Stories of Survival

Anonymous

Colon Cancer

On March 22, 1991, I had surgery for stage-3 colon cancer. The cancer had spread into my lymph system and tested positive in five of thirteen lymph nodes. I was only 37 years old and I was supposed to be too young to have colon cancer. At the time I didn't think I had long to live.

A few weeks later I began taking chemotherapy treatments at the McLeod Cancer and Blood Center. I had to take 48 continuous weeks of chemo treatments and the drug lavamisole every other week. The doctors and nurses at McLeod did a wonderful job. They were very understanding and helpful. They were always cheerful and that made it easier to go in and take the treatments.

During the next year I kept busy. When I was idle I had sad thoughts and always cried. I tried not to allow myself time to sit around and think about being sick. I took up the hobby of oil painting, went fishing and hunting whenever I could, and played music. My family (wife and two children) and I started a gospel singing group. We have been singing at local churches almost every weekend since I got out of the hospital. There is no doubt in my mind that prayer has helped me do as well as I have.

It is important to get support from your family members and friends. My wife Trish has stood by my side throughout this whole process. Without her, life would have been much more difficult. My sister-in-law is a nurse, and she gave me a great book to read concerning cancer. The book is "Love, Medicine & Miracles" by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D. I recommend this book to anyone who has a serious illness of any kind. Your body can go a long way in healing itself, and this book explains that concept.

I thought the last chemo treatment would never arrive, but it did. The very next day I went to the hospital for a CT scan. I wanted the self assurance that there was no visible cancer in my body. THE SCAN WAS NORMAL.

Throughout this whole ordeal I cried and worried just like everyone else does who has cancer. The first four or five months were very tough mentally. I finally got to the point where I could accept and talk about having cancer without crying. You will always have that fear in the back of your mind of having a relapse; however, it will do no good to worry about it. Go on with your life and enjoy it.

Having cancer has changed my priorities in life. Making a lot of money is no longer number one. The number one thing is spending quality time with my family and friends. I now appreciate the flowers, birds, trees, mountains, rivers and everything God has given us in nature. I am thankful to be alive. Having cancer is a terrible thing, but the experience of overcoming it will help you be a better person.

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