Don Rauch
Patient/Survivor |
Rectal - Stage III |
Age at Diagnosis: 62
I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer stage III in April of 2021. I just had a colonoscopy and was awakened and was told that the doctor wanted to talk to me and my wife. He told us that he could not complete the colonoscopy because I had a mass about 4 inches in my colon close to my rectum and he could not get the scope pass the mass. He said he took a bit off for a biopsy but was 99% sure it was cancerous. He said he was going to set me up with the best surgeon he knew at M D Anderson. I was somewhat stunned and relieved at same time of finally knowing what was wrong with me. I had frequent bowel movements and continuing to return to bathroom within minutes of just having a bowel movement. I also had lost about 60lbs within just a few months and grew weaker, harder to do my normal work load daily. Now the fight was on. I met my surgeon a few weeks later, he completed a sygmoidoscopy then told me the game plan. I was going to have a ct scan, pet scan then meet the rest of my team. I had 4 months of chemo, then 2 months of chemo radiation, then surgery. I had an ileostomy then reversal surgery 3 months later. My body has been through a lot for the last 3 years but I am a survivor. I have LARS syndrome, painful sphincter muscle spasms at times, clusters and neuropathy but I have been cancer free since February 2022.
Don Rauch
I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer stage III in April of 2021. I just had a colonoscopy and was awakened and was told that the doctor wanted to talk to me and my wife. He told us that he could not complete the colonoscopy because I had a mass about 4 inches in my colon close to my rectum and he could not get the scope pass the mass. He said he took a bit off for a biopsy but was 99% sure it was cancerous. He said he was going to set me up with the best surgeon he knew at M D Anderson. I was somewhat stunned and relieved at same time of finally knowing what was wrong with me. I had frequent bowel movements and continuing to return to bathroom within minutes of just having a bowel movement. I also had lost about 60lbs within just a few months and grew weaker, harder to do my normal work load daily. Now the fight was on. I met my surgeon a few weeks later, he completed a sygmoidoscopy then told me the game plan. I was going to have a ct scan, pet scan then meet the rest of my team. I had 4 months of chemo, then 2 months of chemo radiation, then surgery. I had an ileostomy then reversal surgery 3 months later. My body has been through a lot for the last 3 years but I am a survivor. I have LARS syndrome, painful sphincter muscle spasms at times, clusters and neuropathy but I have been cancer free since February 2022.
"Keep fighting even when you are too weak from treatments, hurt too much from the pain, tired of being poked and prodded. Be strong. Have a good medical team and great prayer Warriors as I did and you can do anything."
Patient/Survivor |
Rectal - Stage III |
|
Age at diagnosis: 62
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