Donna's Profile Page

Biography

I’m 45 and have no history of any kind of cancer in my family. I eat better than most people I know, been drinking green tea for years, walk 2 – 5 miles most days of the week, swim and ride my bike. In April, I started having some bleeding but not much and not all the time. I’ve always felt the cold more than most people but this year I seemed to be always freezing. In the back of my mind, I was thinking colorectal cancer but with no family history, I did not rush to the doctor. I even quit eating red meat and started adding lemon grass to my tea since I saw those things on TV or read them somewhere. What really got me to go to the doctor was that the dark circles under my eyes got so bad I looked like someone punched me. He sent me to get a colonoscopy on June 25th. Image my surprise when I woke up and the doctor told me I had a rectal mass.

Two days after the colonoscopy, I went to Vegas. I made sure I had a great time since I didn’t know what I would be facing. I’ve thought a lot about it and I’ve done tons of online research. I’ve posted it on facebook and told all my friends and co-workers. The support that I’ve gotten has been unbelievable. There are so many people praying for me, that I know everything is going to turn out alright.

Since I had a rectal tumor the surgeon thought it would be best to remove it and then do radiation and chemo. I had transanal excision surgery on July 22nd.

The pathology came back as a T2, low grade, with negative margins since it had not broken through the rectum wall. My cancer was never staged since lymph nodes were not taken out but I’m ok with that.

As of November 19th, the surgeon saw no evidence of tumor regrowth. I’ll be watched very closely the next two years but NED, I’m on my way!

Cancer Symptoms

Some bleeding, extremely cold all the time and really dark under eye circles due to internal bleeding.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects

I had a transanal excision surgery on July 22nd.

Comments:

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO YOU, DONNA!
Love, Andrea

Posted on April 2, 2012 at 6:15:10 AM by Andrea

Donna, I read your comment to Carla about losing your job after 13 yrs, I am sorry that happened to you. Since you suspect it was due to your illness, please know that is against the law in most States and with the Federal government. Donna, I am a retired Regional Staffing Manager; if you believe you ‘may’ have been discriminated against because of your cancer, that is definitely a matter you should bring to the attention of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) here is a very helpful link:
http://www.eeoc.gov/employees/charge.cfm. Feel free to follow-up with me. good health & good luck Deborah

Posted on January 7, 2012 at 8:18:11 PM by Deborah

Donna;

Thank you for your support!

Love Barb

Posted on October 30, 2011 at 9:13:03 AM by Private User

be well dear!

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 9:02:32 PM by Debb

I love your tattoo…I am getting one in December on my inner wrist with my husbands name and dad somewhere within it…:)

Posted on September 25, 2011 at 5:56:49 PM by Jennifer