After 1,248 hours of chemotherapy, 28 radiation treatments, a liver resection, a gall bladder resection, a sigmoid colon resection, 2 colonoscopies, 1 upper endoscopy, 2 blood transfusions, countless CT scans, MRIs, Blood draws, X-rays, EKG’s, Soft Diets, Post Surgical Diets, High Fiber Diets, Low Residue diets, Emergency Room visits, Medications and 3 missed diagnosis’s totaling 11 months in treatment and over a year of symptoms all caused by Stage IV Colon Cancer which entailed a CEA of 296.7, a primary tumor in my colon and 9 Metastases in my liver … The Bell Rings Today… not only signaling I have reached the finish line of my treatment, but that my medical team was successful in removing all evidence of cancer in my body with clean margins. The Bell also rings in a new phase, surviving cancer, waging a new battle to prevent its return, and of course the best one… Living.
I was going to write a few other paragraphs discussing how much more beautiful life is after death’s shadow crosses your path. But the person I strove so hard to protect from pain and despair, to continue making memories with, to continue being able to give my love to… the person I lived for… is curled up asleep in bed with our puppies. I think I may just go enjoy that peace and comfort for a while and enjoy a little bit of this “Living” for once.
I Love You All So Very Much, I could not have done it without a single one of you.
- Teej
p.s. First post treatment scan is in September. I’ll have another blog soon updating what my new healthy lifestyle entails, how wonderful my medical team is, and of course the Get Your Rear in Gear 2012 team and sign up form.
JUN
About the Author:
A 28 year old, fighting to kick Stage 4 Colon Cancer's Ass.