My Battle with Metastatic Cancer
Donation protected
My name is Cynthia, I'm a mother of two boys ages 13 and 9 and I have been battling cancer since 2014. I started with stage 3 colon cancer which has spread to my liver, both lungs and recently to the brain.
Because of cancer spreading throughout my body I'm not able to work due to the many treatments and doctor visits. I'm asking for help with medical expenses and continuous care for my kids.
Background Story
In 2014, at just 37, I was diagnosed with stage III Colon cancer. The doctor's said my case was very rare for someone my age. I had surgery in December and started 6 months of chemo the following year. During that time, every two weeks various chemicals were pumped through my body. My biggest fear was my kids finding out my condition so I did everything I could to prevent them from finding out what I was going through. I wanted to keep their childhoods as normal as possible. I didn’t want them focused or worried about me. This by far was the hardest thing I have ever been through. I wanted to quit and give up several times. The thought of my boys was the only thing that kept me going.
August 2015, I was told I was cancer-free. I could finally breathe! The next three years were filled with test after test, scan after scan. Every three months, I had to have scans and tests to make sure I was still cancer-free.
By December 2018--- I had been cancer-free for three years. I was headed to my final scan. I was looking forward to finally having my port removed and only having to have scans/tests every year versus every three months. I was finally going to have a BIG part of my life back. Or so I thought.
The results of that scan turned my world upside down. As I sat in my doctor's office, in tears as he explained to me MY CANCER WAS BACK. This time, my colon cancer had metastasized in my liver. It was a devasting blow! How could it be back? I left my doctor’s office feeling defeated. There was no way I could go through chemotherapy again. I just didn’t have it in me to try to fight this again. Despite my initial feelings, I will say, you never really know just how strong you are. After I had time to process everything, I had a change of heart. I was going to fight until I couldn't fight anymore.
In January of 2019, I went through surgery, again. I was cut open from my breast bone down past my navel. My doctors told me they were able to remove the cancer mass with clean margins. Because they caught it early, and it hadn’t spread to any other organs at that time, I was told that another round of chemo was not needed. While I didn’t have to go through chemo again, I was back to having scans every three months.
Things seemed to be going well. In July of 2019, I went back to the doctor for my routine scan, and once again, I received news that no one ever wants to receive. My latest scans show scattered spots in both my lungs. The spots were too small for a biopsy, so the doctor suggested we wait three months to see if they would grow.
Waiting is never what you want to do when there is a chance that your cancer can spread but I had no choice.
In October, I went in for my next CT scan to see if the nodules in my lungs had grown any. While they had grown, I also found out that my liver cancer was back.
I was told by my oncologist that this is a battle I will continue to face for the rest of my life. I have cancer cells in my blood, so there is a chance my cancer will always come back, we just don’t know when or where.
God knows I want to give up and just let what happens, happen. I’m trying to stay strong for my boys. I know they need me, they are only 12 and 8. If I’m truly honest, I’m tired of the uncertainties. I’ve been trying to keep it from them because I don’t want them to worry about me. How do you tell your kids you’re fighting a battle that you’re not sure you can win?
I would like to ask everyone to keep me and my family in your prayers as I get ready to fight this cancer for the third time.
Because of cancer spreading throughout my body I'm not able to work due to the many treatments and doctor visits. I'm asking for help with medical expenses and continuous care for my kids.
Background Story
In 2014, at just 37, I was diagnosed with stage III Colon cancer. The doctor's said my case was very rare for someone my age. I had surgery in December and started 6 months of chemo the following year. During that time, every two weeks various chemicals were pumped through my body. My biggest fear was my kids finding out my condition so I did everything I could to prevent them from finding out what I was going through. I wanted to keep their childhoods as normal as possible. I didn’t want them focused or worried about me. This by far was the hardest thing I have ever been through. I wanted to quit and give up several times. The thought of my boys was the only thing that kept me going.
August 2015, I was told I was cancer-free. I could finally breathe! The next three years were filled with test after test, scan after scan. Every three months, I had to have scans and tests to make sure I was still cancer-free.
By December 2018--- I had been cancer-free for three years. I was headed to my final scan. I was looking forward to finally having my port removed and only having to have scans/tests every year versus every three months. I was finally going to have a BIG part of my life back. Or so I thought.
The results of that scan turned my world upside down. As I sat in my doctor's office, in tears as he explained to me MY CANCER WAS BACK. This time, my colon cancer had metastasized in my liver. It was a devasting blow! How could it be back? I left my doctor’s office feeling defeated. There was no way I could go through chemotherapy again. I just didn’t have it in me to try to fight this again. Despite my initial feelings, I will say, you never really know just how strong you are. After I had time to process everything, I had a change of heart. I was going to fight until I couldn't fight anymore.
In January of 2019, I went through surgery, again. I was cut open from my breast bone down past my navel. My doctors told me they were able to remove the cancer mass with clean margins. Because they caught it early, and it hadn’t spread to any other organs at that time, I was told that another round of chemo was not needed. While I didn’t have to go through chemo again, I was back to having scans every three months.
Things seemed to be going well. In July of 2019, I went back to the doctor for my routine scan, and once again, I received news that no one ever wants to receive. My latest scans show scattered spots in both my lungs. The spots were too small for a biopsy, so the doctor suggested we wait three months to see if they would grow.
Waiting is never what you want to do when there is a chance that your cancer can spread but I had no choice.
In October, I went in for my next CT scan to see if the nodules in my lungs had grown any. While they had grown, I also found out that my liver cancer was back.
I was told by my oncologist that this is a battle I will continue to face for the rest of my life. I have cancer cells in my blood, so there is a chance my cancer will always come back, we just don’t know when or where.
God knows I want to give up and just let what happens, happen. I’m trying to stay strong for my boys. I know they need me, they are only 12 and 8. If I’m truly honest, I’m tired of the uncertainties. I’ve been trying to keep it from them because I don’t want them to worry about me. How do you tell your kids you’re fighting a battle that you’re not sure you can win?
I would like to ask everyone to keep me and my family in your prayers as I get ready to fight this cancer for the third time.
Fundraising team (2)
Janet Weaver
Organizer
Tulsa, OK
Cynthia Dixon
Team member
