June 7, 2019, Cynthia Fitch, along with the Fitch Family, created and incorporated a foundation. The Steven E. Fitch Foundation, NFP honors the life and legacy of a loving son, brother, husband and father who greeted life with a zealous smile and a servant heart. After a yearlong battle with Colon and Liver Cancer, on November 19, 2018, Steve transitioned to heaven. Steve may be absent in physical presence, but his spirit for life and giving will live on through his foundation. On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Steve’s 50th Birthday, the Steven E. Fitch (S.E.F.) Foundation, NFP will be officially launched, witnessed by loving family and friends.
The purpose of the S.E.F. Foundation is to create awareness of Colon and Liver Cancer, its causes, early prevention and treatments. It’s also to promote and encourage early cancer screenings and testing for individuals who has subtle signs of Colorectal Cancer. We are committed to raising awareness, educating, and raising money to aide in the fight for finding a cure for this disease.
The S.E.F. foundation will also honor Steve’s educational passion for Computer Science and Sports Journalism through the gifting of scholarships to Chicago State University (his alma mater) students and eventually to other students across the country. The spirit of “Giving” is the essence of Steve’s characters, so giving a scholarship was as natural as breathing.
Please help us keep Steve’s memory and legacy alive through your support and giving to
“The Steven E. Fitch Foundation, NFP”.
WHO WAS STEVEN E. FITCH?
THE MAN, THE LIFE, THE LEGACY
· A LOVING SON, BROTHER AND UNCLE
· A DEDICATED HUSBAND AND FATHER
· A GRADUATE OF CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY (B.S.) AND KELLER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (MBA)
· AN EDUCATOR – COMPUTER SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR AT SOUTHLAND COLLEGE PREP
· AN ATHLETE AND SPORTS FANATIC – FOUNDER OF AMATEUR SPORTS NEWS NETWORK
· A SUPER CHEER DAD!!!
· SIMBA “DA DOG” FITCH’S DAD
· A MOTORCYCLE AND GOLF ENTHUSIAST
· A NOTABLE MEMBER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.
· AN AUTHOR – “THE DIGITAL DIVIDE”
· A MENTOR AND VOLUNTEER
· A PROUD CAVALIER - CHICAGO VOCATIONAL CLASS OF 1988
· AN AMAZING FRIEND!!!!!
· A CANCER WARRIOR TILL THE END!
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive tract.
Colon cancer typically effects older adults, though it can happen at any age. It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps that form on the inside of the colon. Over time, some of these polyps can become colon cancers.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:
· A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
· Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
· Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
· A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely
· Weakness or fatigue
· Unexplained weight loss
· Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Causes
In general, colon cancer begins when healthy cells in the colon develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains a set of instructions that tell a cell what to do.
With time, the cancer cells can grow to invade and destroy normal tissue nearby. And cancerous cells can travel to other parts of the body to form deposits there (metastasis).
- African-American race. African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer than people of other races do.
- Older age. Colon cancer can be diagnosed at any age, but the majority of people with colon cancer are older than 50. The rates of colon cancer in people younger than 50 have been increasing, but doctors aren't sure why.
- A sedentary lifestyle. People who are inactive are more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
- Diabetes. People with diabetes or insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Obesity. People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying of colon cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.
- Smoking. People who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
- Alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol increases your risk of colon cancer.
· Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may play a role in cancer prevention. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables so that you get an array of vitamins and nutrients.
· Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
· Stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit that may work for you.
· Exercise most days of the week. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you've been inactive, start slowly and build up gradually to 30 minutes. Also, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
· Maintain a healthy weight. If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy ways to achieve your goal. Aim to lose weight slowly by increasing the amount of exercise you get and reducing the number of calories you eat.
In the U.S., 20% of people who find out they have colon cancer learn that it has spread to distant parts of their body.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669
Colon and Liver Cancer is a disease for those over age 50! MYTH!!!
Unfortunately, Steve was part of a disturbing and puzzling new trend. A growing number of people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s — both men and women — are developing colorectal cancer, with no genetic predisposition and few obvious risk factors. Researchers call this early-onset colorectal cancer, to distinguish it from the more common occurrence later in life. Steve was diagnosed as having Diverticulitis when he was hospitalized in July of 2017 after complaining of pain on his side since January 2017. In January, his pain was Initially brushed off by doctors as gas, indigestion and other minor ailments. After several follow up visits and a Colonoscopy and x-rays, he was finally diagnosed as having Stage 1 Colon Cancer October 2nd, 2017. Steve was admitted to the hospital about a week later to remove any cancer polyps. During surgery, the doctors did not just see 1 or 2 polyps, they had to remove 18 polyps from his colon. They also saw a growth on his liver, so they took a sample during surgery. This sample was later tested and confirmed to be cancer. It turned out that he had several cancerous polyps in his liver as well which means he was already Stage 4 by the time he was diagnosed with cancer. We are sharing this personal story to implore that folks are advocates for their health concerns and don’t always take doctors at their initial diagnosis.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is fighting back by launching the Center for Young Onset Colorectal
Cancer — the first in the country dedicated to these younger patients. Its three-part mission is to figure out what’s contributing to the rise in early colorectal cancers, make the general population more aware of this troubling development, and help MSK’s younger colorectal cancer patients cope with the unique challenges they face.
Warning Signs
MSK’s expertise and high volume of colorectal patients — 1,250 each year — helped our doctors spot this alarming trend early. “I would say five or six years ago, we started to see younger patients with colorectal cancer, including people in their 20s and 30s, that we weren’t seeing before,” says Julio Garcia-Aguilar, Chief of the Colorectal Service. “We got the impression that something was happening. And we started talking about it.”
Research at MSK and elsewhere identified a growing number of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50. This distinction is critical because 50 is the age when guidelines recommend colonoscopies to screen people at average risk, meaning they have no family history of colorectal cancer or chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis that could make them more likely to get the disease.
Then, in early 2017, the American Cancer Society released a startling study. It found a sharp rise in colon and rectal cancers in adults as young as their 20s and 30s. The study concluded that a person born in 1990 had double the risk of colon cancer and four times the risk of rectal cancer as a person born in 1950 did at the same age. But researchers were puzzled by what was behind the trend.
Even more troubling, the study found a small but unmistakable rise in the death rate of younger people with colorectal cancer. Experts believe one factor is that their symptoms are often dismissed until the cancer has become advanced, when it’s harder to treat.
Source: https://www.mskcc.org/blog/new-age-colorectal-cancer-people-under-50
Please don’t let this happen to your loved one! Early screening and healthcare advocacy is a must!!
The Steven E. Fitch Foundation will be partnering with other Cancer organizations and events to promote cancer education. We hope that you will join us!
THE STEVEN E. FITCH SCHOLARSHIP
Steve was a promoter of higher education, and specifically for the areas of Computer Science and Sports Journalism. Steve spent 30 plus years of his career in Computer Science, first as a telephone tech, a programmer, a network engineer and as an educator. He ended his career as a Sr. Network Engineer for GTASC a technology company founded by his close friends from college. He was also a computer technology instructor at Southland College Prep. During his career, Steve was concerned about the disparity of access to computer technology between the various races and socioeconomic groups. He wanted more minorities to be involved in Stem programs and enter careers in computer science and was a mentor to many students.
In addition to his interest in computer science, he had a love for sports. Mixing his knowledge of sports with an honest, hip and down-to-earth point of view, he engaged with fans and athletes sustaining a very wide-range interaction of conversation through his Amateur Sports News Network, an online magazine site that highlights student-athletes achievements, on and off the field of play.
To honor Steve’s passion for these areas and improving the lives of our young students, we will be giving away scholarships in his name to students majoring in Computer Science and Journalism (Sports) at Chicago State University, his alma mater. Eventually, as the Foundation grows, we hope to extend this scholarship fund to other colleges and universities.
With your help, we can offer scholarships to our youth!
Please DONATE NOW AND OFTEN!
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