06/19/2024
From Michael Riehle:
💙💙💙💙💙
Four years ago today I was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer. The situation was dire, as the disease had aggressively spread from my colon throughout the entirety of my liver. The original prognosis given to me was one year to live. No option of surgery, and chemotherapy for the remainder of whatever time I had left; no hope. Statistically, the survival rate of late stage CRC is a bleak 15% in the first 5 years.
We immediately began seeking additional medical opinions and scouring the internet for any leads. Surely there had to be something… anything. Hope finally appeared in the form of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. This required bi-weekly travel, but the only alternative was impending death. After 341 grueling days of treatment, which included 21 rounds of IV chemotherapy and 3 major abdominal surgeries, I was deemed NED (no evidence of disease). Instead of undergoing adjuvant or clean up chemo, we began the surveillance period of my treatment. This consisted of routine CT scans, blood work, various other tests, and a whole s**t load of (sc)anxiety. My life and future was eagerly forecasted with each poke and prod.
Last month I was due for my 3 year NED scan, 2 month blood work, and annual colonoscopy. Outside a benign polyp discovered in the scope, (get your ass screened!) I'm happy to report that everything looks spectacular! I'll continue residing in NEDville until my next scan, which has now graduated from 3-4 month to 6 month intervals.
Alas, there are still numerous aftermath effects from cancer even being years out from any sort of treatment. It's been difficult to rebuild my life and allow myself to believe in a future, despite the resounding health successes. Things like neuropathy, extra sensitivity to heat and sunlight, memory loss, decreased decision making skills, anxiety and depression, surgical site pains, you name it and it's likely there to some degree. These aren't complaints, but rather a reminder that post cancer life isn't all happiness and rainbows. It's a learning curve of gratefulness, health, spirituality, grace, and love 💙🐺
Most of this, if not all, could've been prevented with earlier screening and paying attention to my body. Age IS NOT a factor for colorectal cancer. I was 31, and sadly, there are many far younger than me. Things like blood in your stool, irregular bowel movements, unexplained weight loss, and anemia, and abdominal pain are common signs. If something doesn't feel right, go to the doctor. Not next week or next issue, go now 💩
