Survivor Stories

February 13, 1998 I was diagnosed witha baseball sized Duke C Adenocarcinoma. Stage III C and Stage IV. I have 2 reports from 2 drs not sure which report to follow at this point really doesnt matter. I had a Right Hemicolectomy and about 16 months of chemotherapy, I am female, and I was 31 years old. I have been cancer free for 13 years. I had a 4 yr, 6 yr and 10 yr old boys and a husband at the time and a mom and 2 brothers all who would move mountains if it were possible to make me better. In that, I also had 1 Dr. who told me he would give me Chemo and radiation and make me as comfortable as possible basically put me on my death bed; which I promptly dismissed his services (with the help of my brother) and picked out a Physician that believed in me, the fight I was in for, and what we were fighting for. He took the time to meet my family, to find out their interests, we even shared what we were going to by our kids on holidays.ie. birthdays, Christmas (What he was getting his kids, what we were getting our kids) He even told me he was going to make me very sick, very, very, ill. He was going to take me to deaths door, but he was going to do everything in his power to not let me pass thru. Yet he did not say it in a "God" like manner or a "power play" ego filled trip manner, he held my hand and squeezed it tight as he talked and his eyes welled up as he spoke as if I truly mattered if I stayed on this earth or not. As if I were part of his family as if he understood what I was going thru. Turned out he did. His father had passed away of colon cancer. So not only was he an Oncologist. But his life had been personally touched by colon cancer so not only was he on the outside he also had been touched on the inside. My road to recovery was a rocky and wild ride. I was a true case of murphys law they would say this and this will happen on this and I would react totally opposite or completely different than ever seen before. I was my Physicians first patient to ever gain weight on Chemo. That was my goal, because I was so nauseated all the time, I finally figured out how to eat before on my way to chemo I would take my ativan eat a whopper jr and drive and hour and a half to chemo then do the chemo then I craved the spicest mexican food I could find and take my nausea medicine eat then my mom was always worried so I would do a quick grocery shopping trip with her and we would ride home and then I would ride out the chemo at home for a few days. I usually was really sick, most of those 3 days I was in the hospital, I was supposed to only have a 6 month chemo however my system couldn't take it and end up on an old chemo and then on a chemo cocktail and I ended up in the hospital more than not. My kidney and liver functions shutdown more than twice the last times they did they almost didn't get them started again. My Dr would come and check to see how I was and I would tell him lets go I am ready lets do it again, he would grab my hand and say " you are so weird, I just shut your kidneys and liver down with this crap and you want to go again." All I could think of was get this hellacious disease out me so I can have a life with my boys! Anyway Weird is the word the Dr always would use to describe what was going on when I had a reaction, because they never knew why I had reacted so differently than anyone else ever did. WEIRD may not be scientific, but at least they were honest with me and the thing is, it really doesn't matter, so long as they could make things easier or help and guide me thru it, and just be there when I needed them, was HUGE and now I AM A SURVIVOR OF ALMOST 14 YEARS, LIFE IS GOOD and a COLONOSCOPY CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE AND IS PAINLESS, and the prep is just medicine that basically gives you a case of the runs to clean you out; ADULTS can handle

I come from a very long history of coln cancer. Starting with my Grandmother, who lost her battle in 1986. Then my Uncle was diagnosed and received a bowl resection around 2008. My sister at the age of 43, was diagnosed and also underwent a bowel resection taking over 2 feet of her colon in 2010. Both of my parents have had cancerous polyps removed. I at the age of 37 had my first colonoscopy to start my screenings early. There is nothing to it really. I will continue to be safe then sorry and have regular check ups!

I am a 35 year old, single mom to a wonderful 8 year old son. We live together in Indianapolis, Indiana, where I work full time at a small law firm. I became aware that something was just not quite right around September, 2009. My symptoms started slowly and were fairly subtle: weight loss, lack of energy, anemia and an overall feeling of being "off." It wasn't until March of 2011 that I was finally diagnosed with colon cancer. I am so thankful that I listened to my body when it was telling me that something was wrong. Getting a colonoscopy saved my life, without a doubt. After more blood work was performed I was also diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome. Due to this added factor, my surgeon advised that I should have the majority of my colon removed. After surgery, it was determined that I had stage 2 colon cancer, luckily cancer was not found in my lymph nodes. Chemotherapy and radiation were not recommended.

When I was told that I had cancer, my first thought was that this is going to kill me. I have learned, however that cancer is not always a death sentence. Knowledge about this disease is so empowering, I had to get as much information as possible. When researching colon cancer, I did become frustrated because most information was not geared towards younger women. I would really like to see more effort be made to help those of us who do not fit the *normal* colon cancer patients.

My cancer and Lynch Syndrome diagnosis not only took me off guard, but my entire family. I am the first in my family to be diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome. My paternal grandmother had colon cancer at a much older age and my maternal grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, also later in life. A month after my surgery, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy and is doing well today.

The effects of surgery have brought a new *normal* to my life and I have had to adjust to how my body now works. Being diagnosed with cancer and Lynch Syndrome is so frightening. Each doctor’s appointment, every ache or pain and I'm thinking, "it's back." This fear is ok though because it reminds me that I have to appreciate my life. I am so thankful for what I have and all the opportunities that are given to me.

I was diagnosed with stage III B Colon cancer in June of 2011. I just turned 47 years old. Other than a few stomach pains/aches and a bad lower left back ache before this, I had absolutely NO idea. I did not have blood in my stools and all the other common symptoms. I started having excruciating pains on my lower left side in May. After visiting the ER 2 times, they performed a Cat scan and found something wasn't right. I followed with a colonoscopy and they found a very larger tumor that had completely shut down my colon. I had emergency surgery, followed with 12 rounds of chemo and I am currently undergoing radiation treatments. I have God on my side and many supporters and I'm going to get through all of this. I can't wait to be back to my normal self and I plan to exercise 5 plus times a week when I gain my energy back and eat lots of fiber. I think the key to beating cancer is having a good support system and a GREAT attitude. You have two choices, you can lay down and cry about it or get up and fight. I cannot believe the # of people I have come into contact with that has colon cancer and at a early age. Colonoscopies are not recommended until 50. You are the best person to know if something isn't right. If it isn't....don't take no for an answer. Keep pushing until you find someone that can find something or let you know there is nothing to worry about. Pay attention to your body. If I may have only been stage II if I would have done something sooner. I plan to beat this and live to see my girls have kids etc. I want to help anyone that I can and look forward to whatever God has in store for me. Cancer has made me a better person all around. I take nothing for granted or no one for granted. Everyday is a gift from God.

GARDNERS SYNDROME RUNS IN MY FAMILY. I STARTED GETTING TESTED AT 17 YEARS OLD AND AT 25 THEY FOUND IT THROUGH A COLONOCOPY. I HAD ALL OF MY COLON REMOVED AND HALF OF MY SMALL INTESTINES BUILT THE J POUCH THAT I HAVE NOW. I HAVE HAD T REMOVED FROM MY DUEDENUM AND SMALL INTESTINES OVER THE YEARS. I CONTINUE TO GET SCOPED YEARLY.