Early detection is important. Stage I colon cancer is easily fixed with no Chemo. A simple colonoscopy is all it takes to find it, yet they’ll usually don’t do those until you’re 50. If you want one before 50, you need a good reason for insurance to cover it. I have encountered so many people in there late 30’s and early 40’s that have colon cancer, I think they need to lower the age to 35.

I am so lucky my tumor blocked my colon at Stage III or I might not have caught it until Stage IV. Stage IV is very bad, especially if it has spread to the liver, brain and or lungs.

The survival rate for Stage IV is not good at all. I have seen the survival rates for stage III listed between 35 and 55%. I think they may be for people who don’t do chemo, or at least their numbers bring it down. My doctor gave me a very good survival rate of 85% – 90%. Still, at the back of my mind is the worry about it coming back, but I will be looking for it and try to catch it early if it does.

I keep hoping that one day they be able to look at a child’s (and adults) DNA and not only see what kind of cancer they might get, but fix it at the genetic level so they never get it.