Round 6 Down...and Brown is Kicking It!!!

Came across this cartoon and think it pretty impactful in getting the message out.. 

And then I came across this one for a fridge magnet of all things and I cannot stop chuckling...right up my alley... no pun intended.

Like I have said in previous posts, the parallel to me of this battle with colon cancer is to compare to a 10-round boxing match.  Since the most significant milestone is that 5 year mark from curative-intent surgical removal of my tumour every round is 6 more months of survival.  For the first three years these months have been filled with sigmoid resection surgery, 12 rounds of FOLFOX chemotherapy over 7 months, 3 rounds of Neupogen injections to stimulate white blood cell production when my levels dropped to a more dangerous point, 4 CT scans, nuclear bone scans, 2 ultrasounds of the liver, an MRI of my liver, a chest and lung x-ray,10 CEA blood tests, ~30 port-a-catheter flushes, a colonoscopy.  And now three years since diagnosis I continue to be winning the battle.  I may be bruised and battered, scarred for sure, have been poked and prodded with needles more times that a person should be, and may have been knocked to the mat a few times but each time have bounced back up and returned the blow with a few jabs and punches of my own.   Round 6 is in the books.  Bring on 

Excuse the really really cheesy insertion of some Destiny's Child lyrics here and in no way do I think my story resembles that of Beyonce and the girls but hey...it's my blog and I just passed the three year mark for advanced colon cancer and I feel like shouting it out.  

Now that you're outta my life

I'm so much better

You thought that I'd be weak without you

But I'm stronger

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm not gon give up (What?)

I'm not gon stop (What?)

I'm gon work harder (What?)

I'm a survivor (What?)

I'm gonna make it (What?)

I will survive (What?)

Keep on survivin' (What?)

Picture the Kicking the Crap Crew dressed up in camouflage gear with our toned midriffs showing kicking it to these lyrics below....ummm....maybe not.  I don't think we can pull that off :-)

The Kicking the Crap Crew 4.0

I realize that I have really slowed down over this past year with my blogging and perhaps will try and articulate what that might be all about in another post but for now I need to send out a belated shout out to, once again, let the world know that I have begun to recruit some really super enthusiastic awesomely excited wickedly tenacious fundraisers, cheerers, walkers, runners, sponsors, family, friends, supporters and honorary members of KTCC 4.0!  

This year’s event is Sunday April 26^th at the bright and early time of 8 am and again this year I have created a team – Kicking the Crap Crew 4.0 – and set a fundraising goal of $3000 for us. I am confident that we can do it.  This year the organizers led by Dr. Ian Bookman allow for pledge dollars to be directed to four different charitable organizations:

St. Joseph's Health Centre

Colon Cancer Canada

SickKids G.I.F.T.

Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada

These are all great charities that are doing great things in the battle against colon cancer.  I personally am directing all my funds toward St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation as St. Joe’s and the absolutely amazing doctors and nurses there holds a very special place in my heart.  Those of you that have my blog know that I have spent so many days at St. Joseph's Health Centre with surgery, chemotherapy treatments, CT scans, colonoscopies, ultrasounds, MIRs, bloodwork and port flushes, visits to my doctors, etc.…I can say personally that everyone at St. Joe’s is a honorary member of the KTCC!

The route is the same 5km route around Queen’s Park as the previous three years. 

Speaking of three years…I thought I might share with you all that this March I will recognize three years of survival…three years battling colon cancer.  Three years is a very significant statistical milestone.  According to my surgeon statistical odds of recurrence now drop to only 10%.  Now that’s something worth celebrating!!!

Thank you to all of you for again being in my circle and for being a member of the Kicking the Crap Crew 4.0!!!

https://raceroster.com/events/2015/2946/balanse-bum-run

https://raceroster.com/events/2015/2946/balanse-bum-run/pledge/team?id=26

https://raceroster.com/events/2015/2946/balanse-bum-run/pledge?id=212&type=participant

Help me Kick it...again...in the Balanse Bum Run 2015!

This is a personal and loud shout out for all supporters of the Kicking the Crap Crew (4.0) that again this year I am 'running'...okay walking...in the now fourth edition of the Balanse Bum Run to raise awareness and money in the battle against colon cancer. If you are returning to my blog you know about my journey.  If you are a first-time reader thank you for taking the time to stop by and read.  Just two weeks ago I commemorated three years from diagnosis with Stage IIIB colon cancer .  It has been a long journey - a long long long journey.

https://raceroster.com/events/2015/2946/balanse-bum-run/pledge?type=user&id=286990

Above is a link to the Balanse Bum Run that will take place this year on Sunday April 26th.  As I have often said previously I appreciate and respect that charity and donations are a very personal choice.  If you choose to sponsor me in this year's Bum Run for colon cancer Thank You.  I hope that at least by stopping for a moment and reading about my journey and battle with colon cancer I will have inspired some to be diligent, to be vigilant, to be aware and get screened.  So for fear of repeating myself...Thank you.  Perhaps more importantly thank you for being an honorary member of the Kicking the Crap Crew!!

I will walk alongside Victoria, our son Benjamin, and many other family members and friends to join forces and once again proudly walk/run this event.  On a very personal note just a few days ago I commemorated three years from diagnosis with advanced colon cancer and it has been a long long journey. Those of you that have read my blog have had insight into some pretty dark days balanced by every increasing moments of good news. I have much to be thankful and grateful for. I am thrilled, humbled...honoured is the better word...that once again this year I am healthy enough to lead the Crew. 

To all who take a moment and maybe even a few, take pause in your connected world and read my very personal story this is a shout out from me to you. Thank you. To all my supporters - Thank you. Thank you. To all of you who I may have motivated to spread the word about colorectal cancer, awareness and screening - thank you. Every dollar and every sponsor and every person who is made aware of the importance of colorectal cancer screening is appreciated. You all inspire me.

Wishing you all good health...from my bottom to yours.