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On April 25th my buddy went into immediate care for what he thought was just constipation; he was given an X-ray, told to take some stool softeners and sent on his way. By the following day he was in such horrible pain his dad took him to the hospital not realizing how much would change in the next few days.
Tests and scans were done at the ED and he was informed that his “stool blockage” was actually a large cancer mass in his colon.
On Wednesday April 28th he was taken into surgery where they removed the cancer mass along with 16 lymph nodes and added a colostomy bag. As if that wasn’t enough to swallow in such a short amount of time, his pathology reports came back showing the cancer was Stage 3, confirming he would have to undergo chemo as well.
After consultation with his cancer team; the plan was laid out for 3 months of chemo treatment, keeping the colostomy bag for the duration of that. Once he is cleared from chemo they should be able to schedule the colostomy reversal surgery.
Despite all of these heavy blows; Jimmy knows he’s lucky. Had the mass not become a blockage this could have progressed for many more years. He’s only 42...the (previously) recommended screening age is 50 and he had no symptoms or indication that this thing was growing in his body. He has no history of cancer in his family and just this week testing on the mass confirmed it was not genetic.
He has an amazing support system in his wife, kiddos, family and friends who will help him get through this and ultimately kick cancers ass! He isn’t the kind of guy who asks for help so it took a lot of convincing to allow this fundraiser to be set up.
Even with good insurance his medical bills are going to be pretty astronomical . Add in the fact that he won’t be able to work for the remainder of the year and the financial stress becomes just as overwhelming as the cancer diagnosis.
I’m setting up this page in an effort to help my friend and ease some of the financial burden so he can focus on his treatment and recovery. Any amount that they can use toward medical costs, travel expense (to Cancer Treatment Centers of America), or to supplement living costs for his family while he is out of work will be tremendously appreciated!
If you can’t help financially please keep him and his family in your prayers and please consider getting your screening done early! It’s his hope that at the very least, this fundraiser will serve as awareness that cancer doesn’t follow an age chart and can hit any one at any time.
#rowansrecovery #coloncancerawareness
Tests and scans were done at the ED and he was informed that his “stool blockage” was actually a large cancer mass in his colon.
On Wednesday April 28th he was taken into surgery where they removed the cancer mass along with 16 lymph nodes and added a colostomy bag. As if that wasn’t enough to swallow in such a short amount of time, his pathology reports came back showing the cancer was Stage 3, confirming he would have to undergo chemo as well.
After consultation with his cancer team; the plan was laid out for 3 months of chemo treatment, keeping the colostomy bag for the duration of that. Once he is cleared from chemo they should be able to schedule the colostomy reversal surgery.
Despite all of these heavy blows; Jimmy knows he’s lucky. Had the mass not become a blockage this could have progressed for many more years. He’s only 42...the (previously) recommended screening age is 50 and he had no symptoms or indication that this thing was growing in his body. He has no history of cancer in his family and just this week testing on the mass confirmed it was not genetic.
He has an amazing support system in his wife, kiddos, family and friends who will help him get through this and ultimately kick cancers ass! He isn’t the kind of guy who asks for help so it took a lot of convincing to allow this fundraiser to be set up.
Even with good insurance his medical bills are going to be pretty astronomical . Add in the fact that he won’t be able to work for the remainder of the year and the financial stress becomes just as overwhelming as the cancer diagnosis.
I’m setting up this page in an effort to help my friend and ease some of the financial burden so he can focus on his treatment and recovery. Any amount that they can use toward medical costs, travel expense (to Cancer Treatment Centers of America), or to supplement living costs for his family while he is out of work will be tremendously appreciated!
If you can’t help financially please keep him and his family in your prayers and please consider getting your screening done early! It’s his hope that at the very least, this fundraiser will serve as awareness that cancer doesn’t follow an age chart and can hit any one at any time.
#rowansrecovery #coloncancerawareness
Organizer and beneficiary
James Rowan
Beneficiary