Meet Jeanette

Jeanette Johnson, survivor Boise, Idaho

Jeanette's Story

I have Addison's Disease and became very ill. After going to my doctor, I was officially diagnosed as having an  Addison's crises; something I would never recover from. I had abdominal discomfort and diarrhea for a year. Like many, I was told it was irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and was told that I had to "just live with it." I became progressively worse and after being admitted to the hospital, I was given a colonoscopy as a last resort. The colonoscopy revealed 13 polyps, 12 which were cancerous and four that had perforated my colon; they were from the rectum to my small intestine. I had surgery, leaving two centimeters of my rectum, 18 inches of colon, 12 feet of small intestine and two-thirds of my stomach. I had in ileostomy for six months then was approached to see if I was willing to try a resection. With so little rectum it had not been successful. Being honest, the next two years of my life were spent in the bedroom or the bathroom. Life at times felt like hell. Retraining my body, eating, thinking, living and most important believing differently became a way of life. Diagnosed at 47 years old, I still have to be very careful of my daily intake, activity, it is important that I come first. I am now 56 years old and cherish everyday as I have now survived two more cancers.

What One Million Strong means to Jeanette

I would hope and pray that someday the number of total cancer patients is actually less than one million. That would be my prayer. I do my very best to help that by telling others about my diagnoses, which has helped several women find polyps. This cancer is so easy to prevent, we need that push to be bold and let others know to take care of themselves and get these tests. I talk about it everywhere I go, and let people know it's an issue. One in a million is ONE to many.

Jeanette's Advice

You're alive and blessed. Someone else is always sadder, sicker, has no one to help them or just feels alone. No matter how horrible or sick you feel, help someone else. Believe me, not only will you make new friends, but by helping others it will help your pain when you feel like you're the only one who is going through this (believe me you're not terminally unique.) I tell everyone I meet, and this may sound cruel, GET OVER YOURSELF! There are enough people in this world that there has to be at least a few of us going through the same thing at once.

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