I’ve survived Stage 4 colon cancer for about 10 years.

I went to the doctor for a routine colonoscopy.  They said I had a long colon, and they could get a better sample if they did the “surgical” colonoscopy.  Or at least that’s what I think they told me.

Well, when they did the “surgical” colonoscopy, they found the cancer, lots of it.  It was the regular mushroom shaped little polys.  No, I’m never the lucky one!  Mine was smooth.  Apparently, it was killing the poop moving muscles of my colon, so it had to come out.

I was not retired yet.  I was 64 years old.  I didn’t want to be out of work for 6-8 weeks, so I found a surgeon who did robotic surgery.  Everything was set.  I had a “resection” through my belly button.  Everything seemed to go fine.  They said they “got it all”.  I went back to work almost immediately.

When I got out of the hospital, I met with the oncologist at the hospital.  He was an instructor!  He knew his business.  He told me I didn’t have to go through chemotherapy because it was going to come back, regardless.   Meanwhile, the local oncologist, the one who worked at the local hospital, tried to get me to get on the chemo schedule.

I decided the instructor was smarter, or more experienced, so I told the local guy I would side with the more experienced doctor’s orders.  No chemo.

Boy, was I loaded on oxy back then!

I was on a lot of pain meds.  The surgeon prescribed, the PCP prescribed, and the oncologist prescribed.  I really didn’t know what I should do.  I was brain fuddled, but I didn’t realize it.  I had quite a cocktail going, but I got used to them and drove myself to work every day.  I double checked my work.  I didn’t double check my decision to forego chemo.

Then a spot on my belly got red and hot.  I had a seroma.  Apparently, according to the local oncologist, the resection didn’t fit through the hole in my belly button, they widened the hole a little.  It’s in the medical records.  Anyway, apparently, some cancer cells got stuck coming out and my cancer got into my abdominal muscles.

I got the call from the doctor, at work, on my birthday.  I needed surgery now.

They said it was aggressive, and I had to take steps immediately.  I went into the hospital.  When I came out, I had to pack the hole with iodine strips to keep the infection at bay.

Chemotherapy took over.  Before I could finish all the chemo, I had to have surgery to remove the cancer in my abdominal muscles.  They cut out a big section of my belly muscles and employed a mesh to hold the muscle together while it healed.

I went on disability for Stage 4 Metastatic Colon Cancer.  I was 64 years old.

I came home with a JP drain hanging out of my belly.  Lucky me, I was taught how to empty it daily.  I was instructed to call them for an appointment when it stopped going up to 100 ml.  It never did.  They called me and the doctor said the drain had to come out.

Then another seroma developed.

The hospital my surgeon worked out of was in Baltimore.  At that time, there was a guy who died in the back of a police van.  There were riots in Baltimore.  I could not get to the hospital, so everyone agreed I would go to the local hospital.

The local surgeon, not a surgical oncologist, a general surgeon, told me the mesh had to come out.  She did open surgery and took the mesh, coated with cancer and infection, away.  I was left with a couple of big holes.  One was where the mesh had been, the other was where I had my gallbladder taken out years before.

It took some time to heal.  Once again, I heard the words “we got it all”.

There is a blood test.  It’s known as a CEA test.  That stands for carcinoembryonic antigen.  Well, mine has been telling me for almost 10 years that there is cancer in my body.  I’ve been having my PCP get the results for years.  It’s been steady.  It’s still, there but it’s not bugging me.

Hubby and I decided the oxy had to go.  I was still taking it months after all the surgery was over.  We worked together and I weaned myself off.  I take no prescription drugs now.  I do take stool softeners and Senna laxatives but no prescription drugs.  I also walk a couple miles every morning.

I learned that cannabis had anti-carcinogenic properties.  I moved to Arizona where medical cannabis was available legally.  I’ve been using about 1 gram a day for the past 8 or 9 years. My CEA numbers are still there but remain fairly steady, just a little bit over the range.

I do have one problem though.  My belly is growing sideways.  When the surgeon took the mesh out, she didn’t close up the hole.  Apparently, my bowels found the hole, and little by little over time, they have come out.  The muscle is not connected, so only skin (and a girdle I wear every single day) was holding them in.

So now, I’m scheduled for a major abdominal wall repair.  They’re going to push my bowels back in and pull the muscle over it all, apply a couple strips of mesh to hold the seams together, and sew me together again.  I’ll be in the hospital for 4-7 days.  Hubby will have to do all the chores for a few weeks after that.

The day after I made the appointment for the first step of this procedure (Botox in the abdominal wall), WhatNext showed up on my Facebook feed.  I used to follow WhatNext daily when I was dealing with all the surgeries and chemo.

Because of WhatNext, I knew I was not alone.  So, when I saw it pop up, I figured it’s time for me to share what happened to me.  I’ve made it for 10 years.  98% of the people who were diagnosed when I was, didn’t make it.  I did.  You can too.

So… I don’t know if it will help or encourage anyone… but that’s it.  Most of all, I just want to assure people that cancer is not the end… it’s just a twist… and if I can survive it, so can you!!!