Patricia Williams

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


I was diagnosed with Stage III rectal cancer on December 11th—less than 2 years after my screening colonoscopy which cleared me for 10 more years. And 2 months after my mom passed away at age 87.  Life is what happens when you are making plans. 


I am truly blessed to discover the wide circle of support that has reached out to me in this difficult time. A friend described it as a mandala if you know what that is. I told my care team ‘if stubbornness and support mean anything, I’ve got this licked’.  They told me it is very important. It has been difficult for me to share this news with those who care about me because I feel your shock and  pain too.  Sometimes the best thing you can do for me is to reach out to someone else on my behalf and share the news. 


I consider myself a highly independent person and sometimes have trouble accepting help. I quickly decided that I need all the help I can get to beat this—natural, supernatural, medical, spiritual, whatever.  I am grateful for every text or phone call that lets me know you are thinking of me.   Or offer of a meal or cleaning or other services. It’s a long road and I may need all of it. When I am tired or overwhelmed I will respond with an emoji so you know I am listening. Even if I don’t right away—I am listening!


My oncologist has me on a somewhat cutting-edge regimen from Sloan Kettering. Chemo first for 2 months to kill the free-floating cells for my long term survival. When they do it last they sometimes don’t get it all in due to complications from surgery. Then an MRI and either 1-2 more months of chemo or on to chemo radiation for 5 and a half weeks to shrink the tumor and have better surgical outcome. Chemo by pill accompanied by 15 min radiation 5 days a week. After that a rest I think then surgery to remove the section with the tumor and 2 involved lymph nodes. I am lucky the cancer didn’t spread further in my body or we would be telling a much different story. 


I made this page so I can update my progress in one place but please feel free to reach out to me personally with questions or words of encouragement or just to say hello.  


One last thing...(proper ladies and children cover your ears)...F*CK CANCER!  With all your help, I will KICK ITS A*S.