Do you know cancer? Do you know anyone who has had cancer? What do you say to someone when they find out they have cancer?

My second wife smoked for years and never thought of getting cancer. Oh, she had the lumps in her breasts and was told to remove them and get emplants. Everything seemed to be fine until the implants started leaking. Did this contribute to the cancer she later had in her lungs, I do not know.She died from lung cancer 4 years later.She was fifty years old.

I remarried and to a wonderful woman who loves life and other fine things. We hiked and canoed and camped for years after getting married. We have had lots of fun together. We now live on a small lake in South Carolina and truly love fishing and traveling when we can.

Unfortunately her job as a cosmytologist and standing for years making others hair look lovely, has left her legs in very bad shape.

She too has had a bout with cancer, melanoma, which can be very elusive and dangerous. So far no recurring episodes since surgery to ramove a cancerous mole two years ago. This kind of cancer has to watched forever.

Now to my problem. I have worked out all my life it seems, lifting weights, running, playing tennis or basketball. I pride myself in the shape I am in for my age. People are amazed,so they say, when I tell them I am 70 years old.

My oldest brother, who is only 2 years older, had a bad case of colon cancer 3 years ago. I went to see him in Texas and I really did not expect him to live through the surgery he had to get rid of the colon cancer which also took one of his kidneys. But, as the doctor said he was very tough and he did pull through after several weeks in the hospital. He is now home with his wife and appears to be doing very well.

I decided to have a colonoscopy just to see if there might be any polyps that needed removal. I have not had any in my first coloncscopy,but to my dismay there was one polyp and ONE tumor found.I am in the process of followup tests to determine how extensive the cancer is and what can be done to remove the tumor.This is a life changing event in my life at this point. I feel the doctors will know what to do for my condition, but there is the worry of not knowing how bad it really is and what can happen next.

I have seen several of my friends in the past try to deal with cancer and it did not end well for several of them, but I still have faith in the doctors and GOD.

Aug. 23 2012

Just to follow up on my cancer condition, I had surgery last week on the 16th of aug.

After waking up to a very terrible pain in my BUTT, I was given the choice to control my intake of morphine injections. After 6 injections ,at 6 minutes apart, my body said no more. So I went into shock. Blood pressure plunged to 47 over 37 and very sick to stomache. Thanks to my doctors and GOD , I came out of this crash in a couple of hours, no more morphine for me.

I was in bed for 4 days and recovered enough energy to be released to go home on Sunday. A very long and painful 2 hour ride home.

I am now doing very well after finally having the dreaded bowl movement, which was not as bad as expected thanks to softeners and lots of fruit.

I was told the doctors removed the entire tumor from my colon, they at first said it would be very hard to remove all of the tumor due to the location. But they did.

I now am waiting for lab results on the biopsy of my remaining colon section to see if all is clear, I just have to wait and pray it is all clear.

My advice to all over 50, GET a colonoscopy every year or you may encounter some very painful surgery and you may not be as lucky as I was.