In September of 2018, I was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer—and thus began the best worst thing that has ever happened to me.

 

In the weeks following my diagnosis, I Googled like crazy for patients whose cases looked just like mine—and who had beaten the odds: “45 year old female stage 4 colon cancer inoperable liver metastases cured.”

 

My stomach sank with each search.

 

I met with three top oncologists, who each told me they would try to keep me alive for one to two years, and hope medical science had something better to offer me by then. But the voice in my head said, “You don’t know me.” 

 

I am a mother, and there are fingernails to clip, so I found a fourth oncologist who had as much hope as I did; and I asked the people who love me to join me in visualizing little stars flowing into my body and gently nipping away at my tumors.

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My prognosis was sobering; but as my husband pointed out, I had always managed to work myself into the top 10% of anything I tried to do, so why should this be any different? With only a one-in-ten chance of surviving five years, I started treatment—and decided to continue working.

 

After four years, three surgeries, six rounds of radiation, 37 rounds of chemo (but who’s counting), and an ablation, I am currently at NED (no evidence of disease)!

 

Through the process—and journey—of getting healthy, I found strength in vulnerability and am becoming the “me” I was always supposed to be.

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(It's a long story, so you may want to just start here, with my favorite posts. Or check out my Strive for Five Substack, where I am sharing an accelerated look at my four year journey as I approach my fifth cancerversary.)