Did you have symptoms prior to your cancer diagnosis?

What’s the one thing you wish you’d done sooner?

I had no idea and neither did my doctors for the longest time. We chased the anemia issue for just over a year before I finally agreed to a colonoscopy. Under the care of my internal medicine doctor, I tried over the counter iron pills for months with no effect. I was referred to a hematologist who started ferritin infusions for more months.

I was exhausted all the time. Really tired, so bad that I rarely went out of the house.

Should we have known sooner? I don’t know. I didn’t have any other symptoms typical of a colon cancer diagnosis.

The infusions were done in the very busy cancer infusion center. I was surrounded by cancer patients, some very sick. That scared me. Plus, I was afraid to get a colonoscopy. The thought of it made me cringe. Turns out there is nothing to fear. My colonoscopy was painless.

That’s the one thing that I wish I had done sooner. I’m blunt about it because it matters. If you’re over screening age, don’t wait. Get your colonoscopy.

What were your symptoms and should you or your medical team have known sooner? What’s the one thing you wish you’d done sooner?

You’ll receive:
Perspectives from lived experiences
Reflections on treatment, recovery, and survivorship