LeAnne's Colon Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
My name is LeAnne and I'm 43 years-young. I live with my husband, mother and 10 year-old daughter. I consider myself pretty much your average, run-of-the-mill American. Most people who know me would probably agree. Until I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.
To date I have been asked about a thousand times by doctors, nurses, family and friends about my symptoms. How could it have gotten to stage IV without me knowing it? Looking back I can say there might have been a couple of things that were related, but it basically blindsided me and my family.
On Wednesday, July 8, 2015 I ended up at my doctor's office because I had been running fever for two days with no other symptoms. He drew blood, noted that my upper abdomen was a little tender and told me my liver felt inflamed. He ordered an abdominal ultrasound which was done on Thursday, July 9th.
I went back to the doctor again on Friday, July 10th (my 43rd birthday) to review the radiologist report for the ultrasound. I was told that there were some concerning "shadows" on my liver that needed further diagnostic testing. I was sent to Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, TX that evening for an abdominal CT. I was instructed to wait at the hospital until my doctor called me. I finally got the call around 7:30 p.m. which confirmed that the "shadows" were actually lesions/masses. He wanted to immediately admit me to the hospital which I refused. It was my birthday and I wanted to go home and spend a couple of hours with my family. What would they have done overnight anyway, right?
I returned to the ER on Saturday morning, July 11th and found out that the lesions/masses were on my liver and lungs. Another CT was done that included my pelvis and upper chest and I was admitted to the oncology floor. At that time I was thinking lung or liver cancer and steeling myself for a liver and/or lung biopsy. Late Saturday night I got the results of the extended CT. They found "thickening" or basically a tumor in my sigmoid colon (connects to the rectum) which was confirmed by a sigmoidoscopy. There was no doubt that the liver issues that had apparently started the whole health crisis were caused by colon cancer. They no longer were going to do a liver or lung biopsy on the masses. Those were mets from the spread of cancer from my colon tumor. This was confirmed by a sigmoidoscopy on July 13th.
On July 14th I had a chemo port surgically implanted and finally got to go home. Since then I have seen the oncologist again, have been given a laundry list of scary medications with whacky-sounding side effects and I am scheduled for my first round of chemo on Monday, July 20th.
Within a week I have accumulated over $20,000 in medical bills and I haven't even started chemo. My cancer is not curable so I will need treatment for the rest of my life in order to live as long as possible.
I am not one to ask for help or even accept help when it is freely given. I pride myself in my independence and ability to tackle and overcome any obstacle in my way. That being said, my village of cheerleaders encouraged us to ask for help. No one can prepare for the financial burden of something so sudden and life changing... a now life-long financial burden for me, my husband and my young daughter.
So, if you have it in your heart to give a little or a lot, we would appreciate it beyond measure.
In addition to this fight to control my cancer, my new mission is to throw my heart and soul into advocating for insurance companies to cover colonoscopies for people under age 50. My story is not all that unique. There are thousands of young, healthy people like me that have similar stories. Paying out-of-pocket for a colonoscopy is very cost prohibitive. I'll do whatever I can to make a difference!
Thank you for listening to my story! :)
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/leannesjourney
To date I have been asked about a thousand times by doctors, nurses, family and friends about my symptoms. How could it have gotten to stage IV without me knowing it? Looking back I can say there might have been a couple of things that were related, but it basically blindsided me and my family.
On Wednesday, July 8, 2015 I ended up at my doctor's office because I had been running fever for two days with no other symptoms. He drew blood, noted that my upper abdomen was a little tender and told me my liver felt inflamed. He ordered an abdominal ultrasound which was done on Thursday, July 9th.
I went back to the doctor again on Friday, July 10th (my 43rd birthday) to review the radiologist report for the ultrasound. I was told that there were some concerning "shadows" on my liver that needed further diagnostic testing. I was sent to Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, TX that evening for an abdominal CT. I was instructed to wait at the hospital until my doctor called me. I finally got the call around 7:30 p.m. which confirmed that the "shadows" were actually lesions/masses. He wanted to immediately admit me to the hospital which I refused. It was my birthday and I wanted to go home and spend a couple of hours with my family. What would they have done overnight anyway, right?
I returned to the ER on Saturday morning, July 11th and found out that the lesions/masses were on my liver and lungs. Another CT was done that included my pelvis and upper chest and I was admitted to the oncology floor. At that time I was thinking lung or liver cancer and steeling myself for a liver and/or lung biopsy. Late Saturday night I got the results of the extended CT. They found "thickening" or basically a tumor in my sigmoid colon (connects to the rectum) which was confirmed by a sigmoidoscopy. There was no doubt that the liver issues that had apparently started the whole health crisis were caused by colon cancer. They no longer were going to do a liver or lung biopsy on the masses. Those were mets from the spread of cancer from my colon tumor. This was confirmed by a sigmoidoscopy on July 13th.
On July 14th I had a chemo port surgically implanted and finally got to go home. Since then I have seen the oncologist again, have been given a laundry list of scary medications with whacky-sounding side effects and I am scheduled for my first round of chemo on Monday, July 20th.
Within a week I have accumulated over $20,000 in medical bills and I haven't even started chemo. My cancer is not curable so I will need treatment for the rest of my life in order to live as long as possible.
I am not one to ask for help or even accept help when it is freely given. I pride myself in my independence and ability to tackle and overcome any obstacle in my way. That being said, my village of cheerleaders encouraged us to ask for help. No one can prepare for the financial burden of something so sudden and life changing... a now life-long financial burden for me, my husband and my young daughter.
So, if you have it in your heart to give a little or a lot, we would appreciate it beyond measure.
In addition to this fight to control my cancer, my new mission is to throw my heart and soul into advocating for insurance companies to cover colonoscopies for people under age 50. My story is not all that unique. There are thousands of young, healthy people like me that have similar stories. Paying out-of-pocket for a colonoscopy is very cost prohibitive. I'll do whatever I can to make a difference!
Thank you for listening to my story! :)
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/leannesjourney
Organizer
LeAnne Simmons Owens
Organizer
Bammel, TX
