My journey into my worst fears

My journey into the unknown.

About 45 days ago during a routine exam it was discovered that I had polyps in my colon, which isn’t abnormal for a person as young as I am. My PCP sent them to a lab for a biopsy. I get regular checkups so I wasn’t too concerned.

About a week later I received a call from the doctor saying that cancer cells were discovered in one of the polyps…..that’s when reality sat in. A few weeks prior to my exam my girlfriend and I were talking about one of the cancer events that were coming up and I told her that I don’t know any survivors, everyone I knew that had this disease had succumb to it, so can you imagine where my mindset went after finding out I was positive. Trying to stay positive I waited for my consultation with the doctor. That was the longest 10 days of my life. I researched everything I could find about colon cancer, every article or website stated “it’s the second most deadly form of cancer in the USA…..Damn internet.

Then I met with the doctors, that’s when I discovered I would need to have surgery to determine the extent of my case. They needed to remove the section of the colon that had the cancer cells and the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes for further testing before they can determine the next step. Think about that for a minute, I needed surgery before they can come up with a course of action….all along I’m thinking “ I don’t know any survivors”.

On Wednesday 9/27/23 I went in for…….

COLECTOMY LAPAROSCOPIC ANTERIOR RESECTION

For those who don’t know, that’s when they go inside you and remove the section of colon that has the cancer cells, then stitch it back together.

The surgery went well very little pain afterwards, thanks to the meds. I was released from the hospital on Friday 09/29/2023 and the wait begins………Staging and treatments up next.

I received a call from my surgeon Saturday 09/30/2023, yes, a Saturday, you already know where my mind went.

 He informed me that he has the reports and…………….

No signs of any cancer in the tissue of lymph nodes. No sign of spreading beyond the polyp.

There is no need for Chemotherapy or Radiation treatments. Just heal from the surgery and get back to life. This journey has come to an end for me.

Whoever reads this understand the importance of regular checkups. Taken into account my race and age the outcome could have been drastically different.

Follow my lead and get your checkups.

Gregory G. Ward

Black male, 63 years old

I am now the first...

Survivor