Right on schedule, I had my colonoscopy at age 50. Quite unexpectedly, stage III colorectal cancer was found. I went through 25 radiation treatments with 24/7 chemo infusion, then surgery with an ileostomy, then more chemo before finally being NED! The fight was not easy, and there were times that I did not think I would survive, but I am thrilled to have come out from the other side of cancer! Not everyone is as lucky as I am, but I fight for them all and advocate to my friends to get their colonoscopies.”

Ten years ago this month, I finished the last portion of my colon cancer journey – my ileostomy shut-down.  In some ways, 2014 seems like a lifetime ago, and yet other times it feels like only yesterday.

Earlier this year, I had my ten-year colonoscopy.  I entered into that test with a lot of trepidation but thankful the results were good with just one small polyp at the opposite end of where my original sigmoid cancer was found.  Of course, as cancer survivors, we never feel 100% “out of the woods”, but ten years post-cancer feels pretty good.

I continue to be involved with Fight CRC and advocating wherever I can to bring awareness, but I definitely take time to smell the roses.  My incredible caretaker husband James and I take yearly trips to continue to celebrate good health.  In 2022, I found out I had breast cancer and went through more chemo, surgery, and radiation.

I am thankful to say that I am currently free of both breast and colon cancer but will continue to stay current on all of my health screenings.  Those simple tests likely saved my life…twice.