Mrs. Nebraska is Joining the Fight Against Colon Cancer
Jane Nichehelser with her father.
In August of 2012, Jane Nichehelser’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. This loving father was only 61 years old, had maintained an active lifestyle, and he showed no symptoms prior. Right before his diagnosis, Jane had moved to a different state and when she heard the news it broke her heart. “It was horrible to be so far away during that time. I was completely devastated.”
Jane’s father immediately had surgery to remove part of his colon and then started chemo, but within a few months he decided to stop treatment. “For him, it was about the quality of his life more than the quantity.” His battle against colon cancer lasted only a few months, and he passed away in November of 2012.
This blindsiding loss is why Jane is dedicated to raising awareness about colon cancer prevention, using her platform as Mrs. Nebraska to push the message across the state. “I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did.”
Jane speaking about the importance of early colon cancer screening. Image Credit: Reaction Photography
Because Jane also lost an aunt to colon cancer, doctors encouraged her and her sister to get tested early and more frequently (every 3 years). “Colonoscopies can be pricey when you’re young because insurance often doesn’t cover it, but if you have a family history like I do, then it’s completely worth it to know.”
At age 29 in 2016, Jane had her first colonoscopy and found 3-5 precancerous polyps, and more were found and removed again in 2019. “If I had waited until 50 for my first colonoscopy, this would be a much different story.”
With the pandemic causing thousands of preventative colon cancer procedures to be delayed, Jane is now actively participating in community awareness events, like the Rhonda’s Burpee Challenge. “People don’t want to talk about colon cancer and colonoscopies because they think it’s a ‘dirty’ conversation. So the more that people with big platforms talk about it, the less taboo that conversation becomes for everyone.”
Jane uses her social media presence as part of these awareness initiatives. You can follow her on either Facebook or Instagram to keep up with events and learn more about the ways we can all make a difference in the fight against colon cancer.