Lori Richman
Stage 3 rectal cancer Survivor
I'm 47 years old. I've been married to the love of my life for 29 years. We have two beautiful children, 1 beautiful grandson with another grandchild on the way. I've always felt so blessed to have the life I have. No one in my family has ever had rectal cancer, except me. I had just had a spinal fusion December 31st, 2009 to repair a ruptured disc. I noticed some symptoms that didn't seem right. I knew something was wrong. But my Surgeon could explain way all my symptoms. April 22nd, 2010 I went in for my annual exam and my gynecologist found "something". And so it began. I was told it was Stage III Rectal Cancer.
I had oral chemo & radiation for 6 weeks. Surgery to remove the tumor in August, 2010 and 17 weeks of chemo, lost most of my hair, had a blood transfusion; it was a very long process. I couldn't wait to get the ostotomy reversed in February of 2011. I hated that bag! That was the hardest thing for me to deal with during all of that.
So, what I thought was going to be the best thing, turned out to be a nightmare. I had a leak. After 8 long months of pain, losing 45 pounds, becoming addicted to pain pills, I was told, sorry, there's nothing else that can be done for you. So, I requested to go to Mayo. That saved my life.
For whatever reason, the 6 CT scans I had, no one noticed I had an abscess that was rapidly growing. I was told if I hadn't come to Mayo, the abscess would have killed me in 8-12 months. I ended up with a colostomy, my worst fear, I was terrified of it. What would that be like? Would everyone know? But, after considering the options, what choice did I have? It was better to be alive and with my family. I'm still dealing with "being different" & probably always will. It's not easy dealing with feeling you're different. But I'm cancer free for 1 year, now!!
I have the best family in the world! They have all been so incredible. The support they have given me has helped in so many ways. Thank you seems so small, especially to my husband. It's been an amazing journey for him & me. This has been the worst 2 years of our marriage, but strangely the best. So we did everything they told us, and got back to each other, but I have a feeling having cancer will forever change me. I still have hope and will always have hope, but it will be diminished somewhat from this ordeal.
I'm so glad I heard about the Get Your Rear in Gear event. It means so much to finally have some recognition. I really think colorectal cancer needs more attention. It's time our cancer gets the funding, too.
I had oral chemo & radiation for 6 weeks. Surgery to remove the tumor in August, 2010 and 17 weeks of chemo, lost most of my hair, had a blood transfusion; it was a very long process. I couldn't wait to get the ostotomy reversed in February of 2011. I hated that bag! That was the hardest thing for me to deal with during all of that.
So, what I thought was going to be the best thing, turned out to be a nightmare. I had a leak. After 8 long months of pain, losing 45 pounds, becoming addicted to pain pills, I was told, sorry, there's nothing else that can be done for you. So, I requested to go to Mayo. That saved my life.
For whatever reason, the 6 CT scans I had, no one noticed I had an abscess that was rapidly growing. I was told if I hadn't come to Mayo, the abscess would have killed me in 8-12 months. I ended up with a colostomy, my worst fear, I was terrified of it. What would that be like? Would everyone know? But, after considering the options, what choice did I have? It was better to be alive and with my family. I'm still dealing with "being different" & probably always will. It's not easy dealing with feeling you're different. But I'm cancer free for 1 year, now!!
I have the best family in the world! They have all been so incredible. The support they have given me has helped in so many ways. Thank you seems so small, especially to my husband. It's been an amazing journey for him & me. This has been the worst 2 years of our marriage, but strangely the best. So we did everything they told us, and got back to each other, but I have a feeling having cancer will forever change me. I still have hope and will always have hope, but it will be diminished somewhat from this ordeal.
I'm so glad I heard about the Get Your Rear in Gear event. It means so much to finally have some recognition. I really think colorectal cancer needs more attention. It's time our cancer gets the funding, too.
