There is something particularly memorable (horrible) about the moment that someone mentions the word “cancer” and you in the same sentence.  Mine was the morning of August 23^rd, 2018, the day after a routine screening colonoscopy.  I received the call from a friend who happened to run the local pathology group.  It still sucked.

My care team consisted of a brilliant colorectal surgeon and a brilliant medical oncologist.  Mine were separate entirely but in some care teams one doc will function as both (like gynecologic oncology for ovarian cancers).  My support team was even stronger.  Big props to my spouse and eldest bro.  As bro Gary says – you get one best shot, choose wisely.

Determining your stage occurs after docs determine if/where the cancer has spread, usually after surgery.  Pardon my shorthand…but…Localized? Stage 1 or 2. Some lymph nodes? Stage 3.  Mets all over the place? Stage 4.  After the big surgery, I was informed that I was stage 3a (low risk stage 3) with one lymph node involved. This meant I was going to have chemo.  Staging has more to do with therapeutic protocol than survival odds.  One of my sherpas was diagnosed at stage 4 over a decade ago and is still kicking around.  It all depends…

If you want specifics on your cancer type and available therapies, start with NIH’s National Cancer Institute site and search for your cancer type:

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/pdq/information-summaries/adult-treatment

Centers of Excellence near you:

https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/cancer

Everyone’s experience is different, of course. But many patients cross some common waypoints or common experiences along the way:

• That phone call (above).

• Surgery (for some) or tumor sample.

• Stage and Type. What the hell does this mean?

• Chemotherapy, aka Medical Oncology (for some).

• Radiation Therapy, aka Radiological Oncology (for some).

• End of initial Treatment – Ringing the bell

• After care – Monitoring and Testing

So, sorry for your diagnosis.  

Welcome to the club. 

Now, here’s some good news.  

Unlike the 1970s and before, cancer has become more of an episodic disease, like diabetes and heart disease.  The flare-ups can kill you but if you manage them, you can live a long, healthy life.  

By the way, I’m not an expert.  I just hate this disease.  I lost a parent and some of my closest friends on this earth to cancer. As mentioned, I had a colon CA diagnosis myself.  These are just some thoughts and suggestions I received from sherpas and friends along the way.  

Your mileage may vary.

Hang in there, you can do this.