My Symptoms Were Dismissed as Hemorrhoids, but I Had Colon Cancer

As informed to Liz Sauchelli

The day I acquired my colon cancer diagnosis, my spouse and I bought a bottle of champagne. We were driving house from the hospital crying and I just mentioned, “Babe, we require to prevent and get a bottle of champagne because we’re going to toast to kicking cancer’s butt and staying on the other aspect of this factor.” In the image I have from our toast that working day, our eyes are swollen from tears.

My most cancers journey began approximately 7 months before in January, when I was 47. I was experience lightheaded, dizzy and bloated. When I went to the bathroom, I was not possessing a full bowel motion. My appetite had lowered and by the time I went to my OBGYN in March, I’d started to observe a tiny bit of blood in my stool. My health practitioner brushed it off and stated it was hemorrhoids, but I pushed back. She agreed to purchase me a fecal occult exam to see if they could detect cancer.

The examination came back destructive, but anything continue to felt off, so I termed my health practitioner back a few months later and questioned her to routine a colonoscopy. In the months top up to the technique, my problem worsened. I could hardly eat and the blood in my stool drastically greater.

Kimberly with her champagne, celebrating “kicking cancer’s butt” soon after her analysis, July 24, 2015.

But when I went in for a check with in advance of my colonoscopy, the medical doctor wasn’t even guaranteed if they had been likely to display me. Then I confirmed her a photo of my bloody stool and her attitude completely adjusted. I bought an appointment for the subsequent week.

At that issue, I understood anything was actually completely wrong, so it wasn’t a comprehensive shock when I woke up from my colonoscopy and the doctor told me I had a fist-sized, malignant tumor in my sigmoid colon. But he in no way reported the word “cancer.” My spouse and I experienced been laughing coming out of the anesthesia, but I stopped. “Wait, are you declaring I have cancer?” I questioned. The health care provider replied with a somber yes.

All the things shifted. The coloration in the place was distinct. It felt like a film dropped over my eyes and from that point ahead, I observed the entire world otherwise. Time seemed extra finite.

I was a hectic stay-at-household mother with a 7-, 10- and 12-year aged, and I was generally on the go. At the time of my analysis, my kids ended up checking out their grandparents in California, so my partner and I had a few of months to approach the information just before sharing it with them.

Of system, they took it tricky for the reason that, even nevertheless they have been young, they knew the phrase cancer and they equate it with dying. We all started to cry. I could not promise them I was not likely to die — I just did not know. But I instructed them, “Hey, we’re going to fight this and we’re likely to get by it the best we can.” And which is specifically what we did.

Existence grew to become a whirlwind of doctor’s appointments. I experienced six months of oral chemo and 33 radiation therapies to my pelvis to shrink the size of the tumor. Then, 10 days ahead of my surgical treatment to take away the tumor, I experienced a bowel perforation and obstruction. 1 of my little ones found me in the fetal position in the bathtub, and I instructed them to go get the neighbors. By the time they bought me up and dressed, the ambulance rushed me to the clinic, where by I had crisis surgical procedure.

Restoration was gradual. Just after 10 times in the hospital, I experienced 6 weeks of occupational and physical remedy to start off going for walks yet again. The definitely neat factor about it, even though, was that it helped me to prevent and virtually smell the flowers, to acquire in issues that I would typically just go by. As I utilized my walker to get all over my neighborhood, I stopped to choose photographs of bouquets and mother nature. For the very first time, I commenced to genuinely value the tiny points.

All over the 6 months of chemo following my surgical treatment, I attempted to stay constructive. Before heading in for chemo, I’d look at a comedy like “I Enjoy Lucy” to elevate my mood. I’d do compact workout routines to get my endorphins up.

As optimistic as I have tried using to be, there had been several evenings I cried myself to sleep since I was in so considerably pain. I permit myself grieve the pieces of my body that transformed and accept that what I missing was essential. Then, I’d concentration on the simple fact that I was however alive, that there were approaches I could still appreciate daily life. I cherish every day I wake up next to my spouse and spend time with my young children.

Kimberly on a the latest concert date night with her spouse of approximately 23 a long time, whom she describes as the “most compassionate caregiver” 2022.

I’d been informed right before surgical procedure that I’d have an ostomy bag for six weeks, but mainly because of the complications I suffered, that timeline was moved to two several years. I took it in stride. Immediately after the two years were being up, I resolved to hold the bag: Reversal surgical procedure can be fairly hard on folks, and I did not want to place my entire body via additional trauma.

I have now had my ostomy bag for 6 a long time and, in some approaches, it is been really freeing. Soon after my prognosis, I struggled with how I considered my physique. I wished to reclaim my femininity and rebuild my toughness following my entire body was weakened by remedy. That is when I made a decision to just take up dancing.

Burlesque and pole dance are art forms that I’ve normally loved to view, but I don’t assume I ever assumed I’d check out them. But immediately after my analysis, I had the courage to do so. Pole dancing improved my power just after my entire body was weakened by procedure. I also started out doing, which has served me create my self-confidence and experience extra comfy in my physique as it is now. When I dance, I proudly display off my ostomy bag. It is element of who I am and what I have survived.

5 yrs just after I was declared most cancers-free, I was diagnosed with ischemic colitis, which signifies the arteries in my colon are starting off to die. I have been on distinct remedies and bouts of mattress relaxation as the health professionals do the job to determine out the root bring about.

But I go on to maintain my spirits up. I dance, I roller-skate and I keep on to advocate for individuals who have colon cancer. I under no circumstances imagined I would appear again six many years following my analysis and be thankful that I was enriched by that journey. Each individual working day, I get a moment to focus on the reality that I’m even now listed here — and I can still appreciate my lifetime.

This resource was made with support from Merck.