I was 33 years old when I began noticing blood in my stool. I went to my family doctor and he had ordered an X-ray and CT scan of my abdomen. I was then sent on a 'wild goose chase' of suspicious “masses” that were “found” in my CT scan. Finally after finding out that the 5 cm mass found in my uterus was completely normal (it was just a bag of blood) my OB/GYN asked, why did you have a CT scan in the first place? I told him about my symptoms and he suggested that I get a colonoscopy ASAP. I went back to my family doctor that day and told the receptionist that I wanted a colonoscopy. . .I was told that the person who schedules these tests was on vacation for two weeks and that I'd have to wait. I told her that I'd be looking up “gastroenterologist” in the yellow pages and getting my own appointment. I did just that! I found a wonderful doctor (whose last name begins with A). He gave me an appointment within the week and I had my colonoscopy within two weeks of my initial phone call. I had my colonoscopy completed and saw the tumor with my own eyes, and observed the biopsy (it looked like a little “Pac-Man”). My biopsy did show malignancy, and I was immediately scheduled for my colon resection. After surgery, they found that my lymph nodes were positive for cancer cells, so I had stage III colorectal cancer. I met a wonderful oncologist who explained the six months of chemo and six weeks of radiation that would be necessary for me to undergo in the coming weeks. I opted to have my ovaries moved high within my body so that they wouldn't be “fried” during radiation. So after my second abdominal surgery in two months, I began chemo treatments with oxaliplatin. It was very exhausting, and I slept the weeks I had the treatment. Thankfully, it was given every other week, so I had some “awake” time to spend with my little 4 year old.

I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, which had spread to the lymph nodes, in 2005. After extensive surgery and one year of chemotherapy using leucovorin, 5 FU, oxaliplatin, Avastin, and irinotecan, I was in complete remission! I continue to remain in remission and have scans every four months. Even at diagnosis, my CEA levels were very normal. It is a miracle, and I am very grateful!

I started to see rectal bleeding when I was 27 and went to my doctor. She ordered a colonoscopy, but my husband was laid off and we lost our insurance. She had said during my visit that because I had IBS in my teens and had been taking ibuprofen for migraines that the blood was probably from that. I didn't worry about it again until almost two years later because I didn't have any weight loss or anything to go with the bleeding. When I was seven months pregnant with my son, I started getting really lightheaded and the bleeding increased. I wanted to make sure that my pregnancy was healthy, so I went back. Another doctor said that it was probably a bleeding hemorrhoid that needed snared, so he ordered a sigmoidoscopy. You can't have a colonoscopy during pregnancy. They found a 3 cm polyp in my rectum that had cancer cells throughout it. I now have a 9-week-old baby and am starting to go thorough testing to see if there are any more polyps and to see if the cancer has spread into the walls or nodes. I will have surgery before the end of the year and then I don't know if I'll have chemo or not. I turn 30 in three weeks.

My cancer was found through a colonoscopy.

In 1978, I was diagnosed with colon cancer, at the age of 49. Symptoms were chronic pain in the left abdomen, and bleeding and obstruction. I had a partial resection of the left colon, and no chemo was required. I recovered quickly and returned to my job as a secretary within three weeks.

I am a 51 year old female who was diagnosed with rectal cancer 3 months ago. I had no prior symptoms but had been receiving a complete physical by my family physician which included a fecal sample. Blood in the stool was detected and a colonoscopy was done. The tumor was nearly obstructing the area where colon and rectum meet. Surgery was performed in July, resulting in removal of the tumor and resectioning of the colon. I am now receiving chemo therapy, 12 treatments total. I'm on my third. I use humor to help me get through this and also help my family friends get through it.