In my law practice I had worked on lawsuits involving the delayed diagnosis of cancer and yet even this experience did not prepare me for hearing those words applied to me. Because I had worked as a delayed diagnosis of cancer attorney and come to understand the symptoms of various distinct kinds of cancers, including advanced colon cancer I did not hesitate when I started to experience symptoms myself. I saw my family doctor who agreed that while I was too young for routine screening for colon cancer and although I did not have anyone in my family with colon cancer colon cancer (at the time) that I ought to nonetheless undergo a colonoscopy to rule out cancer as the reason for my symptoms.
The colonoscopy revealed that I had a substantial cancerous tumor in my colon and surgery confirmed that it had by then started spreading. The cancer was stage 3 colon cancer. Not good news. I knew there was a good part of this was that at least it was not stage 4 colon cancer. Yet it was nonetheless metastatic colon cancer which had reached my lymph nodes. And I had an instant of true fear and doubt when I was given the news. I understood that my chances of long term survival were only about even. Regardless of the fact that I was a lawyer who had handled medical malpractice lawsuits, even claims regarding colon cancer, did not help me to avoid that instant of real panic and dread. For at that moment I believed I would die
At that time I called a friend who was also an attorney and had been one of my mentors. I think it must have been instinct that I reached out to him first. He was completely straightforward about everything. And that was really what I needed. Another voice to say out loud what the reality was and what needed to be done. He then offered to help with whatever I needed. Later the managing partner at the firm, another good friend, offered to handle all my cases during my treatment. He offered to do this, not for any compensation, but just out of friendship. I have alwats been grateful to him for that.
Although I needed a couple of weeks to recuperate from surgery and although there were times during the chemotherapy when I just did not feel well enough to do anything, I was, by and large, able to continue working. This gave me immense satisfaction. I felt that I was able to carry my weight and lead pretty much a regular life during my treatment and seven years later I present with no evidence of cancer. If I had waited even just a few months the cancer could have spread further and I most likely would not have survived.
The lesson for everyone is to get the appropriate test when you show symptoms of colon cancer. If you can diagnose the cancer sufficiently early best of all before it is anything more than a a polyp you will have increased treatment possibilities and a much higher chance of surviving.
This entry preceeding is simply for basic informational uses and is not meant as medical advice. Confer with a doctor without delay if you show symptoms of colon cancer.