I SURVIVED
COLON
CANCER by Winnie Bowe Ray
A few years later in May 2006, a co-worker mentioned that her hemorrhoid started bleeding while she was in a meeting. Her primary physician recommended a colonoscopy to determine the cause and status. The similarities in our situations with a hemorrhoid nudged me to volunteer to have a “buddy colonoscopy”. However, the gastroenterologist informed me that since I was only 48 and had no symptoms, it was unlikely that the procedure would be covered by insurance. For an unknown reason, I dug my heels in and said I would do it anyway.
Looking back in the past is so difficult because it brings back so many negative memories. This is the first time that I am publicly sharing my story in hopes that you will advocate for your body. My best recollection of anything that could have been remotely connected to my cancer journey was when I had my 45th birthday checkup with my OB-GYN. The minimal presence of blood was assumed to be related to a childbirth related hemorrhoid. There were no other symptoms or reasons for concern back in 2003. 12
