I don't want to die!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
By: Carla Legge

Much too young for S3 colon cancer diagnosis-why did this happen? too young, very little family history...it should not matter...once i knew cancer was in my birth family, 14 years ago, doctors should have screened me....but i was "too young".

I was 39 yrs old. I am married and have two young children. I just had my annual checkup which I have never missed since age 18. Blood work came back abnormal-nutritionally deficient. I was told to "take vitamins" for 6 MONTHS! I knew that wasn't the problem since I am a healthy person and eat well...after being tested for celiac and it came back negative, I felt something was wrong, I briefly mentioned cancer to my doctor-but no, I was "too young".i went to emergency. June 11, 2010, complaining of lower side pain-thought it may be my appendix. Imagine my scare and screams when my CAT scan showed colon cancer??I was terrified for my life and my family. I was admitted for pain control, had a colonoscopy, found the tumor, and had surgery the next week. I was then told they could do nothing for me seeing as it has seemed to have spread to my liver. I was traumatized, terrified and wanted to see no one except my family. My surgeon and my family found a doctor who specialized in liver oncology in Halifax so off we all went (my 3 sisters and husband!).He removed some colon, 17 lymph nodes, gall bladder, appendix, resection my liver. my surgeon told me "I'd live forever"!after a week of recovery in hospital I went home to nl. I was traumatized, scared, anxious and not doing well mentally. I then started 6 moths of chemo...done okay with that if I could ever manage to stop crying...physically I felt okay...Mentally a mess...after colonoscopies, cat scans I have good health right now. Although I was diagnosed with lynch syndrome. A condition where a mismatch gene does not kill of unhealthy cells...I am number 6 in my biological family to have this cancer...I am only the second survivor...my risk of other cancers are high and I am having a hysterectomy July 2012. I need to do what I can to save my life, even though I am still scared and anxious...after my husband, family and friends being by my side from day one...How could I not??? It does not matter your age, lifestyle, or how many checkups you get...Cancer can still get you...especially without much family history, being young, and if there is a genetic risk..We all need to be screen ...no matter our age.