Diabetes Complications with Colon Cancer Happen Commonly to People in America *
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* This is a fictional account drawn from multiple stories.
I have diabetes complications with my colon cancer. Things don't look so good for me right now. I would like to share my story in case it might help someone.
My name is Doris, and I am 67 years old. My loving husband Gordon (God rest his soul) died 10 years ago of a heart attack. I miss him every day, but I know he is watching over me. We have three beautiful daughters; thank God Gordon lived to see his first two grandchildren born. After our girls were born, I got pretty heavy. I was constantly busy with my girls and volunteering in the church office but I couldn't seem to keep my size down.
Life's been pretty good to me, but now it is tough.
I was blessed to have a loving husband who adored me anyway. Then I started to lose weight. At first I was pleased when the weight all of a sudden started to melt off. I liked my new figure but I couldn't figure out why I felt so tired all the time. It seemed like just getting the kids off to school was more than I could deal with.
Finally, I went to our family doctor. He ran some tests, and it turned out that I had diabetes. That means that my body doesn't utilize insulin the way it should leaving leftover insulin to pretty much operate as a poison.
I was scared because I heard about diabetes complications that can occur causing you to go blind or end up losing limbs. But my doctors showed me how to cope with the disease and things were mainly OK and I didn't have any diabetes complications.
Now for the colon cancer and diabetes! After Gordon died, I didn't know how I could keep on living, I was angry and depressed for a long time. It just didn't seem fair. In the end, it was my grandkids that got me through. They are perfect and adorable and I love watching them grow.
A couple of years ago I took my grandkids for a week so my daughter Lacey and her husband could have somewhat of a second honeymoon together. We had a great time, but I was exhausted by the time they went home. At first I thought the pain in my abdomen was from something I ate at Chuck E. Cheese with the boys. However it kept getting worse and I couldn't have a BM. Finally I went to the doctor and he sent me straight to the emergency room.
I had a tumor four inches long in my colon so they operated right away. What I didn't know is that colon cancer and diabetes are common together. If I had known this, I might have gotten a colonoscopy. But I never thought of doing it, because it doesn't run in the family. Well, to make a long story short, I went on chemo.
For a while, it seemed like things were better until about five months ago. I went for a checkup, and it turns out that the cancer is back. The doctors say I have spots on my lungs now, too, and there isn't much left they can do. This double whammy of diabetes complications with colon cancer is going to do me in. They told me about colon cancer mortality and I'm really scared.
Looks like the cancer has spread.
I am sorry I will not get to see my grandkids grow up. The oldest boy looks just like my Gordon. But I have made peace with God, and I am ready to go when He is ready to take me. I hope that you, or someone you know who has diabetes, will think of me and have that colonoscopy - the sooner the better.
Additional Resources
- Journal of Diabetes Nursing
- MSNBC - Study links diabetes to cancer risk
- CNN - Diabetes increases cancer mortality risk
* This is a fictional account drawn from multiple stories.
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