Originally published August 8, 2009

Last Wednesday, July 29th, I went for my consultation with my GI surgeon. In a nutshell, the tumor has grow into the wall and he’s recommended radiation and chemotherapy to shrink the tumor prior to surgery. On Thursday, the 30th, I had a CT scan on Thursday. For a more detailed…

August 2, 2009

Here are my five "keys" to defeating colon cancer. It worked for me and adapted to your specific situation, I am certain it will work for you...

Key #1: Don't play the victim

Key #2: Treat your "whole" self

Key #3: Give back

Key #4: Visualization and Meditation

Key #5: Live a healthy lifestyle

First Key Don't play the victim. Yeah, it's rotten, it sucks, it's scary, it hurts, it's depressing, and none of those feelings are going to help me…

Has anyone noticed the level of daily Twitter chatter around colonoscopy? E.G. Erin Dunsey @shezadunsey drove a bunch of traffic last week when she tweeted her bowel prep.

We've been giving people a "pat on the back" for talking about their experiences publicly--good, bad or ugly--so we started to retweet with the hashtag #goodforyou. You can read more about this here:…

First blog post for Third Eye Colonoscopy

If I didn't get to meet you at the 2012 CCA National Conference in Baltimore, here's a heart-felt post about the role Third Eye Retroscope can play in improving the quality of colonoscopy.

Enjoy.

Debbie Donovan,

Employee of Avantis Medical Systems

Director, Marketing Third Eye Colonoscopy

I accepted my New Normal about 5 years after surgery for Stage III rectal cancer that required a permanent colostomy. I was 35 years old had two young sons and a beautiful, supportive wife. It was at that point that I bounced from bitter to better. It wasn’t any big lightning bolt event. I just missed doing the fun and active things I had enjoyed before the cancer. I took up surfing with my sons and began charging forward like there was no tomorrow, because I had learned that there may not…

I am asked consistently – How do you do it? Biology has a lot to do with it. I have been very fortunate that treatment thus far has been very successful at keeping my cancer “stable”. However, I do attribute a lot of my success so far to various other components. This blog post is just one of the many ways that I have chosen to live that has been beneficial to my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Cancer patients and survivors should strive to get the same…

A dear friend of mine is staying at my house for a few days, and storing some things here until she finds a permanent place to live.  When I met her, she weighed about 340 pounds, even with her 5'7" frame that was a LOT of weight.  In 2010 she started with the FA program, has lost over 200 lbs (she started higher than 340#) and is just going on a maintenance program.  This is the first time I've seen her so healthy and vital! She looks mahvelous, and says she has never felt more healthy and…

Just wanted to repost a string from FaceBook that shows just how powerful a support group can be:

Randy’s Journal entries during cancer diagnosis and surgery:

3/10/86: Diagnosis of rectal cancer..feel lost, afraid, unstable. Dr. Grover recommends removal surgery and colostomy requires “bag out of stomach to deficate….very negative, repulsive idea.

This would have been a great opportunity to insert a survival buddy, someone with a colostomy, my age (30), young family, active lifestyle.

3/11/86: AM:Great support from Tricia’s family, Peggy…

Key #1: Don't play the victim

Key #2: Treat your "whole" self

Key #3: Give back

Key #4: Visualization and Meditation

Key #5: Live a healthy lifestyle

Exercise 30 minutes everyday (I prefer a surf session daily, but walking, biking, swimming or your…

The second key to surviving cancer is to heal your "whole" self. We are more than just our physical body that the cancer is attacking. We are body, mind and spirit. When we marshal resources for the battle against cancer, we must be sure to include what we need to win at the physical, emotional and spiritual…

Don't play the victim. Yeah, it's rotten, it sucks, it's scary, it hurts, it's depressing, and none of those feelings are going to help me get better!

Coming to the fight of my life with a victor's attitude removes me from the "why me Lord" spot and allows my body the extra energy it…

For years I've been envious of my sister Layla.  For over 15 years she has written a bi-weekly column for the Connecticut based Norwalk Citizen titled "Laugh Lines". Until recently, writing was a talent that I thought had eluded me until I wrote…

Having spent many years in the retail business I have some experience with anniversaries; specifically what to get him or her on those "milestone" anniversaries. Let's see; for the 10th it's diamond jewelry, the 15th is silver and the 50th is…