colorectal cancer awareness month

KathiM
KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi, I'm new to the board for replying, but have read alot of your stories. Wow, everyone should be given a prize for courage and hope. I have recently become a Volunteer Ambassador for the ACS and will travel to Washington in Sept. I am a colon cancer survivor, and am fighting breast cancer right now...2 more treatments and then radiation. But everyone's spirit takes my breath away. I'm working to spread the news to the media, even contacted NBC Today show (Katie Couric is a big supporter)...keep up the great thoughts.
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Comments

  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    Thanks Kathi for championing our cause in Washington. Yes, most of us are well aware that March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I try to do all I can for the ACS and also for the Colon Cancer Alliance. Some of our reps from CCA will be on the Today Show with Katie Couric on March 13 to spread the news. I was supposed to go also, but alas I am still in the fight and finishing my radiation treatments.

    There is a lot of courage at this site as well as a lot of heart. We are family!

    Thanks again for your support and your work.

    Kerry
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    kerry said:

    Thanks Kathi for championing our cause in Washington. Yes, most of us are well aware that March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I try to do all I can for the ACS and also for the Colon Cancer Alliance. Some of our reps from CCA will be on the Today Show with Katie Couric on March 13 to spread the news. I was supposed to go also, but alas I am still in the fight and finishing my radiation treatments.

    There is a lot of courage at this site as well as a lot of heart. We are family!

    Thanks again for your support and your work.

    Kerry

    Thank you, Kerry, for the info on March 13. I'm sorry you are unable to go...but I will be watching. I am "lucky" with my colon cancer-I had stage II squamous cell in the rectum. Chemo, Rad, surgery to remove the rectum and sygmoid colon. No met at least up to current...I have my "yearly" colonoscopy in April during my breather from the breast treatment...good luck to you with the radiation...that's in May for my breast. How do I get involved with the CCA? Website access the best? Thank you for your help.
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    Kathy,

    Thank you so much for your involvement with colon cancer. I wish that screening was done earlier than 50 as there are alot of us that were diagnosed younger than 50.

    Keep up the good work.

    Maureen -- diagnosed on 3/17/03 with stage 3 rectal cancer at age 46---now NED.
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    KathiM said:

    Thank you, Kerry, for the info on March 13. I'm sorry you are unable to go...but I will be watching. I am "lucky" with my colon cancer-I had stage II squamous cell in the rectum. Chemo, Rad, surgery to remove the rectum and sygmoid colon. No met at least up to current...I have my "yearly" colonoscopy in April during my breather from the breast treatment...good luck to you with the radiation...that's in May for my breast. How do I get involved with the CCA? Website access the best? Thank you for your help.

    Kathi,

    try the website: www.ccalliance.org

    Angela Brown is in charge of developing coordinators throughout the US. Let me know how you are doing and if and when you get involved with the CCA. It is a good organization and very responsive to help offered.

    Kerry
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Moesimo said:

    Kathy,

    Thank you so much for your involvement with colon cancer. I wish that screening was done earlier than 50 as there are alot of us that were diagnosed younger than 50.

    Keep up the good work.

    Maureen -- diagnosed on 3/17/03 with stage 3 rectal cancer at age 46---now NED.

    Maureen, Did you get the line I did during diagnosis...."This can't be colon cancer, that's more an older man's cancer". Boy, did that irritate me. 49 and a woman, and I hear MANY stories of women < 50, I think we should be pushing for 45!
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    KathiM said:

    Maureen, Did you get the line I did during diagnosis...."This can't be colon cancer, that's more an older man's cancer". Boy, did that irritate me. 49 and a woman, and I hear MANY stories of women < 50, I think we should be pushing for 45!

    Kathi and Maureen,

    My line I received from 2 different docs was "you look too healthy to be sick" and..."yes, you are anemic, we'll just watch it for a while".

    If I had stayed with them, all we would be watching is my grave being dug!

    Some docs have a lot to learn!

    Kerry
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    kerry said:

    Kathi,

    try the website: www.ccalliance.org

    Angela Brown is in charge of developing coordinators throughout the US. Let me know how you are doing and if and when you get involved with the CCA. It is a good organization and very responsive to help offered.

    Kerry

    Thank you, Kerry, for the info...I sometimes feel that not enough CC awarness for the general population...even tho it is so common. With my big mouth and (currently) bald head, I hope I can be of use. I will be getting involved with the CCA...Thanks again!
  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    kerry said:

    Kathi and Maureen,

    My line I received from 2 different docs was "you look too healthy to be sick" and..."yes, you are anemic, we'll just watch it for a while".

    If I had stayed with them, all we would be watching is my grave being dug!

    Some docs have a lot to learn!

    Kerry

    In 2001 I got, "It is probably just hemmhroids."

    In Aug 2004 I got, "It's either hemmhroids or a small tear in the bowel wall." Given my age, no risk factors to really speak of, and no big symptoms other than bleading.

    In Sept 2004 I finally found a new graduate who did a full examination and ordered more tests because she didn't feel comfortable making the decision that it was "nothing" even though she explained that it could be any number of small problems. Thank God for her is how I feel.

    Female diagnosed stage III the day after I turned 27.
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    chynabear said:

    In 2001 I got, "It is probably just hemmhroids."

    In Aug 2004 I got, "It's either hemmhroids or a small tear in the bowel wall." Given my age, no risk factors to really speak of, and no big symptoms other than bleading.

    In Sept 2004 I finally found a new graduate who did a full examination and ordered more tests because she didn't feel comfortable making the decision that it was "nothing" even though she explained that it could be any number of small problems. Thank God for her is how I feel.

    Female diagnosed stage III the day after I turned 27.

    We should compile a list of "lines" we all received regarding our symptoms....we'll make a booklet and call it - WHAT'S MY LINE?
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    kerry said:

    We should compile a list of "lines" we all received regarding our symptoms....we'll make a booklet and call it - WHAT'S MY LINE?

    Kerry, thanks for the best laugh I've had in a while!!! But seriously, maybe someone should...a survivor, so people stop saying "Oh, how awful" to us and then look at us a loons when we ACTUALLY make a joke or laugh (instead of cry). As I said in my first message, thats what I see all here....victims (I know, not supposed to use this word, but a victim is someone that has no choice when something bad happens, I feel)that just won't give up, keep asking questions, keep getting info, to keep us from the possibility of misdiagnosis or nondiagnosis. I was lucky, my PCP was right on my colon problem...from diag to treat 2 months...and diag correctly.
  • debralla
    debralla Member Posts: 203 Member
    kerry said:

    We should compile a list of "lines" we all received regarding our symptoms....we'll make a booklet and call it - WHAT'S MY LINE?

    Diagnosed NOV 2005 age 45 stage IV ....
    Hemmroids
    Stress
    Menopause
    Fibromyasia (sp)
    I was told the same thing . Like you Kerry . I went in to see my regular Dr ,But she was behind , Then a young Dr came out and asked me if i would'nt mind if he seen me.He then ordered all of these test, which included an ultrasound which showed several liver mets . scoped ,scaned then a port placed all within a week 1/2 . I have just finished my 3rd round of chemo which showed that I am responding .
    I called that Young Dr. And Thanked him !!Faith brought us together that day.But the fact that he didn't ingnore my symptoms finally got me diagnosed and into treatment .
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    kerry said:

    We should compile a list of "lines" we all received regarding our symptoms....we'll make a booklet and call it - WHAT'S MY LINE?

    39, female, stage II colon cancer diagnosed Dec 2005.

    My lines:

    "That's your ascending colon and the lump you feel is just poop."

    "You have IBS, take fiber and walk half an hour everyday."

    "It's probably your kidney."

    "Are you sure you don't have your appendix any more?"

    Sad but all true - these were from my primary physician. Obviously I don't see him any more :)

    Cheers,
    JADot
  • suezav
    suezav Member Posts: 42
    my daughter was 22 YEARS OLD last april when she was dx with stage 3 rectal. she had gone to the student health center at college, described her symptoms and was told to change her diet. She knew enough to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist who is now and will always be our hero. he scheduled her for a colonoscopy and the rest is our new reality. I'm so grateful to everyone who is working to increase awareness and making it known that this is not a disease that only strikes people over the age of 50. Once my daughter completes treatment (this june!) i, too, will be working and doing everything i can to educate the public. there is so much hope and inspiration on this site. thank you all... susan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    suezav said:

    my daughter was 22 YEARS OLD last april when she was dx with stage 3 rectal. she had gone to the student health center at college, described her symptoms and was told to change her diet. She knew enough to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist who is now and will always be our hero. he scheduled her for a colonoscopy and the rest is our new reality. I'm so grateful to everyone who is working to increase awareness and making it known that this is not a disease that only strikes people over the age of 50. Once my daughter completes treatment (this june!) i, too, will be working and doing everything i can to educate the public. there is so much hope and inspiration on this site. thank you all... susan

    Wow, Susan, 22. So young. But,this stuff seems to be hitting younger and younger...breast CA, too. So much has changed for the better with treatment, but all of us need to get the word out. Let me know if I can help. I'm a newbie to all of this, but am learning fast. The ACS and others can always use help.
    Thoughts and prayers are with you both. Don't forget YOUR colon health, too!
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    KathiM said:

    Wow, Susan, 22. So young. But,this stuff seems to be hitting younger and younger...breast CA, too. So much has changed for the better with treatment, but all of us need to get the word out. Let me know if I can help. I'm a newbie to all of this, but am learning fast. The ACS and others can always use help.
    Thoughts and prayers are with you both. Don't forget YOUR colon health, too!

    Hiya Kathi and welcome to the brotherhood and sisterhood of "semi-colons".
    If you will scusey my french...back in 1997 my "one liner was";
    QUOTE..."AW....YOU JUST HAVE SOME CRAZY LITTLE VEINS IN YOUR ARSE SWELLING, BURSTING AND SPOTTING BLOOD OVER YOUR POOP"
    After knowing this so-called specialist had just invaded my privacy, where tha sun don't shine, with some funny looking flexible device I took his word for it. He told me to keep an eye on things and if the bleeding continued and my arse kept burnin I oughta come back and have the darn things fixed.
    That was 1997 and up 'til 2003 I just kept getting "spasmodic" bleeding but no other symptoms. It was when I started to feel unwell, bled a little heavier and had some painfull stomach cramps I thought something was amiss.I decided to have the haemharroids fixed but under general anaesthetic the surgeon decided to investgate further. That was the night he found cancer...needless to say they never fixed the haemharroids...that was the least of my worries, he said.
    By the time they did all the other crappy stuff(pun intended)....won't go into that...you all know it, that things got interesting.
    The bleeding came in huge amounts and the cramps made me feel like a female doing the monthly thingy(is it really that bad?)
    Anyway, by the time I got into surgery, after 4 weeks of testing, I was in a pretty bad way with 2/3 bowel blockage and a body telling me that somethin just ain't right!I was so ill by then nothing mattered to me...all I wanted was for someone to end the painfull cramps.
    The rest is history Kathi....never wanna go thru that again!
    So...in a nutshell...I was told that in 97 it was probably early cancer...the specialist then only did the sigmoidoscopy...he should have looked further and all would have been revealed!
    BTW......yah gotta forgive me.,..I like to tell my story with a bit of humour gal.
    All the best to you....breast cancer?...our very best!
    Ross n Jen

    .....and to think I was complainin!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    kangatoo said:

    Hiya Kathi and welcome to the brotherhood and sisterhood of "semi-colons".
    If you will scusey my french...back in 1997 my "one liner was";
    QUOTE..."AW....YOU JUST HAVE SOME CRAZY LITTLE VEINS IN YOUR ARSE SWELLING, BURSTING AND SPOTTING BLOOD OVER YOUR POOP"
    After knowing this so-called specialist had just invaded my privacy, where tha sun don't shine, with some funny looking flexible device I took his word for it. He told me to keep an eye on things and if the bleeding continued and my arse kept burnin I oughta come back and have the darn things fixed.
    That was 1997 and up 'til 2003 I just kept getting "spasmodic" bleeding but no other symptoms. It was when I started to feel unwell, bled a little heavier and had some painfull stomach cramps I thought something was amiss.I decided to have the haemharroids fixed but under general anaesthetic the surgeon decided to investgate further. That was the night he found cancer...needless to say they never fixed the haemharroids...that was the least of my worries, he said.
    By the time they did all the other crappy stuff(pun intended)....won't go into that...you all know it, that things got interesting.
    The bleeding came in huge amounts and the cramps made me feel like a female doing the monthly thingy(is it really that bad?)
    Anyway, by the time I got into surgery, after 4 weeks of testing, I was in a pretty bad way with 2/3 bowel blockage and a body telling me that somethin just ain't right!I was so ill by then nothing mattered to me...all I wanted was for someone to end the painfull cramps.
    The rest is history Kathi....never wanna go thru that again!
    So...in a nutshell...I was told that in 97 it was probably early cancer...the specialist then only did the sigmoidoscopy...he should have looked further and all would have been revealed!
    BTW......yah gotta forgive me.,..I like to tell my story with a bit of humour gal.
    All the best to you....breast cancer?...our very best!
    Ross n Jen

    .....and to think I was complainin!

    6 YEARS?????? Ross, thats terrible! Yeah, the pain got me the most, too. "Please, just make it stop!" Thanks for the welcome! I never wanted to be eligible for membership, but I'm glad your guys are here to lift my spirits. I have another chemo this Wed, always get a little nervous, "what side effect is going to happen now". I pretty much get them all, just a sensitive person, I guess (sniff, sniff). Thanks for the thoughts, hope this finds you well now! Kathi
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    kangatoo said:

    Hiya Kathi and welcome to the brotherhood and sisterhood of "semi-colons".
    If you will scusey my french...back in 1997 my "one liner was";
    QUOTE..."AW....YOU JUST HAVE SOME CRAZY LITTLE VEINS IN YOUR ARSE SWELLING, BURSTING AND SPOTTING BLOOD OVER YOUR POOP"
    After knowing this so-called specialist had just invaded my privacy, where tha sun don't shine, with some funny looking flexible device I took his word for it. He told me to keep an eye on things and if the bleeding continued and my arse kept burnin I oughta come back and have the darn things fixed.
    That was 1997 and up 'til 2003 I just kept getting "spasmodic" bleeding but no other symptoms. It was when I started to feel unwell, bled a little heavier and had some painfull stomach cramps I thought something was amiss.I decided to have the haemharroids fixed but under general anaesthetic the surgeon decided to investgate further. That was the night he found cancer...needless to say they never fixed the haemharroids...that was the least of my worries, he said.
    By the time they did all the other crappy stuff(pun intended)....won't go into that...you all know it, that things got interesting.
    The bleeding came in huge amounts and the cramps made me feel like a female doing the monthly thingy(is it really that bad?)
    Anyway, by the time I got into surgery, after 4 weeks of testing, I was in a pretty bad way with 2/3 bowel blockage and a body telling me that somethin just ain't right!I was so ill by then nothing mattered to me...all I wanted was for someone to end the painfull cramps.
    The rest is history Kathi....never wanna go thru that again!
    So...in a nutshell...I was told that in 97 it was probably early cancer...the specialist then only did the sigmoidoscopy...he should have looked further and all would have been revealed!
    BTW......yah gotta forgive me.,..I like to tell my story with a bit of humour gal.
    All the best to you....breast cancer?...our very best!
    Ross n Jen

    .....and to think I was complainin!

    6 YEARS?????? Ross, thats terrible! Yeah, the pain got me the most, too. "Please, just make it stop!" Thanks for the welcome! I never wanted to be eligible for membership, but I'm glad your guys are here to lift my spirits. I have another chemo this Wed, always get a little nervous, "what side effect is going to happen now". I pretty much get them all, just a sensitive person, I guess (sniff, sniff). Thanks for the thoughts, hope this finds you well now! Kathi
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    Hi Kathi,

    I want to agree with everyone on this. I am 42 and probably should have caught this sooner. I always thought it was IBS until the cramps and sickness got so bad I couldn't stand it any more. That is when they found blood in my stool and my colon was almost blocked by the tumor. I was also told to eat more fiber, loose weight and exercise. It is amazing how many people out there have this. The testing does need to be started earlier. I know that my kids will get themselves tested at 30 so if it happens again we can catch it early. I'm starting chemo now but I will definately try to raise awareness. I have started at work by being very open about talking about this in public. People need to understand that it is not good but no longer has to be a death sentence. Take care and my prayers are with you.

    Lisa
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thanks for the good thoughts. I am REALLY finding alot of misinformation to the general public like this. But, sort of like marital troubles last generation, we "shouldn't talk about it". Bunk! These are lives we are playing fast and loose with. Wow, am I getting educated with you all's help. Thanks again, Kathi