One cancer survivor’s journey with the disease

In February 2018, I had a slight pain in my lower right side, similar to an exercising pain. I didn’t think much of it, but I thought it could be my appendix. I decided to go to the doctor that evening. Well, that evening I had no pain, and as most men decide, I would not need to go to the doctor. However, my daughter, who was 17 at the time, insisted I go. She was almost to the point of tears. I could see the worry on her face and hear the concern in her voice.

I went to the doctor. As it turned out, nothing showed up in the initial check, so I was sent to have an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed a mass on my left side, which then meant a CT scan. They found a definite mass on the left and several lymph nodes that were inflamed. Notice the pain I had was on my right. The mass was found on the left. The pain I felt was nothing to do with it, but maybe was a sign from God.

I had to be scheduled for a colonoscopy, and following that, it was confirmed that I had a cancerous growth in my left colon and would need to have surgery. The whole time my wife was by my side, and it was through her love and support, and that of my children, that I maintained my sanity.

I approached this new ‘adventure’ in my life with a certain level of strength and determination. The surgery was on March 6, 2018. It was determined that cancer had not spread through the lining of the colon into the muscles. A number of lymph nodes removed all showed negative.

I was told that I would not need to do chemotherapy or radiation therapy, but just adjust my diet and exercise regimes. I have since then made myself an advocate for colon cancer awareness by sharing my journey with many groups, businesses, and organizations. I hope to encourage people to get early screenings. I will continue to share my story whenever I can, and I want to help find a way to eliminate cancer from being a part of anyone’s life. My life is an open book. Ask me anything.

My advice: The first step is to get checked. If needed, you can start with the stool test; however, the gold standard is the colonoscopy. It is carried out easily in the doctor’s clinic. You are home the same day with little to no side effects. I have had three now, and I have never had any issues.

March 6th 2023 will be exactly five years that I have been cancer free. This is a milestone for those of us who have had cancer. My five-year survival rate would have been 90 to 95 per cent as I detected it very early.

Once detected early, it can be removed, and treatment can be very minimal in most cases. Stay positive and keep smiling through the whole process, as hard as it may seem. Take it from someone who has been there. It was through my positive attitude that I was able to handle the situation.

Since 2018, I became a self-appointed advocate for colon cancer awareness. I have shared my story on TV, radio, print media and social media – wherever I get the chance to raise the awareness and speak of the importance of early screening and detection.

I joined a US-based organisation called Fight CRC and became one of their “Relentless Champions”. They tell me I am the first person not only in the Caribbean to be a part of their organisation but also the first person outside of the US to have come forward and joined them.

Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) is the leading patient-empowerment and advocacy organization in the United States, providing balanced and objective information on colon and rectal cancer research, treatment, and policy. We are relentless champions of hope, focused on funding promising, high-impact research endeavours, while equipping advocates to influence legislation and policy for the collective good.

We are Relentless Champions of hope in the fight against colorectal cancer.

I am here to talk with anyone, share my journey and story with whoever needs to hear it or who may need encouragement. I had my wife and two children by my side throughout and if it wasn’t for them, I do not know what would have happened. I had them to be strong for and they were there to be strong for me.

I am here for you. Contact me anytime at: www.facebook.com/beatingcoloncancer; beatingcoloncancer@gmail.com.

“Remember, colon cancer is beatable, treatable, and preventable.”

Graham Bannister