Survivor Stories
Patients, survivors, friends and family say it best. The following testimonials were submitted by people whose lives have been touched by colon cancer. These stories are from real people’s actual experiences.
Who is 'One Purple Ladybug'?
Purple Ladybug (that's me) believes in the strong power of 'ONE'...one person, one smile, one hug. All it takes is 'ONE' thing to happen during your day to change the way you feel, be it amazing or heartbreaking. We face many 'ONE's each and every day, so join me as I take my future 'ONE' day at a time and write about my journey as a cancer conquerer and the 'ONE's in my daily life.
I began my journey in February 2010. I felt extremely sick on weekly basis. Painful stomach cramps with continuous vomiting and then dehydration would result. Not a pretty site for my hubby.
Tests from the Dr. showed nothing wrong except anemia. An appointment was made for me to visit a gastrointestinal specialist 5 months from my initial episode. I would visit the emergency room at the hospital every 3 weeks for 5 months. A CAT scan was done on one of my visits to the hospital and it too showed something odd, as one doctor put it. But he called in the surgeon and he told me that I was just 'backed up' and at our age I need to drink more water. The emergency room doctors would refer back to my IBS but I could not convince them this was much different than the pain from my lifelong struggle with IBS.
My husband and I made plans that if it would take awhile to get a colonoscopy done after my visit to the specialist we would go to a private clinic and get an MRI done. Finally in July the visit to the specialist resulted in an emergency colonoscopy with 48 hours. I had now lost 50 lbs over the 5 months and the last 3 weeks I had put myself on a liquid diet which seemed to alleviate some of the pain. Everything had moved so slowly for so long it was both a relief and scary as things began to move quickly.
As I sat waiting for my turn for the colonoscopy, I wasn't worried or concerned. Researching the procedure on the internet had revealed that all the tests that were done in the last 5 months would have shown if cancer was present. I had decided that it was probably Crohn's and even bought books to prepare myself for the result.
Day 1 of my journey...I awoke from my test to have my amazing hubby beside me. Within minutes of waking up, the specialist was at the bedside telling me the results of the colonoscopy. One thing you NEVER forget is the first time someone says 'You have cancer'. She said she was 99.9 percent sure it was cancer and that I was going to be admitted to the hospital to have surgery as soon as possible. A surgeon was coming in shortly to discuss the procedure.
Reaching out to hold my hubby's hand, with both a smile and tear, we looked at each other and understood without words that we would start the journey together and know that our amazing families and friends will be there for anything we need... See the whole story and follow my blog at http://onepurpleladybug.blogspot.com/
Purple Ladybug (that's me) believes in the strong power of 'ONE'...one person, one smile, one hug. All it takes is 'ONE' thing to happen during your day to change the way you feel, be it amazing or heartbreaking. We face many 'ONE's each and every day, so join me as I take my future 'ONE' day at a time and write about my journey as a cancer conquerer and the 'ONE's in my daily life.
I began my journey in February 2010. I felt extremely sick on weekly basis. Painful stomach cramps with continuous vomiting and then dehydration would result. Not a pretty site for my hubby.
Tests from the Dr. showed nothing wrong except anemia. An appointment was made for me to visit a gastrointestinal specialist 5 months from my initial episode. I would visit the emergency room at the hospital every 3 weeks for 5 months. A CAT scan was done on one of my visits to the hospital and it too showed something odd, as one doctor put it. But he called in the surgeon and he told me that I was just 'backed up' and at our age I need to drink more water. The emergency room doctors would refer back to my IBS but I could not convince them this was much different than the pain from my lifelong struggle with IBS.
My husband and I made plans that if it would take awhile to get a colonoscopy done after my visit to the specialist we would go to a private clinic and get an MRI done. Finally in July the visit to the specialist resulted in an emergency colonoscopy with 48 hours. I had now lost 50 lbs over the 5 months and the last 3 weeks I had put myself on a liquid diet which seemed to alleviate some of the pain. Everything had moved so slowly for so long it was both a relief and scary as things began to move quickly.
As I sat waiting for my turn for the colonoscopy, I wasn't worried or concerned. Researching the procedure on the internet had revealed that all the tests that were done in the last 5 months would have shown if cancer was present. I had decided that it was probably Crohn's and even bought books to prepare myself for the result.
Day 1 of my journey...I awoke from my test to have my amazing hubby beside me. Within minutes of waking up, the specialist was at the bedside telling me the results of the colonoscopy. One thing you NEVER forget is the first time someone says 'You have cancer'. She said she was 99.9 percent sure it was cancer and that I was going to be admitted to the hospital to have surgery as soon as possible. A surgeon was coming in shortly to discuss the procedure.
Reaching out to hold my hubby's hand, with both a smile and tear, we looked at each other and understood without words that we would start the journey together and know that our amazing families and friends will be there for anything we need... See the whole story and follow my blog at http://onepurpleladybug.blogspot.com/
2007 found me crazy busy. I was 41, had just moved and had a ton of work to do at the new house. My father got ill and died from a very short battle with cancer and there were so many things to do around my mom’s house after his death. I was working my dream job running a small body shop and restoring British cars. Plus raising 2 boys and all the work that comes with that.
It’s no wonder I was so tired and run down. A few strange aches and pains finally got me in to see a doctor. After several X-rays and blood tests, I was diagnosed with arthritis and put on anti-inflammatories. Follow up blood work showed I was losing blood somewhere and quickly became anemic. I was then sent for a colonoscopy which is when they discovered an ulcerated tumor in the colon where it attaches to the small intestine. Although first thought to be caught early, surgery to remove the right side of my colon and 12 inches of my small intestine showed that cancer had spread to 5 of 12 lymph nodes . This meant 6 months of chemo and a high risk of reoccurrence.
Chemo didn’t go well for me. The first chemo cocktail resulted in a heart attack and more time in the hospital, but this time in the cardiology ward . Thankfully, as the cocktail wore off, things returned to normal and the damage was minimal. Different drugs were used the next time and all went well, apart from the usually chemo stuff, until the end of the 6 months. Elevated liver enzymes meant a fear that the cancer might have spread to my liver and a CT scan was ordered. It showed no sign of cancer in my liver but it did show a spot on my hip bone. It had previously been thought to be nothing important, but now had grown. It wasn’t causing any pain so the plan was to keep an eye on it with regular CT and bone scans.
Everything looked good until one of the regular scans in October 2009 showed 8 tumors in my liver. Now I officially had stage IV colon cancer. The Oncologist was very quick to point out that this time would be different. He felt surgery wouldn’t be an option as the cancer was throughout my liver. He said it was back to chemo for me and it would not be a cure, only to prolong my life - maybe 18 months. Chemo was hard. Harder than the first time around. Thankfully a good friend got me an appointment with a talented young Oncologist on loan from Quebec for a second opinion. She sent me for a PET scan and to a surgeon. After a few months of chemo, the PET scan showed no active cancer which meant the chemo was working. The surgeon felt surgery would be an option if we needed it and new hope was born. A CT scan in January 2010 showed significant shrinkage to the tumors and a scan in April showed no sign of cancer at all. Chemo was getting very hard and my Oncologist decided, with the clear scans and the fact that chemo could kill me anyway, that we would stop the one drug with all the nasty side effects but carry on with the one newer more experimental drug even though this was against protocol. Chemo was a breeze after that. I got my eyebrows back. Damn I missed them! Yet another clear scan in December 2010, a blood clot scare, and the fact that I wasn’t following protocol, resulted in the cancer agency canceling funding for my chemo. Although at times I struggle with this decision, it was the best Christmas present I could possibly wish for. Yet another clear scan 3 months post chemo and the fact that I feel stronger every day has kept me very optimistic. I realize statistically my chances of survival are still not great, but those are just numbers on paper and you can’t live your life in fear.
Even before cancer, my favorite saying was Winston Churchill’s “If you are going through hell, keep going." and when cancer came knocking each time, that’s exactly what I did. There was really no other option. If I stumbled and fell, there was always a friend or loved one to help me back up, dust me off, kick my butt and get me going again. For that, I will always be grateful. My cancer ass kicking team grew strong and large and I also realized inside we are stronger and more capable then we will ever know. I will never tell you cancer was a ‘gift’ like others will. Cancer sucks!!! It holds no prejudice or grudges nor has it any sense of fairness. And that old cliché about learning to live each day like it‘s your last? Garbage! I’ve replayed my last day in my head over and over and it’s a very sad day every time. I say live every day like it’s your first. See everything again for the first time. Take it all in. Don’t ever stop believing in tomorrow. Life is too short to rush. Take time to live, laugh and love every day. Say the things you want to say and do the things you want to do. And don’t save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is special enough. I can’t change the past and the future may not lay in my own hands (no one's does) but today is mine and cancer can’t change that!
It’s no wonder I was so tired and run down. A few strange aches and pains finally got me in to see a doctor. After several X-rays and blood tests, I was diagnosed with arthritis and put on anti-inflammatories. Follow up blood work showed I was losing blood somewhere and quickly became anemic. I was then sent for a colonoscopy which is when they discovered an ulcerated tumor in the colon where it attaches to the small intestine. Although first thought to be caught early, surgery to remove the right side of my colon and 12 inches of my small intestine showed that cancer had spread to 5 of 12 lymph nodes . This meant 6 months of chemo and a high risk of reoccurrence.
Chemo didn’t go well for me. The first chemo cocktail resulted in a heart attack and more time in the hospital, but this time in the cardiology ward . Thankfully, as the cocktail wore off, things returned to normal and the damage was minimal. Different drugs were used the next time and all went well, apart from the usually chemo stuff, until the end of the 6 months. Elevated liver enzymes meant a fear that the cancer might have spread to my liver and a CT scan was ordered. It showed no sign of cancer in my liver but it did show a spot on my hip bone. It had previously been thought to be nothing important, but now had grown. It wasn’t causing any pain so the plan was to keep an eye on it with regular CT and bone scans.
Everything looked good until one of the regular scans in October 2009 showed 8 tumors in my liver. Now I officially had stage IV colon cancer. The Oncologist was very quick to point out that this time would be different. He felt surgery wouldn’t be an option as the cancer was throughout my liver. He said it was back to chemo for me and it would not be a cure, only to prolong my life - maybe 18 months. Chemo was hard. Harder than the first time around. Thankfully a good friend got me an appointment with a talented young Oncologist on loan from Quebec for a second opinion. She sent me for a PET scan and to a surgeon. After a few months of chemo, the PET scan showed no active cancer which meant the chemo was working. The surgeon felt surgery would be an option if we needed it and new hope was born. A CT scan in January 2010 showed significant shrinkage to the tumors and a scan in April showed no sign of cancer at all. Chemo was getting very hard and my Oncologist decided, with the clear scans and the fact that chemo could kill me anyway, that we would stop the one drug with all the nasty side effects but carry on with the one newer more experimental drug even though this was against protocol. Chemo was a breeze after that. I got my eyebrows back. Damn I missed them! Yet another clear scan in December 2010, a blood clot scare, and the fact that I wasn’t following protocol, resulted in the cancer agency canceling funding for my chemo. Although at times I struggle with this decision, it was the best Christmas present I could possibly wish for. Yet another clear scan 3 months post chemo and the fact that I feel stronger every day has kept me very optimistic. I realize statistically my chances of survival are still not great, but those are just numbers on paper and you can’t live your life in fear.
Even before cancer, my favorite saying was Winston Churchill’s “If you are going through hell, keep going." and when cancer came knocking each time, that’s exactly what I did. There was really no other option. If I stumbled and fell, there was always a friend or loved one to help me back up, dust me off, kick my butt and get me going again. For that, I will always be grateful. My cancer ass kicking team grew strong and large and I also realized inside we are stronger and more capable then we will ever know. I will never tell you cancer was a ‘gift’ like others will. Cancer sucks!!! It holds no prejudice or grudges nor has it any sense of fairness. And that old cliché about learning to live each day like it‘s your last? Garbage! I’ve replayed my last day in my head over and over and it’s a very sad day every time. I say live every day like it’s your first. See everything again for the first time. Take it all in. Don’t ever stop believing in tomorrow. Life is too short to rush. Take time to live, laugh and love every day. Say the things you want to say and do the things you want to do. And don’t save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is special enough. I can’t change the past and the future may not lay in my own hands (no one's does) but today is mine and cancer can’t change that!
The people who submitted these testimonials may not be representative of the entire population. The statements made here reflect the opinions of the speaker and are not endorsed by Stop Colon Cancer Now. Please see your health care provider if you have questions about your individual colon cancer prevention or treatment.