Now, at this stage of life, Kevin is focused on what matters most — his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his extended family, his dogs, and the family dinners that bring everyone together.

“I’m not getting younger,” he says. “I need to prioritize my health.”

And thanks to early detection and a team of physicians who worked together at exactly the right time, Kevin is still right where he belongs: surrounded by family, staying physically active and living life fully.

For more information about New Orleans East Hospital, visit New Orleans East Hospital - Hospital in New Orleans, LA - LCMC

For more information about Touro, visit Cancer Care & Infusion Center - Touro Infirmary - New Orleans