Survivor Story: Robin Hewitt
Robin HewittOccoquan, VA
I went in for my routine colonoscopy at age 50, it was fine. I was told that I did not need to be seen again for another five to ten year years. 18 months later, I was having a section of my colon removed because of a cancerous tumor! I was diagnosed with Stage IIA colon cancer. The medical field needs to rethink the time frame of being screened for colon cancer. At the first sign of any colon cancer symptoms, do not wait. Call your doctor and request to be screened.
Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I was a healthy 51 year old female. I am now 53, again healthy I hope, but forever changed. I work as a bookkeeper with Prince William County Schools, Virginia. I have been with the county for 14 years.
There is no colon cancer in my family that I am aware. I had a distant male cousin who had colon cancer years ago, when he was in his twenties.
I had my first and only colonoscopy at age 50 in June 2007 as a routine medical exam. The results were fine. About eight months after that routine medical exam, I began having difficulty emptying my bowels completely, constipation, bloating and fatigue. As symptoms continued, my stools became thin and spotted with blood. I went for several months with these symptoms, thinking that I was eating something that was upsetting my stomach. I justified the symptoms and brushed them off because I was an active, healthy person.
I finally went in to see the gastrologist who did my original colonoscopy. He recommended a follow up colonoscopy. I had the follow up colonoscopy on January 27, 2009. I was diagnosed on February 3rd with colon cancer. I had surgery on February 5th, ten inches of my sigmoid colon was removed. I was diagnosed on February 5th with Stage IIA colon cancer.
I had surgery at Fairfax Hospital and chemo at North Virginia Oncologists. I had chemo beginning in March 2009 through May of 2009. I stopped chemo due to negative reactions. I am now being checked every three months by my oncologist with blood tests and CT scans. Hopefully I will begin seeing my oncologist every six months starting in December of 2009 if all of my tests come back with no evidence of cancer. Presently, I am cancer free. I want the word to get out; that if you have any symptoms, please see a doctor right away. Do not wait. It could save your life.
Robin and her family
