Skylee Tinker

Skylee's story

I am the patient. I went for routine colonoscopy after doctor suggested at my routine physical at age 49. No problems or issues, routine colonoscopy was scheduled April 2023.

They found one large polyp. Sent it off for pathology. It came back positive for cancer in the polyp head, stick, and edges of the colon.

I was then sent to a colorectal surgeon to have that part of my colon removed. Surgery was May 5, 2023. Almost a week after surgery, my surgeon called to say the pathology came back that the cancer was in my lymph nodes. I was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer.

I was then referred to oncology, where I started chemotherapy on June 14, 2023. I am still undergoing chemo.

Signs and symptoms

No signs and symptoms.

Side effects

Side effects include fatigue, bowel irregularities, chemo induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), neuropathy, and chemo brain.

Skylee's advice

It [a colonoscopy] could save your life!

Colon cancer may not show symptoms until it’s too advanced. I went for a routine screening and it was found so that I could get rid of it before it spread to other organs.

The screening saved my life. It could save yours!