30 Days #14
Who could imagine life with an @$$hole??? I couldn’t…until I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in June of 2009. The clinic where I had the colonoscopy done is where my primary care doc is located and she referred me to the colorectal center to have it done. I just when in for a routine checkup (they recommend getting one when you reach 50…I was a bit late)…no symptoms, no nothing. I woke up during the colonoscopy, very briefly, to see a polyp on the screen. Little did I know that polyp was my enemy, and I think I woke up so I could look it in the face, so to speak (just google a polyp and draw a face on it in your mind). The diagnosis was rectal cancer, and the surgeon called me on the phone to tell me of the diagnosis. I wasn’t too happy with that, and went for a second opinion to Mass General, where I had the most amazing, kind and considerate surgeon, Dr. David Berger. He confirmed the initial diagnosis (kindly, gently, in person) and ultimately he had to surgically remove part of the colon, the rectum, the anus and all the muscles in that area. Knock on wood, I’ve been free of cancer since the surgery.
ps. aren’t you glad I used Wolf’s for an example rather than mine?!
Posted in 30 days, Photos, cancer, it's all about me | 13 Comments
April 14th, 2011 at 7:47 am
I just thought you were going to tell us that you couldn’t imagine life without that @$$hole, then I laughed (yes laughed) when I realized you were talking about your own!
April 14th, 2011 at 10:27 am
*Knocking wood*
So glad you had the colonoscopy!
April 14th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Thankful for diagnostic tools! Amazing how many lives have been saved–I’m glad one of them is yours.
And the Wolf picture made me laugh, even before I started reading.
xo
April 14th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
The Wolf photo is funny!
I’ve been having colonoscopies done since I was about 40 (that is what took mom). The last one, they didn’t manage to get me knocked out at all or provide pain blockage. The previous one, I was awake watching until they snipped a polyp for testing and passed out. Benign thankfully, but then I got breast cancer instead.
I am very thankful that you are a survivor and that we have met through blogging.
April 14th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Yay for being cancer free!
April 14th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
So eloquently put and Wolf was so generous to be the @$$hole model. God that sounds so very wrong…..
April 14th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
I think you need to tell David’s very funny joke!
I’m so glad they caught it–you seem to have been a real trouper.
April 15th, 2011 at 1:36 am
I less than three you.
April 15th, 2011 at 7:25 am
what cheri said.
April 15th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
I’m glad you’re cancer free, and am LOL because of the image of living w/out an a$$hole. You make it look easy!
April 17th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
So glad you are still here(with humour intact) to share stories, fantastic photos and ways of seeing the world.
April 17th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I am so happy that you found it in time – and that the doctor was wonderful…and that you are cancer free!
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 am
I will be thinking of you when I go in for my colonoscopy (thanks to my mom’s cancer, I am now in the early watch category). At least no one can call you an a$$h0le, right?