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Inflatable Colon “Can We Talk?”

The inflatable colon is an entertaining, educational aid and promises to be a hit at any community or corporate activity! HCB2 uses their “Strolling Colon” to raise the level of conversation about colorectal cancer and early detection options!

The “Can We Talk?” initiative pre-screens community members’ risk for colorectal cancer and the additional materials offers education which raises the level of knowledge regarding colon health. HCB2 is able to offer this service FREE within the Richmond, VA area and to the surrounding counties within a 45 mile radius!

Request the Colon

Download FIT FAQ for Clinic Partners

“Can We Talk?” Scholarship

Each year we will award the HCB2 “Can We Talk?” scholarship to a graduating senior in Chesterfield County who has created a public service announcement (PSA) to educate young people about colon health and colorectal cancer prevention. The winning video or images will be used for one year as a part of HCB2’s social media campaign. For more information regarding this opportunity, please watch our scholarship video

Colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger people, butt it doesn’t have to stay that way! Your skills will help to grow our efforts to alert and educate people in the community. This scholarship is a great opportunity to leave a lasting impression among your peers as you move from high school and into the next chapter of your life.

Apply for Scholarship

General Colorectal Cancer Education

What are the first steps in colorectal cancer prevention?
HCB2 has the following quick tips:

Know the Symptoms & Get Screened

Screening saves lives. Many cancers, such as colon cancer, are treatable and beatable if discovered early. Many times there are no symptoms in the early stages when a screen can detect an issue. However, chronic constipation, changes in bowel habits, blood in stools, thin stools are all signals of gastric distress and need to be addressed by a doctor. Talk with your doctor about your best options for colorectal cancer screening.

Read More

Know Your Family History

We are learning more about how genetics plays a role in our health every year. Talk with your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, if this is an option, and discuss the past histories of relatives. For example, risk of colon cancer is 2-3x higher when a first degree relative is diagnosed. It may be in your best interest to get screened at earlier or more frequent intervals if you have a family history.

Read More

Understand that Diet Plays a Role in Creating an
Environment Where Cancer Cells Thrive

Cancer cells will thrive in an inflamed, low oxygenated environment. If
we continue to eat processed foods filled with poor quality fats (all “vegetable” oils), sugar, sugar substitutes, chemicals and preservatives that our bodies are not wired to breakdown and eliminate, then we are creating an inflamed, acidic, toxic environment within the body where cancer can flourish!

Read More

Walk and Talk

Lack of exercise will create a low oxygenated body where cancer can multiply. Moving the body stimulates the lymphatic system which helps to transport toxins out of the body. The lymphatic system is only stimulated during muscle contraction or manual manipulation.

Read More

View All

Resources We Love

Exact Sciences:
Cologuard

Legal resources to help with the
challenges of cancer. LINC is a local
Richmond organization.

Polymedco's FIT: Fecal
Immunochemical Test

Simple, noninvasive in-home
screening tool

CancerLINC

Legal resources to help with the
challenges of cancer. LINC is a local
Richmond organization.

National Colorectal
Cancer Roundtable

Manage and track all of your
community’s giving and access their
donor analytics.

Nancy's List

Manage and track all of your
community’s giving and access their
donor analytics.

American
Cancer Society

Manage and track all of your
community’s giving and access their
donor analytics.

View All Resources

*The HCB2.org website is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, medical opinion, or treatment to any individual. HCB2.org provides current evidence-based information for educational purposes only. The information provided on HCB2.org, or through linkages to other sites, is not a substitute for appropriate medical or professional care. HCB2 does not condone using HCB2.org in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of a proper physician or other healthcare provider. Hitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2) is not liable for any information or service you obtain through this site.

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Josh Duval

Board Member, Event Committee

Bill Eddleton

More info soon!

Leslie Gibson

Providing health care for the underserved population in the Richmond, Virginia area.

John Galloway

“I encourage anyone that has been newly diagnosed to be your own medical advocate. Find out as much information as you can, and share your story to create awareness around early detection and colonoscopies.”
-John Galloway

Debbie Schumacher

Oncology Patient Navigator,Certified Holistic Cancer Coach, Masters of Business Administration

Jaime McLaughlin, LAc

Dr. Jamie has more than 18 years of clinical experience treating patients with musculo-skeletal disorders, chronic pain, digestive disorders, psycho-emotional disturbances, hormonal imbalances, allergies, and auto-immune disorders.

Christian Jenski, MD

Dr. Jenski is dual Board-Certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine, Emergency Medicine and certified through the Institute for Functional Medicine

Tressa Breindel, MSOM, LAc

Tressa Breindel is a Functional medicine specialist and acupuncturist and the owner of InHealthRVA. She specializes in in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms of health issues from a biomedical perspective as well as a compassionate, whole-person approach to treatment.

Aesha Mehta

New Popup!

Tim Murphy - Board Member

I serve on the Board of HCB2 so that I can be a part of a team of extremely motivated and like-minded people who are working together to support the mission of the organization and serve the people around us. I try and use my professional experience and personal connections to help us have successful events that allow us to engage with the public while raising funds to deliver additional services related to below the belt cancer prevention, education, and awareness. I appreciate the aggressive approach we take and continue to be impressed by the increasing results as we grow to do more!

Andy Vorenburg, MD - Board Member

As a colon and rectal surgeon, I see the impact of colon and rectal cancer on patients and families. Anything I can do to help prevent the impact of this disease on fellow Richmonders, I’m all in! HCB2 gives me the opportunity to help support colon cancer awareness and preventative services for the community.

Roger Cassem

I am moved by the passion of our executive director and HCB2 founder, Mindy Conklin. The knowledge about this disease learned from her allows me to see the need for more awareness. While colon cancer has not touched me directly, it has ones that I love. HCB2 fills a void that creates a much needed conversation to enlighten people in our community about this disease. I am happy to be a part of the efforts of this organization by serving as an officer and board member.

Darron Franta

I support Hit Cancer Below the Belt not only because colon cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States but also because, with proper screening, it is almost entirely preventable. It just takes education; making sure people understand that they have the power to ensure that colon cancer will not have a disastrous impact on their, and their families, lives. Also, this is something that personally impacted my family as my father was diagnosed with colon cancer and survived; I also had a grandparent who passed away from the disease.

Kristi Seay, MSN,RN, CGRN

Since 1990, I have specialized in the field of Endoscopy nursing. I have been passionate about the prevention of CRC ever since.

I have been amazed with the advancements of the field of Endoscopy in my tenure.

I recall the ‘struggle’ with insurance approvals for colonoscopy screening in the early 90’s. I am so grateful for all of the work that has been done to support the prevention of CRC.

I enjoy serving on the board for HCB2 because it has given me the opportunity to utilize my clinical knowledge, expertise and passion to serve the community. I have been privileged to serve since the inception. Being a part of the development of several programs has been an honor.

Renee Malone, MPH, Program Director

Renee Malone, MPH is the program director for HCB2. She holds a Master of Public Health degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Sociology. With a career that spans over 12 years serving populations in need, she joined the cancer prevention and early detection movement in 2010. Renee is particularly passionate about the nutritional, environmental and socioeconomic factors that affect cancer risk and overall wellbeing. In addition to her education and work experience, she has also personally experienced ill health and now better understands what can be done to support one’s own healing, even when it may sometimes feel hopeless. Ultimately, she is dedicated to helping bridge an essential information and service gap experienced by many in this community and elsewhere so that all may pursue optimal health as unimpeded as possible.

Suzanne Tharin - Board Member

Twenty six of my thirty eight years of nursing have been in Endoscopy. Endoscopy is my niche, my passion. I enjoy the fast pace, technical and procedural aspect as well as the variety of patient care endoscopy has to offer. Endoscopy has helped me become proactive by anticipating and responding to my patient’s needs. I have witnessed a lot of changes occur in endoscopy nursing over the last twenty six years, so patient education is important to me! I feel my job is to take care of patients-actually to take better care…to improve their care…to innovate their care. My hope is by serving on the HCB2 board I can do just that.

Mark Hardgrove, PhD. - Board Member

I have seen too many patients referred for services that I provide as a home infusion pharmacist from the initial treatment with the FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen, to possible parental nutrition, and finally home patient controlled IV pain pumps.  I believe that HCB2 can help educate the general population of the importance of screening, and increase patient outcomes associated with colon cancer.

Eddie Edwards - Marketing and Outreach Committee Chair

I serve because I believe in the mission of HCB2 and its dedication to below the belt cancer prevention. From my work in the medical industry, I have seen the impact cancer has on lives. I’ve also seen what effective education can do for prevention. Based on this, I believe HCB2 provides an opportunity for me to utilize my personal compassion and commitment to helping people, as well as an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of those around us.

Leann Gray, RN, Board Member

No bio available at this time.

Steve Fisher, Board Member

No bio available at this time.

Sandy Miller - Board Member

No bio available at this time.

Sheetal Talreja - Board Member

It is so easy to talk about all of the positive aspects of our lives. HCB2 helps make it easier to talk about the negative things that will affect us either directly or indirectly. Health problems and cancer specifically are very personal issues that can be extremely scary to deal with. Bringing these topics into everyday conversation and learning about ways to prevent, detect, and deal with cancer can help reduce the fear associated with it. This group gives you the forum to have these seemingly difficult conversations to help make a positive impact on the individual and community as a whole. I am honored to serve HCB2 to empower people with the knowledge necessary to detect, treat, and beat cancer.

Scott Muscarella - Board Member

At some point in our lives we will all be affected by cancer. This aggressive disease quickly turns deadly, killing far too many far too young. Our best defense is early detection, and that’s why I believe HCB2’s message is so important. As a proud member of the board, I strive to spread cancer awareness and prevention every day because it helps save lives–and there’s nothing more rewarding than that. It is my privilege to be part of an organization that is truly making a difference.

Melinda Conklin, Executive Director/Founder

I serve HCB2 to prevent cancer from taking away any more loved ones. Spending 20 years in the health industry has given me the passion and direction to empower community members to become proactive with their wellness. I want to continue to support others to make well informed choices which will positively impact their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Marlisa Hurt, PhD - Education Committee Chair

I am most excited to be serving on the board of HCB2 for the opportunity to empower those we touch with scientific information that creates freedom from fear of disease and gives the ability to make informed proactive living choices. By providing vital information and creating events and activities in which our community can learn about preventative wellness strategies, the path is paved which leads to daily vibrant living – at any stage, at any age.

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