I always felt that cancer was so esoteric. In my case there were symptoms that sent me to the doctor. After that there was surgery and recovering from surgery; chemotherapy and its side effects; but symptoms only the doctor could detect on a physical exam. There is also the feeling between treatments of 'not doing anything' while the disease may be coming back. The first 2 years are the most dangerous for recurrence. Once I was almost there (1 year 11 months); another time it was less than a year; the last time I was almost at 3 years. The CA-125 was a strong marker the first time; the first 4 recurrences it was a weak marker (still in the so-called normal range but into double digits); the 5th and last time the CA-125 didn't budge (a false negative if you will).
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With my colostomy, however, while not as life-threatening as cancer I am forced to be concerned about bodily functions. As a side effect of radiation and having a catheter for 4 - 6 weeks, I now have recurrent UTI (uterine tract infections) - sometimes without symptoms. What can be life-threatening is a total blockage, which is what sent me to the hospital at the end of April. I am forced to monitor my input and output very carefully. The problem is there is not consistence. The same food that caused no effect one day can blow up another day, so it is hard to figure out what is 'safe' to eat.
After I saw Ed Asner with his 1-Man show about 'A Man and His Prostate', which is not autobiographical but told in the first person, I realized that elimination problems can affect anyone, especially as we age.