Blindsided by Colon Cancer
by Carrie Brangiforte
(Boston, MA)
My journey through colon cancer started on July 3, 2008. I had just given birth to my fifth child on June 26, 2008. Following her birth I began having excruciating pains in my abdomen, pain like I have never experienced before in my life.
My doctors at the local hospital I had delivered at thought my bowels had gone to sleep. I was told that that can happen following childbirth. We still had no explanation for what was going on even after ultra sounds and x-rays. I was transferred to a city hospital to hopefully get some answers.
I was there for about 8 hours before a ct scan revealed that I had a tumor in my colon and it had ruptured. I was full of toxic fluid and I needed surgery immediately to remove the tumor.
I was told I had colon cancer and the words today still don't seem real even after everything I went through. My surgery was successful and my doctor was able to remove the tumor, along with my colon and my large intestine. When I woke from surgery my biggest shock was to see I had an ostomy bag attached to my stomach!
This to me was very hard, I had no idea this was part of the plan! I soon learned my ostomy would be temporary, about 3 months, and I couldn't have been happier. This was still a long and hard 3 months. I had complications after my surgery, I got an infection in my abdomen and had 8 liters of abscess fluid that needed to be drained. It took 3 drains and 4 weeks to get this done.
The whole time I was going through my whole ordeal I keep thinking about my beautiful family and my new baby that I needed to get home to. I had my reversal and my system has adjusted well thankfully. I just celebrated a year of being cancer free and I feel truly blessed. I was not due for a colonoscopy for another 10 years, I never would have made it that long.
I had a history of colon cancer but never knew it!
I tell people all the time now "know your history" it could save your life.
Colon Cancer is beatable, treatable and preventable.
