Men, are you getting recommended cancer screenings?

I didn't. After a long, extremely healthy life, I went to the ER because of severe pain in the abdomen and back... thought it might have been kidney stones and it was, but they also found a suspicious tumor in my colon. Turns out it was a Stage III malignant tumor.

For the next (nearly) 3 years I went through radiation, chemo, three different surgeries, two horrible infections post surgery, more chemo, months and months of rehabilitation and am just now getting back to somewhere near well, cancer free and feeling normal again.

The worst part of it is that all of this was my fault - 100% my fault. Had I followed the recommended cancer screening guides, none of this would have happened.

I made this post for one reason, and one reason only. To tell you to [b][u]get recommended cancer screenings, especially for prostate and colorectal cancer. [/u][/b]

This crap hasn't been fun, but I could have, and you can, prevent it from happening to you.

I should add: Women, don't forgo your screenigns either. There are zero reasons to do so.

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sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

I'm so sorry to read this. Cancer fucking sucks. It took my grandfather and now my uncle is fighting it.

I'm glad you're feeling somewhat normal again and I hope this is long gone from you. 🙏

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@Ontheroad -- Update (since we seem to be new friends now) -- My uncle is still fighting his prostate cancer. It's taken a huge toll on him over the last few years. And like you, he's out there on a mission to get guys to do their screenings and to know their prostate blood test numbers.

I hope you are still in remission and remaining healthy. Cancer sucks.

Ontheroad · M

@sarabee1995 I'm in my fourth year now being clear, so I think I feel pretty positive about having beat it. It does, as you noted about your uncle, take a toll on you.

Prior to discovering the cancer I was an active retired man who had just finished a several year long DIY renovation of a hundred year old home.

Today, because I was completely unable to maintain a large yard and huge house during my battle, I'm renting a small 2 bedroom house and just now able to physically get out and do things again.

I'm not complaining about how it took me from a healthy retired fun loving guy, and broke me down to a near invalid, but it does change your life.

On the positive side, I stayed mentally and emotionally strong... guess I'm just too stubborn and onery to give in😁

So yeah, cancer sucks, but in a strange way, going through it all made me a stronger, more positive person.