Welcome CC's CaringBridge site! This site is the easiest way to keep friends and family updated on CC's uncensored fight to kick Arnold (the tumor's) ass! Both CC and Doc will share posts here. While we can't guarantee how regularly we will update the site, we will do our best to keep you in the loop and all of your comments will be read/shared with CC, even if we don't always respond. While CaringBridge posts will remain much more detailed, CC has decided to share her story publicly on social media in an effort to eliminate the stigma of colorectal cancers and help others. You can find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @CCnDoc. We have also started a podcast, "CCnDoc Talk" where we talk about many things, including Cancer. You can find it on any podcast provider or on our website at CCnDoc.com. Blessings! We thank you for your ongoing love and support. Love yous! XO 💋
Backstory: In early November of 2021 CC was diagnosed with stage 3B Rectal Cancer after having almost NO symptoms and shocking her doctors during a colonoscopy endoscopy to ID what we thought would be UC or IBS. She had a clean colonoscopy two years earlier so this was a very unlikely outcome. She began a four-phase medical approach to treatment which included 1) Short Course IMRT Radiation - DEC 2021 2) Folfox 6 Chemotherapy (7 out of 8 planned rounds) from JAN 2022-APR 2022 3) A lower anterior resection surgery (LARS) to remove all of her sigmoid colon and most of her rectum as well as place a temporary ileostomy in JUN 2022 4) A second surgery to reverse the ileostomy and then the re-acclimation period for her now semi-colon to adjust to its new size and lack of parts in AUG 2022.
On June 6, 2022 scans post rad and chemo thankfully showed no evidence of disease (NED)! Surgery pathology confirmed this as she was declared CANCER FREE having had a "full response to treatment." The story doesn't stop there. Her inner journey during the course of treatment was one of great dedication and devotion and continues to this day. She's looked at all of this as an opportunity and knows she still has things to do in this life.
No one is EVER the same after a cancer diagnosis and they are surely never the same even after a successful outcome. Life NEVER goes back to "normal" for someone who has had cancer. There is never a, "So you're good now?" There will always be a different mindset, a what if wondering, routine scans and scanxiety and for some, long-lasting after-effects from chemo, radiation and surgery. If you are a friend or loved one: Be kind. Be patient. Be Understanding. Be supportive. Be compassionate whenever possible.
CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health journey. Learn more about CaringBridge.
