Dawn Armstrong
Delanco, New Jersey
My name is Dawn Armstrong and I am 44 years old from Delanco New Jersey. I’m a Precertification Nurse for Premier Prizm and thought I new it all.
I thought bleeding was from hemorrhoids, boy was I wrong. In May 2005, I had three episodes of severe abdominal pain and vomiting. This was after I had taken a laxative from which I thought I was constipated. I thought it was irritable bowel. Then I searched Web M.D., which indicated it could be an obstruction. A friend of mine at work strongly encouraged me to have a colonoscopy. Why? I was only 40.
I went to see a Gastroenterologist and agreed that I needed a colonoscopy. I had the colonoscopy. It was a piece of cake, since I was asleep during the procedure. While I was still asleep my doctor took the liberty and arranged for me to see a colorectal surgeon a few days later and said I must have the surgery within three weeks. When I woke up and got dressed the nurse put my husband and me in a room. The doctor came in and told us I had a mass, which appeard to be malignant.
Wow, talk about take your breath away. Me? Cancer? No way. You think it happens to everyone else but you. Anyway, my gastroenterologist even said if it had been five years later we wouldn’t be having this conversation. In other words, I would have been dead.
I had the surgery in July 2005, followed by chemo and radiation. I finished treatment in April 2006. All of my follow-ups have been great. Please, please don’t ignore signs of bleeding, changes in bowel habits, no matter how old you are. Don’t fear a colonoscopy, it’s a simple easy procedure. I’ll admit the prep is the worst of it, but if I can do it anyone can.
Some of the effects that colon cancer had on me and my family were that we were devastated. I couldn’t go back to work. I had hard time accepting it. Other than that everyone was marvelous.
You hear so many organizations for Breast Cancer and walks etc. This is the first event I’ve heard of for Colorectal Cancer. I so want to be apart of Get Your Rear in Gear. If it weren’t for my company sponsoring this event I would have never know about it. I believe there is a reason for everything. I wanted to be heard. I want to share my story to help other through their crisis or better yet get checked.
Dawn’s Words of Wisdom:
- Don’t give up.
- Don’t miss any treatment.
- Don’t put anything off.
- It will be over with before you know it.
Dawn’s Coping Skills:
- My faith, belief in god.
- Family
- Friends
- Watch a lot of comedy.