Home Blog Champion Stories Meet the One Million Strong- Barry Keippel from Wisconsin Meet the One Million Strong- Barry Keippel from Wisconsin May 7, 2017 • By Intern@FightCRC Champion Stories Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Copy this URL Share via Email Meet Barry Patient / Survivor Ashford, Wisconsin Barry's Story Dec. 2014, I was experiencing severe gas issues and uncontrollable urges to go to the bathroom. I literally had to freeze in place and tighten my backside muscles until the feeling passed, and was able to head for the restroom. This continued until Apr. 2015 when I finally was told by my family doctor that a colonoscopy was now inevitable. On Jun. 2015 I was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer with a 4 cm tumor blocking 75 percent of my rectum. I put off listening to my doctor for five years on getting a colonoscopy. Long story short, I went through eight weeks of radiation, surgery to remove tumor and suspect nodes, 11 days in the hospital and ended up with a permanent colostomy. Then eight more chemo treatments, and now I'm two years into a five-year follow-up plan. My aunt and her daughter both suffered from Crohn's disease. My aunt passed on because she did not want a colonoscopy and possible surgery. Her daughter has had colonoscopies, sections of her intestine removed, but continues to live with an ileostomy. Barry's Advice If I had known how painless and easy getting a colonoscopy was, I would've never put it off. Join the One Million Strong Community If you’ve been impacted by colorectal cancer, we need you! Join us and use your experience, your story and your voice to create real change. Join the One Million Strong by sharing your story. Next, see all the ways you can do something about this disease and take steps to get connected with our community. Come fight with us.