Title: Breaking boundaries
Hello, my name is June Melvin and I’m from Fair Oaks, California. A beautiful community
on the north bank of the American River, 18 miles east of Sacramento, our state’s
capital. I’m 85 years old, and I was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer
almost three years ago. Up until that time, I’d never really experienced any major
health issues, so I was quite shocked when I received the news. Once my diagnosis
was confirmed by a medical oncologist, my journey into the world of colorectal cancer
began.
After my diagnosis I immediately had surgery. I had four major operations in five
days. At the time my condition was touch and go, but thankfully I made it through.
I’m still here!
A year later I began chemotherapy. I wasn’t too nervous or scared because I knew
a couple of friends that had undergone chemotherapy before. I knew that going into
chemotherapy wasn’t going to be fun, but I also knew the treatment was going to
do its job and hopefully help me get better.
The most important thing that you can do while receiving treatment is to do everything
you can to take care of yourself first. Having the support of loved ones and friends
is also essential to getting through the difficult times during the treatment. I’m
fortunate to have the support of my son, who lives in Southern California, and my
daughter and son-in-law who live nearby. They help me whenever they can.
Before I was diagnosed, I volunteered much of my time to community improvement and
to enhancing the lives of others. I was very active in nonpartisan civic groups,
working for the betterment of our local, state, and national community affairs.
Since my surgery in 2005, I’ve had to scale back on many of my activities, but after
fifty years of service I could never really give it up. I recently served on the
election board and as parliamentarian for our local historical society. I continue
to serve in our local woman’s service club as president of the past president’s
council and by preparing new guidelines for the officer’s procedure books.
In addition, I’m taking time to learn how to read sheet music and practice the piano.
Yes, I’m receiving chemotherapy treatments, but I’m still living life! I think volunteerism
is so important. There really is no comparable award to the type of gratification
that comes from helping another person or making positive changes in the world around
you. That’s why whenever I can, I still offer my services and try to be involved.
I’ve always lived by the motto, “Put your shoulder to the wheel.” When things get
tough you don’t give up, you put your shoulder into it and you dig a little deeper.
That’s how I feel about cancer and my work. I’ll never give up my fight against
cancer and I’ll keep trying to encourage others through my work to do the same.
Always hope, always try, and let’s do the very best that we can.
I’m Carol Larson of Minneapolis, Minnesota and I’m 67 years old. I was informed
of my diagnosis of colorectal cancer on Christmas Eve, 1998. At that time, people
didn’t openly discuss colorectal cancer or the importance of screening. If they
had, I probably would have been more alarmed by some of the symptoms I was experiencing.
I was very tired all the time which is unlike me but I let it go for a few weeks
until one evening I felt instinctively that I had to go to the emergency room for
urgent care. The ER physician examined me and then referred me to a gastroenterologist.
I went in the next week for a colonoscopy and the results from a biopsy were delivered
to me on Christmas Eve. When I received the news, I remember feeling isolated and
overwhelmed by the amount of information that I had to digest. I didn’t feel like
anyone could understand what I was going through.
Colorectal cancer was not considered a polite topic to discuss in public. Fortunately,
I had family and friends that helped me through the initial diagnosis and subsequent
treatments. My brother and husband went with me to every appointment, and that was
important because there’s so much information at such a distressing time it’s hard
to listen. I think having the support of loved ones and finding a support group
is part of the reason I decided to be a resource and advocate for others living
with colorectal cancer.
After my diagnosis, I was referred to a colorectal surgeon and given two months
of follow-up care. When an ultrasound found the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes,
my colorectal surgeon informed me I would have to go through radiation, chemotherapy,
and surgery. Initially, I was scared to death when I heard the words cancer and
chemotherapy, but my surgeon discussed the benefits of chemotherapy for someone
my age, which eased some of the anxiety I felt.
I was fortunate to have the help of a superb medical team that gave me excellent
care, so I did quite well. One of the things I took away from that year is that
fear of the unknown can sometimes be the scariest part of all. I council other patients
to arm themselves with as much knowledge as they can about their disease. Once they
do that, moving forward won’t seem as scary or daunting. Also, I tell them it’s
important to establish a partnership with your medical team in the beginning so
as you’re going through their ordeals the lines of communication are fluid both
ways.
I tell people all the time that I don’t look at my cancer as a gift, but good things
have come into my life as a result of it. One of the things I am most proud of is
the advocacy work I’ve been involved with on behalf of other colorectal cancer patients.
I joined ACE, a patient-centered support group, which stands for Advocates for Colorectal
Education, and the United Ostomy Association of the Minneapolis Area to give back
to others. ACE has now evolved into the Minnesota Colon Cancer Coalition. I also
used my former experience as a teacher to write two colorectal education books and
have had several of my articles published on the topic.
Since being diagnosed with colorectal cancer almost 10 years ago, I’ve had a few
medical setbacks, but my advocacy work and my family have kept me going. I feel
a tremendous sense of satisfaction from helping others. When people ask why I’m
so passionate about what I do, I tell them I’m currently living a very good life
and I want others to know there is hope beyond cancer. It’s a different life from
my pre-cancer days, but one filled with appreciation and renewed zest for living.
Hi, I’m Kate Murphy. I live in upstate New York on Skaneateles Lake. I’m 65 years
old and last summer I was diagnosed with my third colon cancer. I’ve had a long
cancer history, almost 25 years. I’ve had breast, ovarian, two other colon cancers,
and it would have been a very difficult journey had it not been for my family, for
my friends, and for my doctors, and together they made it something that was doable.
I was first treated for colon cancer in 1983, almost 25 years ago, and I was treated
again for another colon cancer and almost simultaneously for breast cancer in 1992.
Two years later I had surgery for ovarian cancer and then last summer I had surgery
that removed my entire lower intestinal tract and an ileostomy was created with
the goal that cancer will not return again in my colon or in my rectum.
It really took every ounce of strength that I had to walk through the door that
first time to go to that first chemotherapy appointment. But as time went on, it
got more manageable, it got much less frightening, and it was something that I could
do.
When I talk to people about my chemotherapy experience, I tell them it was difficult.
I don’t sugar coat it. But I also remember that the benefits were immeasurable.
If there is a strong emotional support system there it makes the difficult days
easier: It makes it something that can be managed. What really helped me during
my treatment for colon cancer was the support of my family and my friends and other
cancer patients. When I was in the hospital last summer for treatment I got tremendous
support from an online community of over a thousand colon cancer patients and their
friends and caregivers via the ACOR colon discussion list. Through my work on the
colon cancer list serve, I’m able to return that support to offer practical information
and emotional support and encouragement to other people who are living with colon
or rectal cancer. If I could share some advice with other seniors who have colorectal
cancer, I’d encourage them to continue doing the things that are important to them,
to think positively, because that will help them in their fight against cancer.
We should know all our treatment options despite our age. It’s really important
that we are seeking treatment from a team of doctors, from medical oncologists,
radiologists, surgeons; doctors who know cancer treatment and can make
a treatment plan that meets our own individual needs.
I’m so excited to receive this award. It really is a gift from my friends and it
feels wonderful to know that the work that I have been doing is appreciated. And
I’m thinking about the future. I want to keep right on doing the kind of work that
I do with colon and rectal cancer patients, and I hope that I can make an impact
on the colorectal cancer world.