Janet Greeley has got the rhythm and at 90 years old she said it's vital to keep active.
"Try and keep busy, it's important to be with other people," Greeley said. "If there's something you like, pursue it."
Three days a week she joins her friends at a senior exercise class, but that came to a halt when she went for routine bloodwork and learned she had stage 3 colon cancer.
"Because of my age, there were some surgeons in the group that said, 'I don't think you want to be operating on a 90-year-old,'" Greeley said.
Surgeon Dr. Jessica Louie felt because of Greeley's good health, it would be safe to operate on her at Glen Cove Hospital.
"She is a 90-year-old, but she does not look her age," Louie said. "She's got a lot of life to live, and a packed schedule."
Greeley underwent surgery back in February.
"It's six weeks since I had the surgery and I'm back to doing all the things I did before," Greeley said.
This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Greeley is hoping that her story will inspire others to take their health seriously and get screened.
"Even if you're asymptomatic, you should start doing a screening colonoscopy at 45," Louie said.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer, excluding skin cancers, is the most diagnosed cancer in the United States. And prevention includes a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.
"The best feeling is if I can help somebody else in a similar situation to take care of themselves," Greeley said.
Greeley is now cancer free.
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