56-year-old man now cancer free after colon cancer treatment
Prior to his diagnosis, David went to the gym five days a week, was in good shape and never thought he would have cancer.
David, a 56-year-old husband and father of girls, is living cancer-free. Prior to his diagnosis, David went to the gym five days a week, was in good shape and never thought he would have cancer. Thanks to the care he received at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at TriStar Centennial, David is now able to get back to the active and healthy lifestyle he and his family enjoy.
“From the beginning, we prayed that God would lead us to the right doctors and medical professionals,” David said. “My team of doctors have been incredible! They did not just administer treatment, they did it in the most compassionate and caring way possible.”
Leading up to his diagnosis in September 2022, David went to the doctor for a full workup. Although test results didn’t pick up anything, David began experiencing some fatigue and dizziness a week later. Out of caution, he underwent a colonoscopy. Those results showed a stage 3C cancerous tumor.
“When I heard the doctor say, ‘you have a cancerous tumor,’ I was in complete shock,” David said. “My first thought was my wife is too young to be a widow, my girls are too young to be fatherless and I have future grandkids I want to hold. I was determined to live! I knew that the same God who created me could heal me using sound medical treatment, self-discipline, the right outlook and ultimately a divine intervention.”
According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, this year, approximately 140,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 56,000 people will die from this disease. Dr. Jason Aston, colorectal surgeon with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at TriStar Centennial, says colorectal cancer is a highly preventable and treatable disease if caught early.
“David’s story highlights the importance of screening for colorectal cancer and is a testament to the advancements of modern medicine,” said Dr. Aston. “His successful treatment involved the care of a highly specialized and dedicated multidisciplinary team.”
David’s treatment plan included radiation and chemotherapy in pill form and chemotherapy infusions. David believes it was a combination of his medical treatment and drastic changes to his diet that helped him fight the disease. Despite beating cancer, he says it was the most difficult road he and his family have ever traveled.
“My wife has been the absolute best caretaker I could have ever had,” David said. “She has proven ‘in sickness and in health’ are not words taken lightly in wedding vows.”
David is grateful he got checked when he did and is proud to share his cancer survivor story. He encourages others to take their annual checkups, bloodwork and colonoscopies seriously. He says it’s “easy and painless” compared to the potential long road of cancer treatment.
An estimated 40,000 or more lives could be saved through screening and early treatment, according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
“If a person experiences rectal bleeding, changes in bowel function, unexpected weight loss or is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, we recommend a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider to discuss a diagnostic colonoscopy,” said Dr. Aston. “If a person has no family history of colorectal cancer and is free of signs and symptoms, we recommend a screening colonoscopy at the age of 45.”
To learn more about colon cancer treatment and prevention education, head to TriStarCentennial.com.