Cheryl Alston
Patient/Survivor
Colon
Age at Diagnosis: 56
"We, as a collective, need to be heard! I have a story, and I am grateful to be on the other side of colon cancer. I believe colorectal cancer needs to be talked about often because I have learned that people don't like to discuss concerns or issues of the butt."
When first visiting her primary care doctor Cheryl was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and lactose intolerance. She was given a prescription to help, but the pain did not go away. She advocated for herself to receive a colonoscopy. After leaving the procedure room she realized that everyone in the room was crying. She was diagnosed with stage II colorectal cancer. It had just permeated the colon wall, but it didn’t touch any lymph nodes.