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Barbara Lincoln-Hefele

Patients & Survivors Stage IV Rectal Cancer New York
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Story: "I was diagnosed in May 2015 with stage IV colorectal cancer. I was 43 years old at the time and had no idea how my life would be turned upside down. I had no major signs, and when I went to my GP in November 2014, I was told it was probably just constipation. Four months later, when the symptoms became worse, my OBGYN told me to go to the GI.

"At that point, because of my age and health/family history, she thought it was ulcerative colitis. We planned a colonoscopy just in case. My GI came in to tell me the results and her face said it all. It took about a month of scans and visits to determine that I had cancer in my rectum. That surgery was not the answer. I went through six months of chemo and then had to have surgery for quality of life.

"In the short time of recovering from surgery, lung nodules had grown. They found that some lymph nodes were also infected. I went through another six months of chemo with little to no change to my lungs. Due to personal things with my children, I chose to take some time off chemo to enjoy my time with them. I continued to get my scans and blood work done, and it is still growing. I am now back on chemo in an oral form, only until my second daughter leaves for college, and then will go back on the more invasive one."

Advice: "Stay strong and stay positive. It is easier said than done, but I just tell myself every day that this is not going to beat me. Continue to live life as normal as possible."

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