Eleven years ago today I was told that I had stage 4 colon cancer. Thankfully, a biopsy proved that diagnosis inaccurate or I probably wouldn’t be here to tell you about it today. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for colon cancer that has spread from its original location to distant parts of the body is 11%.

What I do have is neuroendocrine cancer (NETS), a slow-growing cancer that originated in my colon, more specifically in the cecum which is part of the colon. By the time it was diagnosed, I had been experiencing vague symptoms for several years. In fact, I was told that I’d probably had it for 7 to 10 years. At diagnosis, it had already spread to lymph nodes and my liver. Accurate stats and information about survival rates aren’t as readily available for neuroendocrine cancer because it isn’t as well-known or well-documented as many of the more common varieties, but I don’t really need to know those numbers. I just need to know how I’m doing right now and I found that out last week.

In response to my oncologist’s, “How are you?” as he entered the examining room, I replied, “I’m good.” Glancing at the notes in his hand, he enthusiastically responded, “Yes, yes you are!”

I wasn’t as exuberant about the results of the previous week’s CT scan as he appeared to be. I had hoped to hear that March’s TheraSphere treatment had completely annihilated the largest tumour on my liver. In fact, it had only shrunk by about 20%. The doctor hastened to remind me that shrinkage is always a good thing. That, combined with the facts that I’m not experiencing any symptoms and that the scan also showed “no progression of disease” is actually very good news!

I’ll have another CT and more lab work done in November, but in the meantime I’ve got lots of living to do. In addition to the many ways that I’ve found to stay active and busy in retirement, I’ve also become more active in patient advocacy over the past year. As a member of the CNETS (Canadian Neuroendocrine Tumour Society) Advocacy Advisory Board, I’m working with other patients and caregivers from across the country to try to increase awareness of our disease, shorten the pathway to diagnosis, advocate for equal access to treatment for patients across the country, and promote research into newer and better treatments. I’m also involved in meetings with a group of patients and health professionals around the world as part of an initiative by Ipsen, the pharmaceutical company that produces the medication that I’m injected with every 28 days, to try to improve the patient experience.

That reminds me of another recent change. Hubby is now giving me that monthly injection which frees us up to take it with us when we travel instead of having to be at home to wait for the nurse’s visit. A cancer diagnosis is life changing for a partner or caregiver as well as for the patient, so this is really his cancerversary too. We aren’t doing anything special to celebrate, but we’re thankful for another year of relatively good health; another year of life!