Shawn Wangerin
Patient/Survivor
Rectal
Age at Diagnosis: 32
"Keep looking forward and be positive. Your attitude controls so much."
My story began with some abnormal stomach pain in the lower left side. I have a family history of colon cancer, my dad being 43 when he discovered his. I had a colonoscopy when I was 28, due to the family history and was told that I needed another in 5 years. 5 years was too long. The colonoscopy when I was 32 revealed a mass that had attached to my Appendix. I had my Laparoscopic surgery and was sent home. The pain persisted, and after vomiting multiple times, I ended back up in the ER, and it was discovered that my small intestine had been nicked. After they cut me open to fix it, kidneys shut down and was in ICU. I underwent 6 months of chemo. It was over a month hospital stay, which was incredibly difficult. I am now 12 years cancer free. I discovered large doses of fiber are critical to be normal.

