The following is a must read for the 50+
The COVID-19 pandemic has understandably seized the public’s attention regarding what they should do to stay healthy. Taking proactive measures in health matters can go further than the current pandemic. If you are older than 50 and have never had a colonoscopy you may want to read this. Although taxes and death are inevitable, a colonoscopy may help in postponing the latter.
This is a story about Dianne and the health challenges she encountered over the years. Without complaint she coped with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, skin cancer, wet age-related macular degeneration, surgery for diverticulitis as well as surgeries for both hips. As one of the hip operations failed to resolve the matter, the pain endured eliminating her once physically active lifestyle. Just when doctors were assessing how to treat the hip problem, Dianne’s next health challenge was fast approaching. Unlike prior health issues however, her next ordeal would be both overwhelming and unbeatable.
After noticing blood in her stool, the follow-up medical diagnosis revealed that Dianne had stage IV colon cancer which had spread to her liver and one lung. The doctors gave her hope suggesting that the need for an ileostomy may only be required for six months in order to allow the colon to heal. She also required chemotherapy, radiation and ablation treatments for the liver and lung. As Dianne underwent these various treatments, her weakened condition delayed the removal of the initially anticipated temporary stoma. With those treatments taking place over an extended period of time, the colon contracted. After several unsuccessful attempts to try and expand the colon Dianne was told she would have to live with what she had.
Once the initial treatments for the liver and lung cancers were successfully completed, the monitoring process began. All was going well for the first few follow-up blood tests and CT scans. Dianne remained positive, always managing to keep her smile, a characteristic that those around her found to be remarkable, especially in view of her health challenges. She remained focused on getting past the cancer so she could direct her energies to getting her hip repaired properly.
A few years prior to the start of her journey on cancer treatments I had sent Dianne a copy of the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis. It is a poem about how you complete your dash, or lived your life, that little line between the years of birth and death that is commonly seen below a name on grave markers. It is a worthwhile read if you have not already read it. As it was evident the cancer would never completely disappear, I told Dianne she could be proud of her dash. She lived her life well and had no regrets.
This past January, Dianne’s oncologist told her the cancer was back in both her liver and lung and that without more chemotherapy her life expectancy was estimated at between 3 and 6 months. Dianne decided against further treatment, hoping to live her remaining months without the side effects of chemotherapy. As the prescribed pain management medication was not working as expected, Dianne could no longer remain at home. Within days of entering a hospital care facility Dianne’s cancer had come back with a vengeance taking her life only two months after being told what to expect without treatment.
As I mentioned at the beginning, if you are in your 50’s or older and have never had a colonoscopy, you may want to have that discussion with your doctor the next time you go for a medical check-up. It may add a few more years to your life. Don’t wait until you see blood in your stool, as that may be too late. Keep in mind that only 14% of those diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer will live beyond 5 years.
On a personal note, Dianne was my only sibling and I will dearly miss the close relationship we enjoyed over the many years. She was a young 79. (July 29th, 1940 - March 23rd, 2020)
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