Ricky Lowe

“I was diagnosed in February 2017. I had a colonoscopy and my wife, Denise, was with me. When they did my scans it had traveled to both lungs. When they did my surgery they found I had two tumors - one on top of the other.

In April, they did my second scan and the spots on my lungs had grown again, by half the size of what they were in February. My oncologist told my wife and I that I had an aggressive, fast-growing cancer. Pretty much said, I didn’t have long. I started chemotherapy in April, took treatments until June, and got a few weeks break from that while they gave me another scan. The spot on my left lung was gone and they went in and put markers on the spot on the right lung so they could do radiation.

I had radiation in July and August, then did chemotherapy until November. They did my post-chemotherapy scans a couple of weeks after my last chemotherapy treatment and the doctor gave me the best news ever. I went from very bad news in April about a fast-growing, aggressive type of cancer to cancer free!

This morning I did my latest colonoscopy and it's still looking good. So good that he said I didn’t have to have another colonoscopy for five years! Still doing scans every six months and they are all looking good.

The doctors are so smart and good. The treatments have gotten so good through research from groups just like this one, funding, and educating. I had the small community I live in praying for me and received four prayer quilts from area churches. The doctors did great, but I think I received help from the good Lord above to help me and the doctors. They say a stage IV patient averages five years. Well I’m in year four and doing great!”

Advice: “See a doctor as early as you can. The earlier they find something, the faster they start treating you. I know it might not be easy, but stay positive.”