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Donyella’s Story (Colon Cancer)

Blue RibbonI will start with my grandma. My grandma was amazing. She didn’t judge me, and she always loved me for who I am. She was my very best friend. The first time she was diagnosed with colon cancer, she was lucky they even discovered it. My grandma had a fall, and the hospital sent her to a regular MD. He saw my grandma and saw she hadn’t been to a doctor for 20 years. He gave her the full work-up, and that’s when they found the colon cancer.

My grandma’s whole life changed forever that day. The surgery to remove the cancer was successful this time. She also had bad lungs and was now on oxygen and so many drugs. I watched as she got sicker and sicker. She couldn’t have weighed more than 70 lbs by the time she had her next fall, and once again, the doctors found cancer in the colon area. This time, her body was just too weak to fight it. Honestly, I don’t think my grandma ever knew she had cancer again. The morphine and all the other drugs for pain she was on made it impossible for her to be lucid for any real length of time. Then one night, she quietly passed away.

Colon cancer is one of the least talked about cancers because it’s embarrassing for people. It really needs to be in commercials, or somebody that knows what they are talking about needs to make it something that is easily talked about. My grandma was lucky, but most people never go get their colon checked. They are embarrassed by it and never even discuss it.

I am 46 years old, and I have already had my colon checked three times. Each time, they found a few small polyps that could have been cancer. Now, I get checked every couple of years. Colon cancer kills. Talk about it because I would rather be a little embarrassed than dead.

Donyella
Texas
Submitted 05/21/2016

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

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One comment

  1. Carrie

    Thanks for sharing your story with us Donyella!! I am wishing you the very best.http://colorectalsurgeon.sydney/

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