My 2021 Get Your Rear in Gear - Kansas City Personal Page
Courtney Maurer
Courtney Maurer
Hi everyone! I'm Courtney and I'm a stage 4 colon cancer survivor! I'm currently 3 years cancer free and so grateful!
Here is my story:
In 2015, I was 27 years old and was experiencing side effects of colon cancer - TMI moment - Blood in stool , frequent bathroom trips, stomach pains were the only symptoms I had. I was working at my job and realized I should call KU Med and see if I can order a colonoscopy. They told me no and that I needed a referral from my primary doctor, okay , no problem. I went to see him and told him my issues. He said no colonoscopy for me , I'm "too young". TOO YOUNG? He also said I was constipated... no sweetie, I'm going TOO MUCH. He told me to take laxatives and sent me on my way. I also told him I was laid off my job and my insurance was going away in "x" amount of days. No comment from him.
I then was officially jobless and just sat there defeated. I just continued my life and eventually got my job back at my current job (yay!). I still just kept putting it off for another 2 years.
Fast forward to May of 2017 (exactly 2 years later ironically enough), I was at a concert and didn't feel right. I don't even remember the concert. I felt my heartbeat in my ears and I was super weak and lightheaded. I landed myself in the ER at 3am the next day and let them know what was going on and how I was ignored by my doctor and was too scared to keep getting rejected by doctors.
They did a few tests and found out my hemoglobin was a low 7 and I needed a blood transfusion asap along with a colonoscopy (thank God). I was terrified. I had a successful blood transfusion (thanks to all who donate!), my colonoscopy...well...it wasn't so "smooth". Prep was fine, it was the procedure. They found a mass 4.5 cm at the time as well as some polyps. They couldn't do anything for the mass except make me do a second colonoscopy a few weeks later to get another doctor to go in and try and remove it / do a biopsy of the mass.
That week came and went and we found out the biopsy was NONcancerous. I was at ease hearing that, but still having issues with my colon. So at this point they said they need to go in laparoscopically and remove my sigmoid colon.
July of 2017 I did that surgery. Long story short (don't need to go into hospital deets), they come in the room on the last day of my stay and tell me I had cancer in 1 of 28 lymph nodes and the mass was cancerous and at 7 cm at that point. I was stage 3 colon cancer.
I met with an oncologist a month later after recovery and we did scans and found out a small piece of my liver had a tiny tiny tumor. So now I'm stage 4....great.
FOLFOX was my chemo treatment - I had a 5fu pump as well as Oxaliplatin. I did 12 rounds. After the first 5 rounds the liver tumor was gone. Doc still wanted to remove 65% of my liver to be safe. I was happy to hear that to be ahead of the cancer. Got that massive surgery in Feb 2018. In May, I had some difficulties with my chemo, I was super sick and started to not feel my fingers and toes. Doc cut out the Oxaliplatin on treatment 8/12. It's common from what he said. I finished chemo and was declared NED as of July 17, 2018.
Again, I'm so grateful to still be here to tell my story and advocate to get screened! Don't be like me and ignore after a doc says NO, go get a SECOND opinion!
Having a positive attitude and having an amazing oncologist helped a ton too!
Please help me support Colon Cancer Coalition by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Colon Cancer Coalition's great cause! Additionally, you can ask me how you can get involved too.
Together, we can make a difference!
Here is my story:
In 2015, I was 27 years old and was experiencing side effects of colon cancer - TMI moment - Blood in stool , frequent bathroom trips, stomach pains were the only symptoms I had. I was working at my job and realized I should call KU Med and see if I can order a colonoscopy. They told me no and that I needed a referral from my primary doctor, okay , no problem. I went to see him and told him my issues. He said no colonoscopy for me , I'm "too young". TOO YOUNG? He also said I was constipated... no sweetie, I'm going TOO MUCH. He told me to take laxatives and sent me on my way. I also told him I was laid off my job and my insurance was going away in "x" amount of days. No comment from him.
I then was officially jobless and just sat there defeated. I just continued my life and eventually got my job back at my current job (yay!). I still just kept putting it off for another 2 years.
Fast forward to May of 2017 (exactly 2 years later ironically enough), I was at a concert and didn't feel right. I don't even remember the concert. I felt my heartbeat in my ears and I was super weak and lightheaded. I landed myself in the ER at 3am the next day and let them know what was going on and how I was ignored by my doctor and was too scared to keep getting rejected by doctors.
They did a few tests and found out my hemoglobin was a low 7 and I needed a blood transfusion asap along with a colonoscopy (thank God). I was terrified. I had a successful blood transfusion (thanks to all who donate!), my colonoscopy...well...it wasn't so "smooth". Prep was fine, it was the procedure. They found a mass 4.5 cm at the time as well as some polyps. They couldn't do anything for the mass except make me do a second colonoscopy a few weeks later to get another doctor to go in and try and remove it / do a biopsy of the mass.
That week came and went and we found out the biopsy was NONcancerous. I was at ease hearing that, but still having issues with my colon. So at this point they said they need to go in laparoscopically and remove my sigmoid colon.
July of 2017 I did that surgery. Long story short (don't need to go into hospital deets), they come in the room on the last day of my stay and tell me I had cancer in 1 of 28 lymph nodes and the mass was cancerous and at 7 cm at that point. I was stage 3 colon cancer.
I met with an oncologist a month later after recovery and we did scans and found out a small piece of my liver had a tiny tiny tumor. So now I'm stage 4....great.
FOLFOX was my chemo treatment - I had a 5fu pump as well as Oxaliplatin. I did 12 rounds. After the first 5 rounds the liver tumor was gone. Doc still wanted to remove 65% of my liver to be safe. I was happy to hear that to be ahead of the cancer. Got that massive surgery in Feb 2018. In May, I had some difficulties with my chemo, I was super sick and started to not feel my fingers and toes. Doc cut out the Oxaliplatin on treatment 8/12. It's common from what he said. I finished chemo and was declared NED as of July 17, 2018.
Again, I'm so grateful to still be here to tell my story and advocate to get screened! Don't be like me and ignore after a doc says NO, go get a SECOND opinion!
Having a positive attitude and having an amazing oncologist helped a ton too!
Please help me support Colon Cancer Coalition by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Colon Cancer Coalition's great cause! Additionally, you can ask me how you can get involved too.
Together, we can make a difference!
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