As most of our followers know the mission of MMCCF is two-fold: to save lives by raising awareness of the symptoms that might indicate colon cancer, and to provide financial assistance to young adults undergoing treatment for colon cancer.
We will be updating all of our supporters with a series of blogs called, "Miracles in the Making." These blog updates will share the stories of some of our grant recipients.
Our most recent grant recipient is Candra Buchanan. She is a 35 year old graduate student with stage four colon cancer. She was diagnosed in May 2012 and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. MMCCF is paying for her cell phone bill and car insurance for the next three months.
For more information on how we grant miracles or how you can donate to our miracle making funds, please visit: Making Miracles with MMCCF
I married a man who believes that he is, Superman. He truly thinks that he is invincible, and that if he is hurt or injured, rubbing a little dirt in the wound will actually help. Some might call this toughness and some might call this naivety. Regardless, it is hard to get him to go to the doctor. However, after Meredith's passing, I made it my mission to make him go. He began to experience symptoms during his bowel movements that reminded me of Meredith's. He had bleeding, diarrhea, and an inability to produce normal bowel movements. After much prodding, at the age of 31 my husband finally went to the doctor. They recommended that he go in for a colonoscopy. After a night of laxatives and a day of worry at the hospital, his colon was pronounced clear, and the doctors told him he needed to eat more fiber. My "invincible" husband made sure to tell me, "I told you so," several times, but for the first time, I didn't care. He had a healthy colon, and that's all that mattered. Meredith's story allowed me to be more educated and aware of colon cancer, and even though my husband was only 31, I knew that there was a possibility that his body might be telling him something. If you are experiencing any symptoms, or know someone who is, I encourage you or them to go to the doctor.
No one is invincible.
Here are some basic symptoms according to the CDC:
Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first. Someone could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.
If there are symptoms, they may include—
- Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement).
- Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that don't go away.
- Losing weight and you don't know why.
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. However, the only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor.
