I was waiting for January 2017 to schedule my routine colonoscopy because of insurance. Unfortunately, I woke up Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 24, 2016, with black tarry stool. Having colorectal cancer run in my family, I knew it was cancer. I scheduled a colonoscopy the following day. I had my colonoscopy Dec. 6, 2016. I woke up from the procedure and the doctor told my wife and I that they found two tumors, and he took a biopsy, but in his experience it’s going to come back as cancer.

I always tell people that whatever bad things they have heard about a colonoscopy, it is nothing compared to having your colon removed and going through chemotherapy.

My journey was seven months from diagnosis to NED. Surgery and seven rounds of chemo. I sometimes feel “Why does my story matter? It seemed so easy compared to others.” I didn’t want anyone to feel like I was gloating. It was then that I thought, “Tell your story. People need to hear it because everybody’s journey is different.”