I went to my PCP with complaints of near constant stomachache and blood in my stool. She referred me to a GI specialist who comes to town once a week. I saw him the first week of December and schedule the colonoscopy for January. He assured me it would be VERY unlikely that I had cancer. January 22nd came around, and it turns out the GI could perform colonoscopies at the local little hospital! Very convenient! But as I was waking up, he said they believed they found cancer. Next came the referrals, scans, and lots of travel to Bakersfield. Within two months, I had my tumor removed and plans to start 12 rounds of chemo. Everybody’s first comment is about how young I am – The youngest colon cancer patient the GI ever diagnosed, and one of the youngest CRC patients at the cancer center.

Advocacy