Marion grandmother finds success in Univ. Iowa Heath Care colon cancer clinical trial [Video]

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Colorectal cancer in people younger than 50 is the number one cause of cancer death in men and the number two cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society.

A clinical trial at the University of Iowa health care has been looking at a new way to treat the cancer. We first brought you this story last year when the trial kicked off.

Nearly a year later, the doctor leading the trial said it’s seeing success in helping patients with colon cancer. For most colon cancer patients surgery was usually one of the go-to treatments.

But for Mary Harris, giving up her independence to undergo surgery wasn’t something she wanted to do.

”I’m so thankful,” said Harris.

When 89-year-old Mary Harris went in for a colonoscopy last year and the results came back positive for cancer, doctors said surgery might not be the best thing at her age.

”She said you’ll never be …