Surviving cancer
Monday, April 12, 2010
By: Jeannie DeRosario

My Story

Thinking of your own death, it's a place not too many people want to go. As a cancer survivor, I've been there.
Lots of people have a cancer story to tell. Here is mine.
In 2008, along with an estimated 171,000 other Canadians, I was diagnosed with cancer. It was totally unexpected.
Now that I look back, I realize I had been having symptoms for a few months. Because of my busy life, I ignored my symptoms. My husband and I had just moved into our new home and we were preparing for our youngest daughter's wedding. I noticed I had blood in my stools, thinking it was a hemerroid, I ignored it. I felt exhausted most of the time but blamed it on my busy schedule. I ended up in emergency with terrible cramps and bleeding profusely. After a few tests, the doctors found a tumor that had grown around a blood vessel.
I was taken directly to the O.R. where the blood vessel was tied off to stop the bleeding. After 3 days at home, where I grew weaker and weaker, I was taken back to the hospital where I was diagnosed with a very aggressive, level 3, colorectal cancer. The words echoed in my mind and my first thought was "how do we tell our girls?"
How do we shatter their world? They didn't deserve this. The following month was a roller coaster ride of ups and downs.
There were lots of tests and scans to have and more doctors to see. I had surgery and was relieved to hear my cancer was in its early stages. Fortunately, the tumor was "encapsulated" meaning it hadn't spread to any other organs and I didn't require any chemotherapy or radiation. I was one of the "lucky ones".
My husband, Jake, and our daughters, Aira and Krista , were amazing. They cried with me, helped me keep my sense of humor and gave me emotional support. My amazing mom went to appointments with me and was at my side through the whole ordeal. My brothers and sister encouraged me to fight and let me know I was going to be O.K. My entire family was at the hospital the day of my surgery, sporting matching "Team Jeannie" t-shirts.
My family and friends were amazing.
Cancer has changed my life drastically. I'm a different person today than I was a year ago. I am now "cancer free" but every 4 months go through an array of tests and scans "just to be safe." I try to stay positive but at the same time I'm also realistic. I struggle daily with changes in my appearance. I now live with a permanent colostomy. As much as I hate it, I realize it's a small price to pay to be alive.
The cancer "Relay for Life" gives me hope. It helps me realize that others are fighting hard to help put an end to this terrible disease. I am honoured to be a part of the "Relay for Life".
I relay because it's the least I can do to show support for other survivors.
I relay to get even with the "beast" that invaded my life.
I relay because I want to celebrate the rest of my life being "cancer free".
I relay because I don't want anyone else to hear the words "you have cancer".
I relay because I'M HERE and I CAN.
Jeannie DeRosario