My Story

This picture is from April 2009 as I am ziplining on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise.  Little did I know how important that trip was to take as I began my journey one year later in Feb 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 Dr. 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 Dr's 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 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 will be admitted to the hospital and will have surgery ASAP.  A surgeon will be 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 shall start the journey together and know that our amazing families and friends will be there for anything we need. 

The next 3 weeks in the hospital was a waiting game for surgery and no food for days.  I had a successful hemi-colectomy, removing 8 inches of my colon.  Now doesn't that sound great? After surgery the healing began. Periodically during my stay different professionals would come in and you would hear those wonderful words you love to hear like 'it's about quality of life', 'you're in for a fight', 'it doesn't look very good'.  After surgery the hospitalist came in to tell us that the cancer was found in the liver, lymph nodes and abdomen and the prognosis was not good.  Our next step was to wait for the pathology report that would go into detail about the depth of the cancer in my body and a referral to the Cancer Clinic.  Then an appointment with an oncologist.

After arriving home from the hospital, we waited to hear from the Clinic about my appointment.  It seemed like an eternity but in the meantime we were reading books, searching the internet and getting wonderful visits from our daughters, grandkids, son-in-laws and family members. 

Ray was wonderful and sent out an e-mail to our extended circle of family and friends letting them know the diagnosis as we knew it then and communicated that we will be keeping them informed as we learned new details.

The oncologist appointment came and the news of Stage IV colon cancer was revealed.

We were determined to make the 'best' decision for us after talking to the oncologist and finding out what the pathology report revealed.  Needless to say when we heard the news that without chemo I would only have a year, with chemo I would have two years!  WOOHOO...we quickly shifted gears within minutes to say... chemo it is!  My oncologist is over the top wonderful, we decided together that we would continue chemo as long as the side effects did not affect my quality of life.  I think our favorite saying after the oncologist appointment is 'they are giving me 2 years but we are taking 20'!!!! I LOVE that, it still brings a smile to my face.

I get chemo every 3 weeks.  I was very lucky and my hubby's health insurance covered taking 2 weeks of chemo pills at home instead of getting a port in my chest which has its risks.  Please read more details about my current medical therapy under the tab on the home page of my blog site.

I have felt very 'lucky' and I know that sounds weird.  From all the professionals that came into the hospital to tell me about programs I could go into, to the family and friends that continue to be there when and if we need them. 

I have changed my diet immensely, added meditation, tai chi and yoga to my daily routine.  It seems so strange to spend so much time taking care of myself but if I don't my hubby and daughters will ring my neck!  I have had minimal side effects with the chemo and soon we will be getting the results to see if it is working.  If not we will make decisions from that point.  I have to admit there are days when you just feel sad when you don't know what the future holds, but every day is better and I am learning to focus on today and all the wonderful people that are in my life.  I feel so good some days that I just don't believe that I am sick...I just can't be, its not real.  My hubby and I say that to each other once in awhile, it just doesn't seem real. 

I hope you enjoy my blog as I journey down this crazy detour in my life.  But the plan is that this is only a speed bump and the next step is retiring to our long awaited farm. 

Remember 'they say 2 years...but we are taking 20 at least!!!'