Hi John, Good luck with your surgery. I had many of your same feelings dealing with the "waiting" and all of the "red tape"...insurance...pre-op...ct scans... oncologists....EKG's...etc. I just wanted it to be over so I could deal with whatever prognosis that they gave me. Best wishes and keep us in...

Hi John, Your story sounds very familiar to me. I was diagnosed via colonoscopy in 1999 at the age of 49. I was devastated. Fortunately for me, I only had to wait 2 weeks for my surgery. My tumor was on the ascending colon several inches above the appendix. The surgery was very tolerable. The surgeo...

Hi H-mom, I just spent the weekend rooming with Darrick at Lake George. He's one great "kid". I was the oldest one there so everyone was a "kid". We had a wonderful time with the rest of our new friends. There was much laughter and many tears throughout the weekend. Darrick's story was not of traged...

Heidi, I will never discount what a person feels about any situation. However, you have so much for which to be grateful. If you think your husband loved you because of your long hair....think how much more he'll love you when it returns and you are still attached to it! Being a survivor is your onl...

Hey MaryV, Congratulations on your test results. I do believe that "our dance of joy" is the normal response to this type news and I am sure your loved ones enjoyed their own dance. AND, the nap is a normal response, too! I have been known to break into a rendition of Michael Flatley's "Riverdance" ...

The only way I'd get a tattoo would be when I am under anesthetic. I use to joke about my scar that I could cover it with a snake tattoo. However, that would have to hurt. Besides, the scar is a great thing to show off at family reunions, the locker room, in the grocery store (I actually did that), ...

Hi Rochelle, Cancer has a way of "stabbing us in the belly" when we hear the diagnosis. The shock and disbelief soon gives way to a plethera of emotions and feelings that may be difficult with which to cope. We all need support from friends, family, religion, etc. What also helps out is having an en...

Hi Molly,
I did a bad thing. I voted for Heidi twice (once at home and once at work)!
Good luck Heidi!

Terry

Heidi, First, I cannot pretend to know how you feel. I did know the fear of having a tumor but my blessing was that I was at Stage 1. All I can do is to encourage you to read the stories of the Stage IV survivors on this website. The statistics are so misleading. More and more is being done every we...

Hi Gayla, I heard the same thing following my first colonoscopy in 1999. I had a questionable spot in the rectum. In addition, I had a Stage 1 tumor on the ascending colon. Prior to surgery I had a sigmoidoscopy to check the rectum once again. The doctor said it might be the earliest stage of a deve...

Hi Dana, My sympathy goes out to you at the loss of your mother. There is one thing that you can do to honor her life and that is to stay aware of your own health. My mom had Stage 1 CC in 1994. That was my wake up call that I almost ignored. I had my first colonoscopy in 1999 and I, too, had Stage ...

Hi Michelle, I agree about the colonscopy. Had I known how easy it was perhaps I would have had one a few years sooner and been able to miss out on the colon resection. The only tough thing about the colonscopy is the prep and its downside is surely outweighed by its upside. The drugs are great... t...

Hi Lisa, I am a stage 1 survivor as is my mother....me for 7 years and she for 11 years. Welcome to Molly's World....one that offers support, encouragement, and hope. The best thing is that you're never at a loss for a group of friends that understand what you've been through, what your concerns mig...

Hi Joy, It's very ironic. My own line was after my surgery was that I couldn't wear a speed-o anymore. Of course I wouldn't wear one before either, but the option is now gone! Come to think of it, the French-Canadian men in South Florida, no matter what size, actually think they look good in a speed...

Hi Mona, Welcome to the club! My symptoms persisted for over two year. Why mine was at Stage 1 is only a miracle. Tomorrow is my 7th anniversary of filling up the toilet with blood which really got my attention and got me to the ER and got me in for a colonscopy and got me in for surgery and got me ...