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.
I was 42 years old, with 3 small children. I had been bleeding, but my clinic said it was probably no big deal so I didn't even go in. I tried probiotics, I tried eliminating certain foods from my diet. I knew something was wrong, and I finally went in and got a colonoscopy.
January 31, 2008: I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I had a tumor in my rectum, and they were pretty sure that my lymph nodes were affected. That made me a Stage III. Everything I was hearing was shocking. The diagnosis, the cure, everything!
I had a port surgically implanted in my chest. I was measured for radiation. A few days later I was given my first of 28 daily radiation treatments, and a chemo pump that was to be my constant companion for 6 weeks. I was sick, I was scared, I was confused, and I was mad. But most of all, I was hopeful. I was pretty sure I’d survive this.
Thank heavens for my community of friends who took care of my family. They drove me to all of my appointments, arranged playdates for my kids, brought us food...
8 weeks after finishing radiation, I had a bowel resection. My tumor was removed, which meant my rectum was removed. Because of radiation damage, the surgeon re-routed my intestines so that my ileum peeked out of my abdomen--an ileostomy. It took a while to get used to, but my stoma and I grew to be friends. I even dressed up as a semi-colon for a costume party!
I had adjuvent chemo for 6 months, with the accompanying neuropathy, which was pretty darned horrible. After the 6 months, the neuropathy slowly tapered off.
After a year and a half, I decided to have my ostomy reversed. I had mixed feelings, but I decided to try it. An unexpected blockage kept me in the hospital for a month! My recovery has been trying, and I would consider a permanent colostomy, but I am not ready to have surgery again for a long, long time!
What kept me going?
Knowing that after this, I could help others going through it, and I could help prevent it.
My community of on-line friends with colon cancer and ostomies.
My community of real-life friends who took such wonderful care of us.
My family's support. It was always "our" cancer, not "your" cancer.
My sense of humor. When the emergency room staff put up a poster about my port because nobody had seen one like it before, well, it was pretty funny! When my friend tried to get me personalized M&M's that said "cancer sucks" but M&M's wouldn't let the word "sucks" be printed on their candy, it was pretty funny.
You have a choice--you can be scared and mad, or you can be positive. No matter how much time you have left, there is room for positive in there, and it makes your time better.
My friendly greeting to others is now, "up yours." I encourage everyone to get a colonoscopy for early detection. Up yours!!!
January 31, 2008: I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I had a tumor in my rectum, and they were pretty sure that my lymph nodes were affected. That made me a Stage III. Everything I was hearing was shocking. The diagnosis, the cure, everything!
I had a port surgically implanted in my chest. I was measured for radiation. A few days later I was given my first of 28 daily radiation treatments, and a chemo pump that was to be my constant companion for 6 weeks. I was sick, I was scared, I was confused, and I was mad. But most of all, I was hopeful. I was pretty sure I’d survive this.
Thank heavens for my community of friends who took care of my family. They drove me to all of my appointments, arranged playdates for my kids, brought us food...
8 weeks after finishing radiation, I had a bowel resection. My tumor was removed, which meant my rectum was removed. Because of radiation damage, the surgeon re-routed my intestines so that my ileum peeked out of my abdomen--an ileostomy. It took a while to get used to, but my stoma and I grew to be friends. I even dressed up as a semi-colon for a costume party!
I had adjuvent chemo for 6 months, with the accompanying neuropathy, which was pretty darned horrible. After the 6 months, the neuropathy slowly tapered off.
After a year and a half, I decided to have my ostomy reversed. I had mixed feelings, but I decided to try it. An unexpected blockage kept me in the hospital for a month! My recovery has been trying, and I would consider a permanent colostomy, but I am not ready to have surgery again for a long, long time!
What kept me going?
Knowing that after this, I could help others going through it, and I could help prevent it.
My community of on-line friends with colon cancer and ostomies.
My community of real-life friends who took such wonderful care of us.
My family's support. It was always "our" cancer, not "your" cancer.
My sense of humor. When the emergency room staff put up a poster about my port because nobody had seen one like it before, well, it was pretty funny! When my friend tried to get me personalized M&M's that said "cancer sucks" but M&M's wouldn't let the word "sucks" be printed on their candy, it was pretty funny.
You have a choice--you can be scared and mad, or you can be positive. No matter how much time you have left, there is room for positive in there, and it makes your time better.
My friendly greeting to others is now, "up yours." I encourage everyone to get a colonoscopy for early detection. Up yours!!!
When I was diagnosed with cancer over 23 years ago, it would have been so comforting to have someone come beside me and share with me their journey. To have someone tell me, “I’ve been there - and here’s what I can tell you from my experience.” It started with a simple polyp, which was cancerous and removed surgically. As a result, my surgery warranted an irreversible colostomy. After enduring 22 radiation treatments only lasting 22 seconds each session, this surgery lead to an ileostomy, due to post-radiation burn and other post-surgery complications.
My doctor told me that if I would have only come to him when the symptoms first occurred, he could have removed the polyp and we would have avoided all the rest. If only there was a recall button. By sharing my story, I hope to bring further awareness to the importance of early testing and detection by blogging (http://chatwithdeedee.wordpress.com/), social media and fundraising efforts. Ten years later, I discovered yet another effect of the radiation burn, I was diagnosed with lymphedema in one leg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphedema). I learned to manage this by being a fighter, a survivor, a woman determined to live life to it's fullest. I accomplish this by a daily combination of compression pump therapy, leg wrapping, compression stockings, elevating my legs, and specialized lymphatic massage therapy. About four years ago while being treated for a UTI, I was given Leviquin through an IV drip, later to find that it resulted in a reaction causing Neuropathy in my weakest limb, the limb with lymphedema. The next day, I woke up paralyzed in one leg. After several months, I had regained some mobility but due to Gabapentin Rx treatment. It took away a lot of the pain, but still causes increased numbness, instability, and poor balance. I was determined over the last few years to search for the right treatment. I am so pleased to share with you the new treatment I've started the ReBuilder Treatment System (www.rebuildermedical.com also used by Cancer Treatment Center's of America). Since I've started using it, I've regained movement in my toes, which were previously numb and lifeless. I can now feel temperatures again, and I even walk better at times without my cane though I am still careful! I am so grateful to God for this miracle and for finally gaining some relief. I highly recommend investigating if you have neuropathy to determine whether or not this treatment is right for you. It is covered up to 80% by Medicare.
If you are feeling or experiencing something similar, I’d love to hear from you. I didn’t have anyone who could relate to me at the time and I don’t want that for you.
Love and God’s Blessings,
Dee Dee
My Blog: https://chatwithdeedee.wordpress.com/
My Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChatWithDeeDee
My doctor told me that if I would have only come to him when the symptoms first occurred, he could have removed the polyp and we would have avoided all the rest. If only there was a recall button. By sharing my story, I hope to bring further awareness to the importance of early testing and detection by blogging (http://chatwithdeedee.wordpress.com/), social media and fundraising efforts. Ten years later, I discovered yet another effect of the radiation burn, I was diagnosed with lymphedema in one leg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphedema). I learned to manage this by being a fighter, a survivor, a woman determined to live life to it's fullest. I accomplish this by a daily combination of compression pump therapy, leg wrapping, compression stockings, elevating my legs, and specialized lymphatic massage therapy. About four years ago while being treated for a UTI, I was given Leviquin through an IV drip, later to find that it resulted in a reaction causing Neuropathy in my weakest limb, the limb with lymphedema. The next day, I woke up paralyzed in one leg. After several months, I had regained some mobility but due to Gabapentin Rx treatment. It took away a lot of the pain, but still causes increased numbness, instability, and poor balance. I was determined over the last few years to search for the right treatment. I am so pleased to share with you the new treatment I've started the ReBuilder Treatment System (www.rebuildermedical.com also used by Cancer Treatment Center's of America). Since I've started using it, I've regained movement in my toes, which were previously numb and lifeless. I can now feel temperatures again, and I even walk better at times without my cane though I am still careful! I am so grateful to God for this miracle and for finally gaining some relief. I highly recommend investigating if you have neuropathy to determine whether or not this treatment is right for you. It is covered up to 80% by Medicare.
If you are feeling or experiencing something similar, I’d love to hear from you. I didn’t have anyone who could relate to me at the time and I don’t want that for you.
Love and God’s Blessings,
Dee Dee
My Blog: https://chatwithdeedee.wordpress.com/
My Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChatWithDeeDee
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.