Jacqui-Bay Slusher

Story: I had severe back pain that started the day my grandfather passed away in 2018. It increased to daily vomiting and more and more pain. I lost 40 lbs. and was told I had arthritis. I had yet another scan, and they saw something in my liver. Things moved really fast after that. I had a biopsy, then a couple of days later my PCP called to tell me that she needed me and my husband to come in later that day. I asked her if I was dying and she said "of course not." I asked her if I had cancer, and she said "Yes, but I have already made you an appointment for tomorrow morning with the oncologist. We have spoken twice, and he has your plan."

I met my savior Dr. Boyer the next day. He already knew what to do. He said, "You will have a colonoscopy on Monday, your PET on Wednesday, and you are getting your port on Thursday. You start chemotherapy on May 1, and we are treating you to cure you." I had five liver mets, countless lymph nodes impacted, a primary in my sigmoid, and a surprise in my lower left lung that needed radiation. Three years later, with 12 rounds of Folfox, liver resection, colon redaction, four rounds of radiation, and some interesting complications, I am in remission. Dr. Boyer did not lie.

"He told me that if I wear my seat belt and don't jump out of an airplane, I have 60 more years. I just moved up to eight month monitoring, but they will do my bloodwork any time I ask. I suggest everyone get themselves a Dr. Boyer."

Jacqui-Bay Slusher

Advice: JUST DO IT. Knowing what is going on inside is a HUGE relief. Even if the answer is scary, at least you know and you can plan for the next steps. You owe it to yourself and those you love to just get the darn thing checked out. Cancer will consume your thoughts forever.

Even after treatment, every little pain or funny feeling will be a trigger, but now you have a toolbox to figure out what is going on. Also, I have found that with all of the monitoring that is happening all over me all of the time, that other issues with my body, even small ones, are quickly addressed!

You are going to be a different person after this. Embrace that and know that some days you will get up and the C word won't even cross your mind.

Some days, it will be all that does, but guess what?! You are HERE.

You get to have intrusive and crazy thoughts because you are alive. ALIVE. It is OK to be scared. You saw what the end looks like and then you turned around and went back the other way. That is really brave and cool and amazing, so go be brave and cool and amazing!