As instructed to Liz Sauchelli
The day I received my colon cancer analysis, my husband and I purchased a bottle of champagne. We have been driving house from the hospital crying and I simply mentioned, “Babe, we have to cease and get a bottle of champagne as a result of we’re going to toast to kicking most cancers’s butt and being on the opposite facet of this factor.” Within the image I’ve from our toast that day, our eyes are swollen from tears.
My most cancers journey started almost seven months earlier in January, after I was 47. I used to be feeling lightheaded, dizzy and bloated. After I went to the toilet, I wasn’t having a whole bowel motion. My urge for food had decreased and by the point I went to my OBGYN in March, I’d begun to note a bit little bit of blood in my stool. My physician brushed it off and mentioned it was hemorrhoids, however I pushed again. She agreed to order me a fecal occult test to see if they might detect most cancers.
The check got here again adverse, however one thing nonetheless felt off, so I known as my physician again a pair months later and requested her to schedule a colonoscopy. Within the months main as much as the process, my situation worsened. I might barely eat and the blood in my stool significantly elevated.
Kimberly along with her champagne, celebrating “kicking most cancers’s butt” after her analysis, July 24, 2015.
However after I went in for a seek the advice of earlier than my colonoscopy, the doctor wasn’t even certain in the event that they have been going to display screen me. Then I confirmed her an image of my bloody stool and her perspective utterly modified. I received an appointment for the following week.
At that time, I knew one thing was actually incorrect, so it wasn’t a whole shock after I wakened from my colonoscopy and the physician instructed me I had a fist-sized, malignant tumor in my sigmoid colon. However he by no means mentioned the phrase “most cancers.” My husband and I had been laughing popping out of the anesthesia, however I ended. “Wait, are you saying I’ve most cancers?” I requested. The physician replied with a somber sure.
All the pieces shifted. The colour within the room was completely different. It felt like a movie dropped over my eyes and from that time ahead, I noticed the world otherwise. Time appeared extra finite.
I used to be a busy stay-at-home mother with a 7-, 10- and 12-year outdated, and I used to be all the time on the go. On the time of my analysis, my kids have been visiting their grandparents in California, so my husband and I had a few weeks to course of the information earlier than sharing it with them.
After all, they took it arduous as a result of, despite the fact that they have been younger, they knew the phrase most cancers they usually equate it with demise. All of us began to cry. I couldn’t promise them I wasn’t going to die — I simply didn’t know. However I instructed them, “Hey, we’re going to combat this and we’re going to get by means of it the very best we will.” And that’s precisely what we did.
Life turned a whirlwind of physician’s appointments. I had six weeks of oral chemo and 33 radiation therapies to my pelvis to shrink the scale of the tumor. Then, 10 days earlier than my surgical procedure to take away the tumor, I suffered a bowel perforation and obstruction. One in every of my children discovered me within the fetal place within the bathtub, and I instructed them to go get the neighbors. By the point they received me up and dressed, the ambulance rushed me to the hospital, the place I had emergency surgical procedure.
Restoration was gradual. After 10 days within the hospital, I had six weeks of occupational and bodily remedy to start out strolling once more. The actually cool factor about it, although, was that it helped me to cease and actually scent the flowers, to soak up issues that I might usually simply go by. As I used my walker to get round my neighborhood, I ended to take images of flowers and nature. For the primary time, I began to really recognize the little issues.
All through the six months of chemo following my surgical procedure, I attempted to remain constructive. Earlier than getting into for chemo, I’d watch a comedy like “I Love Lucy” to raise my temper. I’d do small workout routines to get my endorphins up.
As optimistic as I’ve tried to be, there have been many nights I cried myself to sleep as a result of I used to be in a lot ache. I let myself grieve the components of my physique that modified and acknowledge that what I misplaced was necessary. Then, I’d concentrate on the truth that I used to be nonetheless alive, that there have been methods I might nonetheless take pleasure in life. I cherish each day I get up subsequent to my husband and spend time with my kids.
Kimberly on a latest live performance date evening along with her husband of almost 23 years, whom she describes because the “most compassionate caregiver” 2022.
I’d been instructed earlier than surgical procedure that I’d have an ostomy bag for six weeks, however due to the problems I suffered, that timeline was moved to 2 years. I took it in stride. After the 2 years have been up, I made a decision to maintain the bag: Reversal surgical procedure may be fairly arduous on folks, and I didn’t need to put my physique by means of extra trauma.
I’ve now had my ostomy bag for six years and, in some methods, it’s been very releasing. After my analysis, I struggled with how I seen my physique. I wished to reclaim my femininity and rebuild my energy after my physique was weakened by remedy. That’s after I determined to take up dancing.
Burlesque and pole dance are artwork varieties that I’ve all the time beloved to observe, however I don’t suppose I ever thought I’d strive them. However after my analysis, I had the braveness to take action. Pole dancing improved my energy after my physique was weakened by remedy. I additionally began performing, which has helped me construct my confidence and really feel extra snug in my physique as it’s now. After I dance, I proudly showcase my ostomy bag. It’s a part of who I’m and what I’ve survived.
5 years after I used to be declared cancer-free, I used to be recognized with ischemic colitis, which implies the arteries in my colon are beginning to die. I’ve been on completely different drugs and bouts of mattress relaxation because the docs work to determine the foundation trigger.
However I proceed to maintain my spirits up. I dance, I roller-skate and I proceed to advocate for individuals who have colon most cancers. I by no means imagined I might look again six years after my analysis and be grateful that I used to be enriched by that journey. Every day, I take a second to concentrate on the truth that I’m nonetheless right here — and I can nonetheless take pleasure in my life.
This useful resource was created with assist from Merck.
