Bobbi Ratliff

In June 2022 at age 50, I went to the Emergency Room with painful stomach cramps and vomiting. A CT scan discovered a 90% blockage in my colon that required immediate admission to the hospital where they confirmed it was stage IV colon cancer.

Scans found a spot on my liver and a few small spots on my lung. We started chemo in July with surgery scheduled for November.

Chemo was paused in September to await liver surgery. By October, the tumor grew to 100% blockage with more lesions on my liver and lung. Fifteen of 20 lymph nodes were 100% cancer.

After surgery, I was given all available chemo treatments, immunotherapies, radiation, and ablation.

Side effects included neuropathy and increased anxiety.

On February 1, 2024, no evidence of cancer was found on any scans.

I am a stage IV colon cancer survivor.

My advice to someone who is afraid to seek medical treatment or a colorectal cancer screening is the worst part of the entire process is the anticipation. You're asleep for the entire procedure. The prep doesn't taste great.

Listen to 432 mhz music, sounds, videos on YouTube. Play it while you sleep or receive infusion. This made a tremendous difference to my anxiety levels and was very relaxing.

Your body has been fighting cancer every 15 minutes since you were born. It just forgot how to do it for a bit. Treatment, diet, exercise, music, yoga, laughter, fun, and adventures are how you remind it what to do.

Something I wish all members of Congress knew about colorectal cancer patient's needs is this: Our butts might not be as bodacious as boobs but are just as deserving of attention and care. If people can get a BBL to make it bigger, we need to stress the importance of getting a colonoscopy early to make sure it stays bootylicious for life.

Please make getting a colonoscopy part of a regular annual exam, even for children, to ensure the most preventable form of cancer is detected when it can be reversed and not after it has spread.