consano blog

A few weeks later I headed into my nurse practitioner's office to find out why my iron was low. She couldn't find anything to explain it, but one test had come back inconclusive so she recommended I see a colon/rectal specialist. I looked at her like she was a crazy woman, but she kept saying, "it's probably nothing, but there could be hemorrhoids…just go, and get this checked off your list so you won't have to worry about it." I'm a rule follower, always have been, most likely always will be, so I listened and went to the appointment. 

The colon specialist I saw was very nice and immediately put me at ease. I was comforted hearing him tell me that it was most likely nothing. He did a short scope, found nothing and I thought, "Okay, I'm done. Nothing's there." Then he said ever so nonchalantly, "I think we should do a colonoscopy… just to be sure." My immediate response was, "Are you kidding me? No!" Fifteen minutes later I walked out of his office with a procedure time and prescriptions for the prep. 

At the colonoscopy, I was nervous, but not because I feared they'd find anything, I just wanted it over and done. When I woke up I remember seeing the doctor and my mom standing at the end of the bed. The doctor was somber and my mom looked like she was going to be sick. I was groggy and he said, "Shannon, we found a tumor. It's about the size of a golf ball. I won't know for sure until it's removed but it appears cancerous." 

Two weeks later, on April 2, 2002, I had surgery to remove the tumor, and I was diagnosed as having Stage III Colon Cancer. Once I recovered from the surgery, I started a 7 month course of chemotherapy which ended on December 19, 2002. 

As cheesy as it may sound, I've been able to see the blessings that came from surviving cancer. I know with absolute clarity that life is too short to waste and everyday I strive to not take life for granted. I try not to hold back and to enjoy life's moments, especially the small ones.   

That guy I had started dating? He is now my husband and the father of my two boys and has been with me every step of the way. I wonder sometimes if cancer hadn't come into my life if I would be in the same spot in life as I am right now. I definitely wouldn't change a thing.

My hope for anyone dealing with a serious illness is to be provided with information, options and, of course, a cure. To me, the unknown was the biggest "monster in the closet." To have been provided with more information on what, when, why and how instead of "we don't know yet," and "time will tell" would have made a huge difference. I hope for more clear cut preventable measures so that my boys will not have to venture down this scary road.

In one word, medical research means hope to me. It means someone is continually striving to find the answers to the unknown. And hopefully, when those answers are found it will keep more families, friendships and lives together. 

•   Cancer
•   It Matters to Me
•   Colon Cancer
•   AYA

My oncologist told me that the treatments might make me sterile. So, I went to a cryogenics laboratory to bank sperm. After that, it was time to start intense cycles of chemotherapy.

The treatment weakened my body and wiped out most of my white blood cells. In fact, I was in such bad shape, the doctors were forced to delay my chemotherapy while my body recovered between cycles. In addition, the chemotherapy caused many side effects: throat sores, mouth sores, skin rashes, dry skin, cystic acne, extreme fatigue, hair loss, numbness in my fingers and toes, and partial hearing loss. But the most damaging side effect was a blood clot that developed in my left arm. The clot formed around my port, a medical implant that was an access point for my chemotherapy. The doctors had to remove my port, pull out most of the blood clot, and then pump me with blood thinners to break up the rest.

At last, after five months of brutal chemo treatment, I thought my fight was over. I slowly returned to the gym, started going out socially, and got back into life. Although I was happy to be alive, every day was a challenge. I did not have as much energy. I looked different. I struggled to find my post-cancer identity. Just as I was getting comfortable with myself, I learned the fight was not over.

Nearly one year after chemotherapy, a routine CT scan showed four tumors along my spine. Rather than risk cutting the spine, the surgeon went in through the stomach. He made an 11-inch incision, placed my organs to the side, and took out each tumor. The surgery lasted for four hours. It was successful, and finally I was freed from the disease and able to begin my road to recovery. 

But my journey was certainly not over. I had made a vow to myself during the time that I was battling cancer. I had looked at others in the oncology clinic and realized that I was different. Each day, my room was filled with family members, close friends and my great doctors. With so much support, I did not have a chance to lose hope. However, in many of the other rooms, hope already seemed lost. As I walked down the hall with my chemotherapy IV-pole on the way to the bathroom, I saw other people fighting cancer alone. They were lying in bed, motionless, watching television or staring in space. Their only stimulation was a nurse checking in for a minute or two on the hour. I knew this was not right. It upset me.

So, my vow was to start helping my fellow fighters in the simplest way that I could. I walked into the other rooms, one at a time, and introduced myself. “Hey, what’s up, I’m Jonny. What’s your name?” Although they were exhausted just like me, everyone was friendly and welcomed my conversation. We shared stories, emotions, and different opinions about many things in life. Our common bond? We were all fighting for life.

Although I had my network of support in my family, friends and doctors, once I started introducing myself to these fellow fighters I realized that they were providing me something valuable that my caregivers could not. From deep discussions about the fears with fertility issues, to simply learning that sucking on Lemonheads candies alleviates the metallic taste from chemo, talking to others who also faced cancer was a powerful, insightful and uplifting tool. 

I wondered: “What if every cancer fighter could talk to a cancer survivor who was uniquely familiar with their experience; who not only had beaten the same type and stage of cancer, but who also was the same age and gender as the fighter?” The cancer survivor would be an angel-  walking, living proof that the fighter could win, too. What an amazing connection. This is why I created Imerman Angels.

What does Imerman Angels do?

Imerman Angels carefully matches and individually pairs a person touched by cancer (a cancer fighter or survivor) with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer (a Mentor Angel).  Cancer caregivers (spouses, parents, children and other family and friends of fighters) also receive 1-on-1 connections with other caregivers and survivors. These 1-on-1 relationships inspire hope and offer the chance to ask personal questions and receive support from someone who is uniquely familiar with the experience.

The service is absolutely free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world.  Imerman Angels is a federally registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. 

Visit www.ImermanAngels.org for information on how to support or join the network of cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers.

Today, we have the largest network of cancer survivors in the world; more than 4,000 cancer survivors and over 1,500 caregivers.  They live in all 50 states, and over 60 countries.

We help thousands of families with cancer, across the world, every year.

1-on-1 cancer support works for one reason:  we all BELIEVE.

No one should fight this disease alone.

•   Testicular Cancer
•   Cancer
•   It Matters to Me
•   AYA