Colon Cancer Survivor

Perseverance and Determination Keep This Survivor Going

Amy H. had already faced several challenges before her diagnosis of Stage IV colorectal cancer. She credits her survival to her autistic son, her faith and a persistent attitude. She believes her diagnosis revealed her true life’s purpose: to advocate for herself and others with cancer.

For a year and a half, I had pain, rectal bleeding, anemia and weight loss. At the time, I was a single working mother raising my three-year-old daughter and five-year-old autistic son while living with my dad, who was helping me raise my children.

Then, a series of unfortunate events happened that changed my life. In 2014, I was incorrectly diagnosed with hemorrhoids. My health insurance ran out the day before my GI appointment, so I cancelled the appointment that likely would have caught the cancer. Then my son began having behavioral issues that made it difficult to find daycare. A couple months later, my 89-year-old father passed away from prostate cancer. His death was a shock because I didn’t know he was living with prostate cancer.

My dad had helped care for my kids, so I had to quit working. While this was happening, my rectal bleeding worsened. I couldn’t go to the bathroom without a laxative, and even then it was very painful. However, I believe a blessing came from all this trauma. Losing my job qualified me for health care from the government, and I was able to schedule a doctor’s appointment. In hindsight, I think my son’s erratic behavior was his way of knowing my dad’s health was worsening. I think God used my son to help save my life. If everything hadn’t happened the way it did, I wouldn’t have had the insurance to correctly diagnose my cancer.

I made an appointment with my primary care doctor who again referred me to the GI doctor. A colonoscopy, which I thought I was too young to have at age 35, revealed I had colorectal cancer. Scans showed tumors on my lung. Although they were initially thought to be benign, they were malignant, and I was considered Stage IV.

I felt like I was being thrown into the wind. Not only did I have to face losing my dad and my job, now I had cancer. I was confused and scared.

Over the course of my care, I saw several oncologists, a radiologist, a surgeon, various specialists, a social worker, a nurse navigator, my primary care doctor and numerous oncology nurses.

My treatment included neoadjuvant chemotherapy for six months, 28 radiation sessions and a sigmoidoscopy followed by a colostomy. A few months later, I had another surgery. One of the oncologists I saw had a biopsy sample genetically tested. Results showed I did not have any mutations. I started a new chemotherapy regimen. Four months later, we stopped the treatment because scans showed stable disease.

I had my first recurrence about five months later. I had five high-dose radiation treatments. A month later, I started a new chemotherapy regimen. We thought that had taken care of it, but three years later, my bleeding returned and scans showed another tumor. I am praying my current chemotherapy regimen will cure the problem, but I will be taking chemotherapy indefinitely. I understand my cancer is not curable. My goal is to live long enough to see my children grow up.

Throughout this long cancer journey, I believe God has put real live angels in my path to help and guide me. My wonderful medical team saved my life. I am so grateful for many people: a dear friend; my “single special needs mommas;” our church; Cancer Services of Gastonia; Roar, my cancer ladies rowing group; Family Reach, a financial resource for cancer patients; True North Treks, and Joni and Friends, a Christian disability ministry.

I believe I have found my calling through cancer. I've become an advocate for myself and for others facing cancer. In 2016, I began researching cancer resources that focused on wish granting, financial assistance, family retreats, care packages and cards, and so much more. I created binders of this information for the chemotherapy center I go to, Cancer Services of Gastonia and my former oncologist’s office, so that other patients could learn about the resources that may be available for them and find their source of hope.

You have a voice — use it. God gave you the breath in your lungs to speak your truth. You matter more than you realize.