Christine LeGrant, Stage 3 colon cancer
My story begins about two years ago March 10, 2006, when, at age 51, I had my first screening colonoscopy. I had had symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) for many years, and that had actually been improving for a year or so before the scope. I had a small hemorrhoid that occasionally bled, but I had regular blood work done and knew I was not anemic. I had an aunt and uncle with colon cancer, but no first degree relative with the disease. I was not worried. I felt great.
I'd asked to be lightly sedated because I wanted to watch the screen during the procedure. I'm a physician assistant and former oncology nurse, and find any medical procedure facinating. When I found myself waking up halfway through the scope I wondered why I'd been fully asleep. As soon as it was over, even before I went to recovery, the doctor told me, "I saw something I didn't like. I saw a mass." We had a brief conversation about which hospital I wanted to go to for surgery, since the place where I had the scope was not close to home, then he called my husband and my primary care doctor. My brother-in-law, who was my driver, was still in the waiting room when my husband got there. That was the first he knew that something was wrong. We looked at pictures of the tumor and I knew right away there was no doubt what it was. I felt strangely calm. It was probably the effect of all the sedation, but all I really felt was hungry. We all went to get something to eat, then home. I called my doctor's office when I got home and talked to his nurse. When she started using words like "Mediport" and "oncologist" it started to hit me. Then she said "March is colon cancer awareness month." I said, " Well , it worked! I'm aware!" I was still feeling a little goofy, I guess.
My entire medical team was wonderful. The next few days were a blur. I scheduled consults with my doctor, an oncolgist, a surgeon, got a pre-op CT scan and set up my surgery. Everyone I encountered did whatever they could to make whatever I needed happen. I was in surgery ten days after the scope. After surgery we found out I had lymph node involvement. We hadn't expected that. I started looking into clinical trials. I got several opinions and decided on treatment at Georgetown University Medical Center, where I used to work many years ago. I got my port inserted and got post-op scans done. Then I went in for infusions every two weeks for six months with my "take home" pump for two days after each treatment. When that was all done I still had six more months of Avastin, which for me was a study drug. That was a quick treatment every two weeks, not a long infusion, and I didn't need the port any more. My follow-up scans were clear and I felt pretty good. I was still tired. I tolerated chemo really well. The only problem I had was a bout of diverticulitis halfway through followed by a drop in white blood cells. I had another episode of diverticulitis after chemo was over. Now that I'm nearly two years out from diagnosis, I'm feeling great. I remember during chemo a trip to the grocery store could wipe me out. I'd be exhausted before I got to the parking lot. Today I got off my treadmill, did my grocery shopping, unloaded, put everything away, and was ready for more. Life really is worth the fight.
I'd asked to be lightly sedated because I wanted to watch the screen during the procedure. I'm a physician assistant and former oncology nurse, and find any medical procedure facinating. When I found myself waking up halfway through the scope I wondered why I'd been fully asleep. As soon as it was over, even before I went to recovery, the doctor told me, "I saw something I didn't like. I saw a mass." We had a brief conversation about which hospital I wanted to go to for surgery, since the place where I had the scope was not close to home, then he called my husband and my primary care doctor. My brother-in-law, who was my driver, was still in the waiting room when my husband got there. That was the first he knew that something was wrong. We looked at pictures of the tumor and I knew right away there was no doubt what it was. I felt strangely calm. It was probably the effect of all the sedation, but all I really felt was hungry. We all went to get something to eat, then home. I called my doctor's office when I got home and talked to his nurse. When she started using words like "Mediport" and "oncologist" it started to hit me. Then she said "March is colon cancer awareness month." I said, " Well , it worked! I'm aware!" I was still feeling a little goofy, I guess.
My entire medical team was wonderful. The next few days were a blur. I scheduled consults with my doctor, an oncolgist, a surgeon, got a pre-op CT scan and set up my surgery. Everyone I encountered did whatever they could to make whatever I needed happen. I was in surgery ten days after the scope. After surgery we found out I had lymph node involvement. We hadn't expected that. I started looking into clinical trials. I got several opinions and decided on treatment at Georgetown University Medical Center, where I used to work many years ago. I got my port inserted and got post-op scans done. Then I went in for infusions every two weeks for six months with my "take home" pump for two days after each treatment. When that was all done I still had six more months of Avastin, which for me was a study drug. That was a quick treatment every two weeks, not a long infusion, and I didn't need the port any more. My follow-up scans were clear and I felt pretty good. I was still tired. I tolerated chemo really well. The only problem I had was a bout of diverticulitis halfway through followed by a drop in white blood cells. I had another episode of diverticulitis after chemo was over. Now that I'm nearly two years out from diagnosis, I'm feeling great. I remember during chemo a trip to the grocery store could wipe me out. I'd be exhausted before I got to the parking lot. Today I got off my treadmill, did my grocery shopping, unloaded, put everything away, and was ready for more. Life really is worth the fight.