Facing the truth and the light

I lay on the bed crying as my oncologist bows his head and prays with me, holding my hand. That is when you know the news is bad.
He had just told me that the chemotherapy drugs that I have been taking, and mind you, they are the strongest ones available, have not been helping at all. My liver has grown, along with the number of tumors growing inside.
“Can any other drugs help?” I ask.
He said there are some non-chemotherapy drugs that will work like one of them, but the chances of it actually helping me are less than 20 per cent. Also the side effects are acne and rashes ranging from my lower face down to my chest.
“No thank you, it’s not worth it,” I said.
Basically, I’ve been given a couple months. My oncologist was actually surprised to find that my liver has lasted this long, with no signs of jaundice:
“(A) medical condition in which too much bilirubin - a compound produced by the breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells - is circulating in the blood. The excess bilirubin causes the skin, eyes, and the mucus membranes in the mouth to turn a yellowish color. If the cause is not treated, it can lead to liver failure,” according to WebMD.com.
“So where do we go from here?” I ask.
He will give me the necessary drugs to make sure my last few months are comfortable. He also laughed when I asked if I can drink again. He nodded and said yes.
Just in case if you all were wondering, chemotherapy and alcohol does not mix well. Either I talk for hours and not realize it or I get sick as a dog. So it has been four months since my last drink, which was orange juice with a smidge of vodka. Thankfully, my fiancé loves Budweiser as a marinade for his steaks, so I am going to be one happy camper.
The other good news is that my hair will come back now. For months, I have been shedding like a Newfoundland in the spring. In the last month, after I shower, I have pulled out clumps the size of my hand.
Any woman will tell you, it is very hard emotionally to watch my naturally thick hair thin out to almost nothing. For this reason, I have not allowed any pictures of myself to be taken without a hat.
But I do not have to worry about it now. My hair is already starting to shed less and hopefully in a few months, my hair will be back to its natural state. Normally hair returns two to three months after chemotherapy, and depending on the person, it comes back thicker and either wavier or curlier. In my case, I will still have my mother’s wavy, thick hair.
So how is this going to change my future?
Well, my wedding plans are definitely going to have to be pushed up, so I can actually have energy to get through the ceremony. While my fiancé is happy to just go to the local justice of the peace, I want to get married in Nevada. Sorry, this is where my politics come out.
I am not and will not be a “Party B” according to my marriage license. Since homosexual marriages were approved this last June, to make the marriage licenses neutral for all wedded couples, the “Groom/Bride” portion has been replaced with “Party A/Party B.” I would rather fly to Las Vegas and officially be a “Bride” than to stay in California and be a “Party B.”
OK, that is the end of my rant.
And I do have to check with a lawyer to speak about a will and other financial questions, to prepare for the end.
I will still work as long as I can drive to the Citizen’s office. When I can no longer drive, I will work from home and just e-mail my stories to my editor.
Am I scared of the end?
No one really wants to die. I would rather give up my left arm or all of my hair to stay with my fiancé and grow old with him. I would even sacrifice my chances of having children if I can stay with him for 10 years or 50 years. I can live with just having puppies.
But I remember my grandmother’s last week on this world. She was talking with someone (whom I could not see) and she introduced me to this person. I knew then that her mother came to comfort her and my grandmother would not be going to the next world alone.
That gives me comfort. I know that my grandmother will be waiting for me on a very comfortable couch in front of a big screen Plasma TV with the NASCAR race on. And my dog Braveheart will be there, ready to jump up on me and give me puppy kisses. Also my fiancé’s grandmother will be waiting for me too, ready to give me a huge hug and kiss.
I will miss the people that I leave behind, but I know I will live in their hearts forever. And with the thousands of pictures that my friends and I have taken in our years at the Sacramento State Hornet newspaper, they will remember me full of life and healthy.

In memory of Paul Newman

I've always been a fan of Paul Newman ... the ultimate masculine man in the late 1950s. Plus you have to love those blue eyes. No matter what, thanks to DVD, we will always have those blue eyes. He was a good man and will be sorely missed. Included is a clip from one of my favorite movies of all time.



Paul Newman, Hollywood's anti-hero, dies at 83

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press Writer 21 minutes ago

WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman never much cared for what he once called the "rubbish" of Hollywood, choosing to live in a quiet community on the opposite corner of the U.S. map, staying with his wife of many years and — long after he became bored with acting — pursuing his dual passions of philanthropy and race cars.
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And yet despite enormous success in both endeavors and a vile distaste for celebrity, the Oscar-winning actor never lost the aura of a towering Hollywood movie star, turning in roles later in life that carried all the blue-eyed, heartthrob cool of his anti-hero performances in "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

The 10-time Academy Award nominee died Friday at age 83, surrounded by family and close friends at his Westport farmhouse following a long battle with cancer, publicist Jeff Sanderson said Saturday.

Click the title link to view the entire article.

Just an update

I know I've posted a lot of national stories lately and haven't really put the focus on me. So since I have a little bit of free time, here we go.

Last week was not a good week. I received chemotherapy again and complained to my oncologist about a pain in my stomach. High on my stomach (near my diaphram) was a hard section of muscle or tissue. If I coughed, I doubled over in pain.
My doctor gave me Perkoset, which is a younger cousin of Vicatin (which makes me throw up). After one day, I was feeling no pain, but I was feeling major nausea. So I requested to go back to Tylenol with Codeine. The Tylenol mixed with a little Icy-Hot and I'm good.
But I did have a CT scan on Friday, so we'll see sometime this week of what's going on in my tummy.
But last week really affected my work. On Wednesday, I only worked one hour and I couldn't make it to work on Friday at all.
But today, I'm doing all right. There's a little pain in my back, but I'm doing good.

Baker Curb Racing joins cancer awareness fight

By SceneDaily Staff
Thursday, September 18, 2008

Jason Keller's No. 27 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry will carry a special paint scheme this weekend as part of a project to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Keller's car will carry the slogan, “Driven to End Prostate Cancer,” during the Camping World RV Sales 200 at Dover International Speedway. That is part of an ongoing project between Kimberly-Clark, through its Depend brand, Rite Aid Pharmacy and ZERO - the project to end prostate cancer - to encourage NASCAR fans to pay attention to prostate health.

Under the program titled, “Do it for those who count on you,” the Depend brand will promote health awareness among male fans and their families.

Click the title link to view the entire article.

Colon X-ray seen as effective at spotting cancer

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer 22 minutes ago

ATLANTA - A long-awaited federal study of an X-ray alternative to the dreaded colonoscopy confirms its effectiveness at spotting most cancers, although it was far from perfect.


Medicare is already considering paying for this cheaper, less intrusive option that could persuade more people to get screened for colon cancer. And some experts believe the new method may boost the 50 percent screening rate for a cancer that is the country's second biggest killer.

"We're talking about for the first time really screening the population," said Dr. Carl Jaffe, an imaging expert at the National Cancer Institute who was not involved in the research.

Click the title link to view the entire article.

Pink Floyd mourns Richard Wright

Pink Floyd mourn keyboardist Wright

3 hours ago

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour paid tribute to his "musical partner and friend" Richard Wright.

Gilmour said the band's keyboardist, who died of cancer at 65, was "gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound.

"Like Rick, I don't find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously. I have never played with anyone quite like him," he said.

Wright played the keyboard with the guitar group and wrote music for classic albums The Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.

Click the title link to read the entire article.

New drug approved to help with nausea

Chemo Nausea Patch Approved

5-Day Sancuso Patch Fights Nausea From Cancer Chemotherapy
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 15, 2008 -- The FDA has approved Sancuso, a five-day patch that fights nausea from cancer chemotherapy.

Sancuso continuously delivers a steady dose of a drug called granisetron, which blocks serotonin receptors and helps prevent nausea.

Nausea is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Not all chemotherapy patients experience this side effect, but it can be life- threatening. Some patients have to prematurely stop their cancer treatment because of severe nausea and vomiting.

Granisetron, delivered by injection or orally via tablets or solution, is sold under the brand name Kytril by Roche Pharmaceuticals. The Sancuso patch is from Scotland-based ProStrakan International.

Click the title link to read the entire article.

Few hospitals meet colon cancer standards

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer Tue Sep 9, 5:32 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Nearly two-thirds of hospitals fail to check colon cancer patients well enough for signs that their tumor is spreading, says a study that advises patients to ask about this mark of quality care before surgery.

National guidelines say when colon cancer is removed, doctors should check at least 12 lymph nodes for signs of spread. Checking fewer than 12 isn't considered enough to be sure the cancer is contained.

But a study of nearly 1,300 hospitals found that overall, just 38 percent fully comply with the guideline, Northwestern University researchers report Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Click the title to read the entire article.

To accept charity or not

Last week I received a call from a woman who read one of my columns and asked “What do you need?”
At first I was thrown off-course. I did not know what to say because I never had a complete stranger come up to me to ask me that question.
Growing up with my grandmother, a lot of the Great Depression morals and mindsets were instilled in me. Do not waste food, unless it makes you want to throw up. Do not lend out money. And if you must borrow money or an object, pay it back as soon as possible.
After 25 years of living with this mindset, it is kind of hard to just say, “Sure, I’ll take your charity. Thanks a bunch.”
But I guess I have to remember a couple of things. First of all, we are no longer in the Great Depression. The mindsets of the 1920s and 1930s have been replaced with several wars and a stabilized economy.
The stubborn pride of hardworking men and women in that era has been replaced as well with the charitable and sometimes selfish mood of the modern era.
Also there are more charities today then there were in the Depression era, where usually only the well-off could afford to donate money.
Every day in this modern era, millions of dollars are donated to all sorts of charities, ranging from the huge organizations, like the American Red Cross, to bank accounts opened for people involved in an accident or who have a disease.
Also in this high-tech world, people feel like they know one another from MySpace profiles and Internet blogs. A person’s entire life can be found with just a couple clicks on the keyboard.
My editor told me right after I stopped working in March after I was diagnosed, lots of people asked if there was a bank account set up for me to help with the medical expenses. He said no and he felt it was not the right time to call and ask me if I wanted to set something up.
As my editor was telling me about this, another reporter asked a very poignant question: If an account is set up for you, will Medi-Cal drop you?
This question has been running in my mind ever since.
Medi-Cal already has certain rules: You must be younger than 21 years old or more than 65 years old to qualify. Though if you do have dependants, you can be between 21 and 65 years of age.
Because I did not qualify under any of these circumstances, Medi-Cal had to use my cancer as a disability. The only consequence is the process would take four to six months.
I have been told by one social worker that I can only have $3,000 total in my bank account, whereas another social worker said as long as the money is going toward living and medical expenses, I can have more than $3,000.
Talking this over with my fiancé, we agreed it would be best not to set up an account for people to donate. Because what if only $20,000 was raised and Medi-Cal said, “Oh, you have money. So we’re going to drop your file in the trash?” I would still need about $60,000 to pay the medical bills.
So I appreciate everyone who has offered to donate money to help me with my medical expenses and to even those who have offered to go shopping for me or who have asked if I need anything for my new house.
But I hope this article gives you a little insight into my dilemma and why I politely refuse any monetary or food gifts and only ask for your good wishes and prayers.

Colon cancer patients not getting follow-up care

By STEPHANIE NANO, Associated Press Writer Mon Sep 8, 7:31 AM ET

NEW YORK - Many colon cancer patients aren't getting the screenings recommended after surgery to make sure the disease hasn't returned, new research shows.

Only about 40 percent of the 4,426 older patients in the study got all the doctor visits, blood tests and the colonoscopy advised in the three years after cancer surgery, according to the results released Monday by the journal Cancer.

While nearly all made the doctor visits and almost three-quarters got a colonoscopy, many didn't get the blood tests that can signal a return of colon cancer, according to the researchers at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland.

Click the title to view the entire article.

Cancer Telethon Donations Top $100M

By Associated PressSeptember 7, 2008, 12:07 pm PDT

NEW YORK - Spurred by an historic telethon Friday night, viewers stood up to cancer and pushed total donations for research to battle the disease past the $100 million mark.

That dollar figure reflects contributions from viewers of the telethon, "Stand Up to Cancer," as well as money raised since late May, when the Stand Up to Cancer initiative was launched, according to Lisa Paulsen, head of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the charitable organization behind Stand Up to Cancer.

"One hundred percent of the more than $100 million raised will go directly to funding the research programs necessary to battle this insidious disease," said Paulsen in a statement Sunday that accompanied the announcement.

Click on the title link to view the entire story.

Genetic Mutations Linked to Deadly Cancers

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter 10 minutes ago

THURSDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Potentially groundbreaking discoveries involving genetic mutations of two deadly cancers -- the brain cancer glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer -- may lead to new treatments and even cures, researchers say.

"These studies represent the most complete genetic analysis to date of any tumor type and provide a detailed genetic map of these deadly cancers," Kenneth Kinzler, a professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University, and co-author of the study on pancreatic cancer, said during a teleconference Wednesday.

Click on the title link to read this entire story.

Study: New way to spot brest cancer

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Wed Sep 3, 11:51 PM ET

A radioactive tracer that "lights up" cancer hiding inside dense breasts showed promise in its first big test against mammograms, revealing more tumors and giving fewer false alarms, doctors reported Wednesday.

The experimental method — molecular breast imaging, or MBI — would not replace mammograms for women at average risk of the disease.

Click on the title link to read the entire story.

Don't be scared of tests

My aunt just told me her aunt has been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. At 58 years old, her aunt would have been diagnosed sooner if she had done a colonoscopy earlier as told by the doctors.

The question arises: Why are people so reluctant to just get tested for certain types of cancers?

Well, there are several reasons. One of the reasons is people think that since only one distant relative in the family had a certain cancer, there’s really no reason to get tested. This is complete nonsense.

Whether your mother or great-great grandfather had cancer or even another disease, you should get tested to make sure you are not at risk. If any disease has a genetic factor, then it can be passed down to any descendant.

Or if there’s an environmental reason and someone close to you, like a neighbor or relative you’re living with gets cancer, then you should get tested. For example, if a local factory or mill has been shown to cause cancer via the chemicals, it can affect anyone in that community.

Some people may also believe that insurance companies will not pay for these tests if you are either “too young” for a certain disease or that your family history does not dictate any problems.

Technically, all insurance companies should allow you to take tests and either pay partially or the entire bill. Even if you have to pay $100 for a mammogram, it would be well worth it to know the results.

But the main reason I believe people do not take these tests is because people are scared. People are scared of the discomfort of the test, which is understandable if you have no idea about the procedure. I was nervous about having my colonoscopy, but my uncle reassured me that with the drugs administered before, I would be so out of it, I wouldn’t notice anything.

The worst part of the colonoscopy that I found was just drinking that disgusting, salty contrast prior to the procedure. Then the doctors gave me a drug that knocked me out. Afterward, I felt nothing and honestly asked, “Did you start yet?”

People are also scared of the possibilities. What if I do have cancer? Am I going to die? What about my family? Not knowing the unknown is pretty scary. But I think it would be scarier to never be sure and to wake up one day to find out you are dead.

For people who are about 70 years old, they may think that they have lived their life the best they can and what is the point of expanding pain for another five years hooked up to IV tubes.

But for younger people like me, who have their entire lives in front of them, it is almost a necessity to get tested. If detected early enough, most cancers and diseases can be beaten and the survivors can live a full, long life. As for me, if I was warned two years ago to get tested, I would have jumped at the chance.

So as my warning to you all in hopes for a good, long life of either no disease or a quick recovery, talk to your doctor and insist that you get tested if there is any question of family history of cancer or any disease.

Inspirational Pittsburgh-area teen dies of cancer

Inspirational Pittsburgh-area teen dies of cancer

Associated Press - August 19, 2008 11:53 PM ET

PITTSBURGH (AP) - John Challis, who inspired professional athletes with his battle against cancer, died Tuesday at his parents' home in suburban Pittsburgh.

Challis made national headlines when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game against the New York Yankees in June. He left the Pirates this motivational message on their message board:

"Have fun," he wrote to the Pirates. "It's the reason we play ball."

The 5-foot-5, 93-pound teenager was diagnosed with terminal cancer when he was 16.

He spoke candidly about his initial fear of death and then his determination to achieve his goals before succumbing to the cancer that had spread to his liver, lungs and other parts of his body.

Yankee All-Star Alex Rodriguez was 1 of the athletes touched by Challis. He called the young man: "very smart. He had a huge heart. I was just proud I got to spend a whole day with him."

John Challis was 18.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Personal update

Well, I got a call from Dr. Wang (my oncologist) this morning - he had the results of my CAT scan.
Basically, the cancer spots in my liver have not reacted to my current chemotherapy treatment. They have not shrunk, nor have they increased in size or number.
So I will continue to do chemo, but with different drugs. I will no longer have the nerve sensations (where my body and throat react to cold drinks and food), but I will have more stomach symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhea.
I will have another update next Tuesday.

You've got a friend in me

I have a large extended family, but none of these family members are genetically linked to me. Instead we are linked by our hearts.

When I attended Sacramento State in the fall of 2004 as a transferring junior, I had no idea that the people working at the State Hornet newspaper would become so close to me.

Over the years, relationships strengthened, some developed and some even re-emerged. We would have family dinners on Monday nights, help each other through impossible college essays and talk about topics that we could not discuss with our actual families.

Those days were the one of the best days of my life and I know the sentiment is mutual across the board.

But I never really knew how close we were until I first let my friend (and fellow Citizen writer) Linda know about my condition. Within hours, she sent a MySpace bulletin informing everyone on our friends list about the cancer.

That Sunday my hospital room was so full of supporting friends that people coming to see me would only have to follow the noise and laughter to find my room.

Ever since March, my friends have really been my crutch, particularly since there has been some family drama. When some family members either could not handle the emotional situation or simply gave up on my chances of survival, my friends have been there with a hug and a smile.

Every month since I was diagnosed, we have once again brought around the family dinners, only at restaurants instead at the press office. Those who can not make it either send me text messages or e-mails just to check up on me.

While they do not express vocally that they know I will survive this disease, they say it with their eyes and huge, long hugs.

Some friends and I have even resolved old issues. My friend Andrew came to my house after a trip to Argentina and we talked for more than four hours. This was the longest conversation we ever had since the fall of 2004. During our talk, we apologized for the way we acted when I was Photo Editor and he was Assistant Photo Editor. We blamed all the fights on bad medication and no experience in teamwork.

Some friends even take time away from work to help drive me to and from Kaiser South Sacramento on chemotherapy days. My friend Nika drove all the way from Manteca to help me out and to also tease me with promises of her mother’s Filipino cooking.

Another friend (and fellow Citizen writer), Gama, takes time from work and basketball practice to drive me. He also suffers through my Peter Brady voice every other Tuesday (a result of chemotherapy).

Some friends also feed me, like Holly, a teacher from Sac State. Only her food comes in the form of frozen, dead animals, like salmon, elk and deer. Full of protein and calories, this food (once I get a smoker) will definitely get my weight back up.

Some friends even make me cry, although they do not mean it. When I first went into the hospital, Josh, a friend since high school, sent me one of the sweetest notes I ever read. Essentially, he said I am like a sister to him and that he will always be my friend. He also gave me a rubber dart gun to use against any annoying nurse.

But I have to say my fiancé has been my best friend during these months. Besides the fact that he did not run when he heard the word “cancer,” he has been my rock to lean on. He has always been there with a hug, a kiss and a smile. He even proposed to me after I got out of the hospital and we bought a house together last month. I do not need any more evidence that we are serious and that he is truly my best friend.

I know that without any of my friends, I would not have made it this far in my treatment. But I do not have to worry about what might have been, because I have been blessed with the best friends anyone could ever have.

Olympian inspires cancer victims

Even though I can't stand the Olympics and would rather paint the rest of my house than to watch the Olympics, there is an Olympic athlete with testicular cancer who still competes. He's not doing this to raise money for cancer - he actually is putting off treatment to compete, despite the fatigue and pain from the growing cancer.
While I don't agree with Eric Shanteau's decision since he's 24 years old and the quicker he gets treatment, the better his chances of survival are, you have to admire what he's doing.
Check out the story at http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/swimming/news?slug=ap-swm-shanteausjourney&prov=ap&type=lgns.

The Truth about Rumors

Last week a friend sent me a forwarded e-mail telling about a connection between plastics and cancer. The e-mail sourced Dr. Edward Fujimoto, the Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, as saying by either freezing water in plastic bottles, microwaving fatty food in plastic containers or microwaving food covered by saran wrap, dioxins within the plastics are released. These dioxins would then increase the risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer.

Now when I read this, I immediately became skeptical. I have been freezing water in plastic bottles and microwaving food in plastic containers ever since I have had a microwave, along with millions of Americans. If this story was true, then millions of Americans and people around the world would have cancer.

So I googled the good doctor – lo and behold, the story is a bust.

According to TruthorFiction.com, there is a Dr. Edward Fujimoto who is the manager of the Wellness and Lifestyle Medicine Department at Castle Medical Center in Hawaii. However, when I look on the hospital's web site, there is no Dr. Edward Fujimoto there.

He claimed he has researched and observed that dioxins are released when fatty foods are heated in a microwave in plastic containers. However, his research has never been published, according to the web site.

Fujimoto also said Japanese residents are aware of the dioxin danger and mostly cook with glass cookware.

Now Fujimoto never addressed the issue of frozen water bottles. This eRumor has been linked to singer Sheryl Crow (who had been diagnosed with breast cancer) talking with either Ellen DeGeneres or Oprah Winfrey. Again no truth can be found.

While dioxins are real and natural (practically everyone is exposed to a small amount of dioxins every day), the effect can be disastrous.

While most tech-savvy people usually discard these new-age chain letters as just trash, some people may actually take these rumors seriously.

If everyone believed these rumors, people would be afraid to breathe because the ozone layer could cause lung cancer or the dust from Fido or Fluffy could cause prostate cancer.

The oncology nurses at Kaiser South Sacramento have told me one in three people will contract cancer by age 70. There may be environmental factors that cause cancer, such as cigarettes or local factories.

But there are other factors to consider: genetics by heritage, freak genetic mutations (in my case) or what I like to call the luck of the draw. Some people are dealt good cards and others are dealt garbage. It just happens to be chance.

So should we avoid cooking food in microwaves? If that is all that you have available, then go ahead and cook with plastic.

Should we avoid tobacco products? This is a personal choice. Check your family background to see if lung cancer is a family factor. Then decide on your own if you wish to smoke or chew. My grandmother smoked for 40 years until the California public school system brainwashed me into believing that by smoking one cigarette, she was going to die.

However, the cancer only attacked her colon. Despite having asthma, living through the Mount St. Helens disaster and living in Sacramento pollution, she really did miss smoking. But by quitting, she probably lived an additional five years.

Am I regretful of living in a small town with a paper mill that may (not proven) have released dioxins into the ground and ground water?

No way. I love Fort Bragg and always will. Many happy memories were created there and that small town will always hold a special place in my heart.

What is my point? Do not be afraid of living the good life. Go travel, eat your favorite foods in either plastic or glass cookware and breathe the good air. Do not let the media scare you into living in a plastic bubble. We only have one life each and we should make the most of it.

• The American Plastics Society's take on the plastics rumors
• The U.S. FDA's take on plastics and microwaves
• The U.S. FDA's research on dioxins
  

Stand Up To Cancer

I found this out on Yahoo! Stand Up To Cancer is having a benefit show to raise money for cancer research. Set your TiVos and DVRs for 8 p.m. EDT/PDT on Sept. 5 on NBC, ABC and CBS. The shows will also be simulcast in HD. To view the entire story, visit http://www.standup2cancer.org.

Stars from film, television, sports, journalism and music
come together for September 5th prime time television event
to raise funds for cancer research

May 28, 2008 – NEW YORK, NY/LOS ANGELES, CA: Stand Up To Cancer www.standup2cancer.org), a new initiative to raise philanthropic dollars for accelerating ground-breaking research, launches today through an unprecedented collaboration uniting the major television networks, entertainment industry executives, celebrities and prominent leaders in cancer research and patient advocacy. ABC, CBS and NBC will donate one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for a nationally televised fundraising event to air on September 5, 2008 (8 pm EDT and PDT), aimed at rallying the public around the goal of ending cancer's reign as a leading cause of death.

Network evening news anchors Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams will announce the initiative together during live appearances today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CBS's "The Early Show," and NBC's "TODAY show."

"For people struggling with this disease, or those who will be diagnosed, scientific breakthroughs can be a matter of life or death -- literally. We want everyone to know that they can make a difference in this fight," said Couric. "Television is a notoriously competitive business. For the three major broadcast networks to join forces is a wonderful example of the power of working together, and we're very grateful to have the opportunity to reach people all over the country through this show."

"As a motion picture and television producer, I've learned how incredibly powerful these mediums can be in generating public discourse, sometimes almost overnight. Our goal with this initiative and TV show is to ‘tip' the conversation in this country about cancer – to get people riled up, so they want to do something about the fact that it still takes so many lives," said Laura Ziskin, who will produce the September 5th broadcast. Ziskin is a cancer survivor. Her film credits include the Spider-Man trilogy, As Good As It Gets, and Pretty Woman, and she also produced the 74th and 79th Annual Academy Awards.

The Stand Up To Cancer special will feature live performances by legendary recording artists and stars from film and television who will perform as well as present filmed content giving viewers insight into cancer. Various screening tests will be demonstrated in novel and entertaining ways. "Katie, Charlie and Brian will report on potentially life-saving research, speaking with both patients and scientists. We hope to entertain you, educate you, move and inspire you," Ziskin said.

Fort Bragg G-P mill update

As you all know, I'm from Fort Bragg, Calif., and was surprised to hear that the Georgia-Pacific mill was being searched for dioxin, a known cancer-causing chemical. I have stated in an earlier blog that perhaps this is leading to residents getting cancer (my grandmother, her second husband, a family friend and I all have the same type of cancer).
Well here is an update on the situation. I'm keeping an eye on this case and hopefully raising awareness in the town about getting screened for cancer.

What's up on the G-P mill site

By TONY REED

Article Last Updated: 07/24/2008 08:01:06 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

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Of the Advocate

Activity on the former Georgia Pacific mill site has definitely picked up this summer, since the city's Redevelopment Agency approved an interim remedial action plan that will allow bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soil. That sounds complicated, but it's not.

Essentially, by adding water and air to soil, Mother Nature has the ability to eat oil, grease and diesel fuel in dirt, releasing more microbes, water and carbon dioxide back into the soil and water.

Several people have asked me what has been taking place on the site in recent weeks, and I had the opportunity to tour the site and talk with Judy Nedoff, senior scientist with Arcadis, G-P's environmental consulting agency.

Those who worked at the mill likely remember the mobile equipment shop, fueling area and compressor house, where trucks and other equipment were repaired and refueled there. Over the years, a significant amount of petroleum products leaked or spilled from trucks, equipment and underground pipes and soaked into the surrounding dirt. According to Nedoff, the mobile equipment shop also featured a bay, like an in-ground swimming pool, that allowed mechanics to stand while working on the underside of trucks and equipment. That also leaked a lot of oil, grease and diesel fuel into the soil.

Subcontracted crews, overseen by Arcadis staff, removed the foundations of the building in June and began digging below. The level of diesel and oil in the soil was obvious to nearby businesses as wind carried the smell over the city. I could smell it myself in some areas, especially where excavated dirt was being prepared for bioremediation.

Nedoff said crews dug downward and outward from the building until they reached clean dirt. The process left a rather large "puddle" as groundwater flowed into the hole.

Landfarming made easy

The landfarm, as officials are calling the area being used for bioremediation, covers most of the paved area east of the planer building. Nedoff said that the bottom foot of the landfarm is sand, dredged from the Noyo Harbor, which prevents equipment from scraping the pavement as it tills the dirt.

I asked her if Arcadis had tested the sand for pollutants. She said Arcadis had not, but the sand came with a clean bill of health from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. For the next four months, a large tiller will be turning the 18-inch-thick layer of dirt and adding water.

"Throughout the summer, the population of microbes will grow quite a bit, and breakdown the hydrocarbons," said Nedoff.

She said the soils will be tested repeatedly and it is expected that the process should fully clean the soil of petroleum pollutants by October. The dirt will then go back in the holes it came from.

The landfarm contains about half of the petroleum-impacted dirt on the site. The rest will be dug up and placed on the landfarm next year.

Air monitors

At almost all times when I was on the site, I could see a tanker truck spraying water on all roads used by the dump trucks and other equipment. Nedoff said that keeps the dust down. Tilling the soil also created some dust. Nedoff said moveable air monitoring stations are placed downwind of the work site. If the monitors pick up a certain level of dust, work is stopped. Work is resumed after additional dust control measures are taken and levels drop, she said later by phone.

Groundwater treatment

Biosparging is a scientific term for something that looks very similar to the bubbler in a fish aquarium. Since petroleum hydrocarbons soaked down far enough to reach groundwater, it was determined they needed to be removed as soon as possible.

She said it was necessary to clean those areas first, because petroleum contamination threatened to infect groundwater below the site. The most "upstream" underground water is being treated first, to cut off the spread of contamination as it slowly moves west toward the ocean. It also ensures that previously-treated areas won't be re-contaminated.

The process will not use purified oxygen or filtered air, but just the same coastal air we all breathe, pushed into the water with a compressor.

The bubbling will both add oxygen to the groundwater and mix added nutrients to allow microbes that are already there to thrive, said Nedoff. When soils are put back into the holes, an oxygen-releasing compound will be added, so that underground bioremediation will continue after the project is done.

According to Arcadis reports, the process should take about three months. Several groundwater wells have been placed between the excavation area and the ocean, and scientists will continue to test water samples to ensure the treatment is successful.

Nedoff said this type of bioremediation is a common way to treat petroleum-impacted areas and that petroleum levels have been "about what we expected."

"We're just taking advantage of what happens naturally," she said.

She said about four truckloads of dirt and hazardous metals were taken from the site's electrical shop to Kettleman Hills waste facility in Kings County in early June. Mixed with dirt were shavings of lead and copper, Nedoff said, which are considered hazardous and have to be disposed of at a licensed handling facility.

More information can be found on the state Department of Toxic Control Website by clicking the envirostor link on the left and entering Fort Bragg in the search field. More specific information about current projects can be found online at fortbraggmillsite.com and the City of Fort Bragg's Website also has a link to mill site-related information on its Website, ci.fort-bragg.com.ca.us/.

More photos of the site can be seen by clicking the DotPhoto link on our Website, www.advocate-news.com.

Change of habit

Anyone who has seen me between Christmas 2007 and now have noticed that I lost a lot of weight. To be exact, about 45 pounds since then. And trust me, there wasn't much weight to begin with. My uncle used to tease me, calling me the "Anorexic Poster Child."
For months, people keep telling me to eat more. I know everyone is meaning well, but that's like telling me to breathe. I know I need to eat, but one of the downfalls of cancer is loss of appetite. It's kind of like the cancer wants to kill you faster - it takes 2,000 calories a day and some days you just can't eat 2,500 calories to make up the difference.
And what hurts cancer patients even more is America's new obsession to stop obesity by making many food products "low-calorie." I watch my calories, but the opposite of about 75 percent of Americans.
I want and need that high-calorie, fatty food. Send me donuts, hamburgers, mash potatoes and lasagna.
However, another downfall of cancer is changing of taste. Some foods just don't have that wonderful taste that they used to. One particular food for me that really makes me want to cry is chocolate. Any woman will tell you that chocolate is a staple or life source. However, M&Ms taste weird and heavy. Chocolate syrup still tastes OK, but in moderation. Even cookies with chocolate chips don't excite me anymore. Unfortunately, I bought Keebler cookies and S'mores poptarts and they're just taking up space in my pantry.
Another type of food that I recently have become scared of (yes, I said scared) is fast food. I love Del Taco, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Jasper's Hamburgers (BTW, Elk Grove needs to reopen Jasper's so my fiance and I can eat), Round Table and Wendy's. However, last week I went to Arby's and got the advertised Cheese and Roast Beef Sandwich for $4 for two. Ever since then, I've been sucking down Dissolveable Tums to battle the heartburn.
Fast food is full of calories, but this recent development is making me scared to try drive-thru again. I even stopped going to Burger King because I threw up my entire lunch in the Oncology Department of Kaiser in front of about 10 other cancer patients.
So what can I do?
I can always make my own meals, though due to lack of energy, I cannot stand up long enough to cook a three-course meal. I'd love to make my own pudding so I have four snacks, but standing for 30 minutes will probably kill me. And unfortunately, I don't have a stool for my kitchen. I just bought some eggs, so I'll see if I can stand for 10 minutes to prepare those. But I can prepare meals where I can let the food soak or boil and then come back to either prepare quickly or pour into a bowl, like macaroni and cheese or rice.
I can also switch to more mild and bland meals. Spicy enchiladas or chili probably isn't a good idea unless I want to throw it back up. But rice, mac and cheese, potatoes (with a splash of garlic) or even sandwiches go down easily and have plenty of calories. Eggs with ketchup and some sausage links are a great breakfast. I'd have pancakes, but Denny's always makes them so huge, I can't finish one.
So to wrap up this post, I guess I'll just say that I'm trying to eat, folks. But it's taking some time to figure out what I can eat, what to avoid and which foods are the quickest to prepare so I can sit back down.

In memory of another victim of colon cancer

I'm adding this memorial to Tony Snow, not only because he was a good reporter whom I respected over the years, but also to once again raise the question of early screening for colon cancer.
Tony Snow was only 53 when he died on Saturday. Perhaps if he had been diagnosed sooner, then perhaps he could have gotten treatment and survived into his 70s. But alas, once again we lose one of the good guys to that evil known as cancer.
Remember, you don't have to have a particular cancer (or fear of inheriting it) to get screened. If there is any concern or question in your mind, go to your physician and request a screening. While the insurance companies are passive and recommend getting screened at a later age, you can be proactive.
Rest in peace, Tony. You will sincerely be missed.

Reason for lack of new posts

As y'all can probably tell, I haven't been keeping up on the blog lately. Well, I have good reason. Today I came home from the hospital...again. On the bright side, at least I didn't enter through the emergency room this time. Let me tell you how it all started.
About three weeks ago, I started to get diarrhea. At first I was freaking out until my radiologist informed me it was the combination of the radiation and chemotherapy. She told me to buy some Imodium-AD to manage the diarrhea. For one and a half weeks, I dealt with this annoying, but at the time manageable issue.
Then my appetite started to wane. On Friday, I started to vomit back my food. On Saturday, my fiance's brother came over and commented how my activity level had decreased. And it was true...I really didn't feel like eating much.
Sunday I tried to drink more fluids, including Gatorade, which is more hydrating than water, according to the oncology nurses. On Monday I meant to call the oncology department to let them know of the situation, but surprise -- I didn't have the energy to do that either. Meanwhile I was still dry heaving and vomiting up my Carnation Instant Breakfasts.
Finally, my fiance made me call the oncology department at Kaiser South Sacramento. The nurse told me to come on in and they would hydrate me. My fiance picked me up and after I got the energy to leave the house, he drove me to Kaiser.
At the oncology department, after taking my vitals from both standing and sitting down, they hooked me up to a mixture of Dextrose and Sodium Chloride. During that one bag, I was starting to feel better. I even felt like eating...and did eat three package of Keebler crackers. I tell you, those were the best tasting crackers in the world.
The nurses, after talking with my oncologist Dr. Stephen Wang (pronounced Wong), said that they would admit me to a room upstairs. At that point, I really didn't have any options. About 5 p.m., I finally got a room.
Now this visit to the hospital was better than the last time for one reason -- Popsicles. The nurses on the third floor had a plethora of Popsicles available. Grape, orange and cherry was available at my request. It was beautiful and tasty.
I stayed in the hospital for a total of four days. Within those four days, not only did I discover that soup of artichoke is not completely disgusting, but also I had a CT scan. At least with this CT scan, I drank two banana shake contrasts, which is a whole lot better than drinking two jugs full of salty water with some sort of powdery flavoring.
The result of the CT scan is the main tumor in my rectal area had shrunk from the previous chemotherapy/radiation session. Dr. Wang was expecting this. However, more tumors have formed in my liver.
So what is next for me? I was given the option of either staying in the hospital during the weekend and receiving chemotherapy or leaving today and coming back on Monday to start this session. I opted for coming back on Monday so I could have one last weekend of good food.
This next session will last two or three weeks and will be twice as intense as the last session. The only setbacks are fatigue, nausea and continued hair thinning.
Well, I'm going to eat the rest of my dinner, so I will be back with you folks tomorrow. Take care and be good to each other. (That was my bad imitation of Walter Cronkite).

Asians fight for cancer

Thanks to my friend Linda, I thought this would be a nice addition to my blog. I don't want to fight just for my cause, but to help others as well. If you are of Asian ancestry, please register with www.aadp.org and see if you can save a life.

No more tight clothes

Up until mid-March 2008, I dressed like a typical young woman. I used to wear tight-fitting Wrangler jeans that were comfortable to wear, while soothing my self-esteem, along with sports T-shirts and designer tops that complimented my body above the waist.

I was in a good place and it showed through my clothes. I had a fantastic boyfriend, I was pretty sure that Sacramento State was confident enough that I finally finished my bachelor’s degree and I was actually using my government-journalism degree as the city government reporter with The Elk Grove Citizen.

However, one operation changed my clothes lifestyle since then.

The doctors at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Citrus Heights performed an ileostomy on me in March.

Ileostomy surgeries have been performed since 1972, first by Swedish Dr. Nils Kock, to ensure continence. Basically, doctors open up the belly, separate a lower part of the smaller intestine, flip the end inside-out and stick it through a small incision on the belly. This procedure allows the small intestine to bypass the large intestine. Food, which would have gone through the large intestine to be digested and excreted the normal way, is now passed through the small intestine and come out a stoma (the flipped-inside-out end).

The ileostomy pouches, which were also developed in 1969 by Dr. Kock, have improved incredibly over the decades, said Michael Makrakis, a wound specialist at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento.

Pouches now can either be clickable or mesh-like to allow gas to pass through without any solid waste to escape.

I personally have a normal pouch, where I have to empty it a couple times a day and I have to change the bag every four or five days.

To make me feel a little bit normal, Makrakis gave me several nets that I pull up to my waist and it holds my folded pouch, allowing me to wear pants and not having to worry if anyone could see the bottom of my pouch. The pouch only shows slightly when the pouch is getting full.

Ileostomy pouches are not used solely by colorectal cancer patients. There is another condition called Crohn’s Disease

According to Righthealth.com, Crohn’s Disease “is a chronic, episodic, inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by transmural inflammation and skip lesions.”

Between these two diseases, among others not listed here, there is actually a high number of people who have ostomies that you probably weren’t even aware. Besides everyday workers, such as lawyers, politicians, grocery clerks and postal workers, famous people have ostomies.

One of the most famous is President Dwight D. Eisenhower, according to Evansville Ostomy News. He had chronic dry Crohn’s Disease. Five days after he had an ostomy performed, he was back conducting official executive decisions.

Football fans may be surprised to discover that Rolf Benirschke, the placekicker for the San Diego Chargers in the late 1970s had ulcerative colitis and had an ostomy surgery in his third season, according to Evansville Ostomy News.

“Charmed” and “Beverly Hills 90210” star Shannon Doherty, also a sufferer of Crohn’s Disease, also had an ostomy, according to Evansville Ostomy News.

Essentially, life doesn’t have to end because either these people or I have an ostomy. Technically, I can go swimming, although being totally self-conscious, I would never go out in my bikini with my pouch. Sorry, but it took me seven years to be comfortable enough to buy a bikini after my scoliosis surgery.

I can also go exercising, go out to restaurants, movies, concerts and clubs with my friends. I can even spend quality, quiet time with my fiancé.

However, right now the only thing I cannot do is wear half of my wardrobe. Come fall, I will have to buy either slightly wider jeans or buy something that I completely hate – low-rise jeans. I already do not have hips, so I will have to get used to keep pulling up my pants. Sorry to be crude, but those low-rise jeans are one fad I hope to go in the way of leisure suits and never to return.

As far as my oncologist knows, my ileostomy should not be permanent and possibly by the end of the year, it should be reversed. I will throw a party that day, especially when I think of my wedding day and having to wear an ileostomy underneath a white dress and excusing myself several times to empty it.

Until then, I monitor my pouch, making sure it does not get too full and change it twice a week.

Good and bad days

Cancer is just one big roller coaster. You either feel really good or you feel like you shouldn't have gotten out of bed.
Take this last week for example. On Monday I was feeling good until I went into the Oncology center of Kaiser South Sacramento. Right after the nurse gave me some anti-nausea medication, I got sick right in the middle of the room. The 2,000-calorie meal from Burger King that I had for lunch just came right back up.
Fortunately, the nurses understood and allowed me to clean up. Afterward, as I sat back down, I tried to avoid any eye contact with any of the other patients because it's pretty embarrassing to vomit in public.
One of the nurses sat down next to me and reminded me that I was in a room where people are used to getting sick. Also, if I'm going to be sick, I might as well get sick in a hospital. She gave me a new blanket and filled up my water bottle and allowed me to sleep while the strong drugs pumped into my body.
However, this was only the beginning of my bad week. Our special friend diarrhea came and visited me for a day or two, leaving me scared if there was another blockage in my ileostomy. My radiologist reassured me that the diarrhea could be a result of the treatments and possibly the tumor is shrinking. She smiled and said this is normal and to take some Imodium-AD.
So my week sounds pretty bad, right? Don't worry...it gets better. For three mornings, I couldn't get up past noon because of cramps. It was just Mother Nature's sick reminder that I shouldn't have children. Luckily, the medication that eases my normal pain is strong enough to take care of that annoying pain.
This week was really the first time that I truly felt the full effects of the chemotherapy since I started four weeks ago. Before, I have dealt with symptoms like mild hair loss and sensitive peripheral nerves, where my fingers, toes and throat become very sensitive to coldness. It makes eating ice cream, drinking Jamba Juice and other high calorie treats hard to ingest.
And you all must remember, I'm not on the strong chemotherapy yet. I have one or two more weeks of this session, followed by a two or three week break to allow my bone marrow to recuperate. The break will also allow me to try to gain some weight since this week I did not feel like eating much.
Now on the flip side, there are days when I feel like I could walk to San Francisco and back. One Saturday, after house-hunting in Elk Grove for a few hours, my fiance and I went to the mall for an hour. I collapsed on my couch afterward and slept for two hours straight, but earlier that day, I felt normal.
On other days where I do feel well, but not enough to join in a relay race, I have enough energy to either go grocery shopping or have a quick lunch with friends. Or I may have enough strength to write this column.
During my treatment, the only thing I can do is just to prepare for any type of day. I get as much rest as I can, try not to do any strenuous activities, eat as much as I can throughout the day without getting sick and take my anti-nausea medication if I do not feel well.
So as I relax on the weekend while I'm not connected to the chemotherapy, I mentally prepare for the next week and keep reminding myself that this session should be ending soon.

Colon cancer commercials

Last night, I saw a commercial with Diane Keaton talking about colon cancer and how people over the age of 50 should get screened. She was talking about the importance of colonoscopies and meeting with your doctors. Also of course, giving money for colon cancer research.
It made me think of how many people go undiagnosed until they have a problem. Take me for example. I was fine until January when I started to have some digestive issues. I thought it was my diet, so I just started taking some over-the-counter medications and was hoping for the best. It wasn't until that night when I started to bleed continuously that led me to the hospital where I found out I had cancer.
My point is, when my grandmother died of colorectal cancer in 2006, no doctor ever told me to get tested or screened. They acted like it wasn't a concern at all. But if they did show some concern and just wanted to make sure, they would have caught my cancer much earlier and my current diagnosis might be different. From what my doctors are telling me now, I had this cancer probably for the past two years.
Now I'm not saying for everyone to get tested for every single cancer in the world, but be aware. If there is even one case of cancer in your family, get tested for that particular kind of cancer.
In my case, we have actually caught the culprit who gave me cancer, and it wasn't my grandmother. Tony Reed of The Fort Bragg Advocate-News (my hometown) did an article on May 1, 2008 where the local Georgia-Pacific mill is being pushed by the city Redevelopment Agency to test the local ground and water for dioxin bioremediation studies. Dioxin is a known chemical to cause cancer.
Holy cow, there's a potential cluster in Fort Bragg! My friend's father had colon cancer, my uncles' father died from colon cancer at 56 years old, my grandmother died from colon cancer at 70 and now I have colon cancer. All of us lived either in the middle of town or in the outskirts. We're not sure if the dioxin got into the city or the well water systems; neither of my uncles can recall if our house on Happy Lane was on city water or if we had a working well.
To sort of confirm my family's theory, a man I talked with in the Oncology Treatment Room also lived in a town with a lumber mill in Louisiana. And guess which kind of cancer he was diagnosed with in his early 50s.
So don't wait until you're 50 to get screened for colon or any other type of cancer. If you're concerned about having a particular type, talk with your doctor. It may just save your life.
By the way, if you're wondering more about colon cancer symptoms, Yahoo! has a website dedicated to the second deadliest cancer.

From Bad To Worse

I’m 25 years old and I have just been told by my doctor that I will probably not live to see age 30.

He gave me about two years.

Well, you can imagine all of the emotions that I was feeling at that moment.

I immediately started to tear up, especially thinking of all of the events that I will never get to see.

If I have children, I will not see them grow up, learn to drive a car, go to college or get married.

I would not be to sit in my rocker on my front porch next to my husband who’s rocking in his own chair. Heck, we won’t even have a 50^th wedding anniversary.

Evidently back at the first hospital where I was admitted, the doctors told my family and I since the cancer spread to the liver, the disease was incurable. But for the life of me, I can’t remember him telling me this. Maybe I was on too many medications, maybe I was still wrapping my mind around the cancer-idea, or maybe I just didn’t want to hear it.

After my aunt and I spoke with the doctor, we were moved to the oncology treatment center for my first regular chemotherapy visit. All the while, my eyes were red with tears and I was trying not to think of the life that I will never have.

As I sat down in a recliner surrounded by other cancer patients, I was avoiding making eye contact with others, not because I was embarrassed of my young age or that I was crying like a baby. I was trying not to focus on what was said earlier, which would have made me cry even more.

A woman sitting next to me quietly asked what type of cancer I had. My aunt had to answer for me: “Colorectal cancer.”

The woman had the same type, only in Stage III, whereas I’m in Stage IV. Another gentleman sitting across the aisle also had the same type.

The man tried to comfort us by telling how the doctors gave him a few days and this was a year ago.

I talked with these folks for more than an hour and our discussion made me feel a little bit better about my disease.

Basically, the doctors give an estimate, but there may be more or less time.

But despite this knowledge, it doesn’t make dealing with cancer any easier. I may not be able to see my little cousins graduate from high school and proceed to college.

But in the words of Monty Python in the film “The Life of Brian:” “Always look on the bright side of life.”

I’m able to prioritize what needs to be done before I go – set up a will, see if my fiancé and I want to get married and sell my condo.

I can also spend as much time now being the best niece, cousin, fiancé and friend that I can be.

Also after my chemotherapy and radiation, I can choose whether to travel around the United States or go to Greece and touch the Acropolis or the Parthenon.

While it is still hard to think of life ending by the age of 30, I want to take the time that I have to make the best of life. I will not just sit, mope and give up.

I will continue to take my treatment and pray to God that it will give me three years instead of two.

The benefits of knowing how much time you have: I don’t have to register to vote again and I probably won’t be alive to see gasoline at $10 per gallon.

A Shock Of My Life

“Jamie, I’m sorry,” the doctor silently said. “But you have cancer.”

My uncles, who were standing on both sides of my hospital gurney, immediately held my hand and just starred at me.

At once, our minds flashbacked when my grandmother and their mother died of cancer two years ago.

My uncles leaned over, held me and cried even more. For 10 minutes, we stayed this way, while the nurses in the laboratory let us deal with this shocking news.

Even looking at the pictures from the colonoscopy, it still didn’t sink in. It all felt very surreal.

Life was going great and then all of a sudden, this huge wrench just got thrown in front of my path.

My life was going on the right track – I just began a new reporting position, I graduated from college and my boyfriend and I were starting to look for a house for ourselves.

Alone in my hospital room, I realized that this was real, although I still didn’t, or couldn’t, grasp the entirety of the disease. My grandmother died of rectal cancer, but she was 70.

I’m 24 years old, so I should come out of this ordeal fine. By the end of the summer, I should be normal again and ready to dive into the swimming pool before autumn arrives.

However, due to complications with the initial surgery, my expected recovery will take a couple of extra months.

In an ongoing column series, I will share my experiences and struggles with rectal cancer. I will also explore different aspects of the disease and any progress from the medical field of either preventing or eradicating this cancer.

The Elk Grove Citizen will also have a special place in its online forum section for readers’ own survival stories. To submit a story, visit www.egcitizen.com.

So look in the next issue for my next column where the news goes from bad to slightly worse.

If you have any questions or suggestions for upcoming stories for this cancer series, contact Jamie Gonzales at gonzales.egcitizen@gmail.com.