Hi, my name is Karen. I am a “FOUR-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR OF CERVICAL, COLON, LIVER AND RECTAL CANCER”. I am writing this asking you to help me get my story out to the world, so that in return there will be millions of people who find Comfort, Healing and HOPE. I would love to share with you how I went from despair to joy.
Our bodies are miraculous!! It's amazing how much abuse, pain, surgery, poking and prodding that a body can endure. Mine has come through 14 different surgeries in just the last 14 years.
Walk with me as I share my journey through this incredible ordeal. It has taken a lot of personal development on my part to get me through the trauma. My story could possibly be your story. There are probably many things that we have in common, you just haven't written yours down yet.
At the age of 25, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. At 32, I was diagnosed with a Vertebral Artery Dissection in the brain. In June of 2001, at 38, I was once again diagnosed with Cancer. This time of the Colon, I prayed for God to get me through this and once again he delivered me. He wasn’t finished with me yet, so in February 2002, at 39, I was diagnosed with Cancer of the Liver. I told God that I would bear the load if only I could touch one person. He allowed me to touch more than one; he has allowed me to touch thousands. Before going into surgery for the Cancer of the Liver, the doctors told me to get my affairs in order because I probably wouldn’t make it through this time. I told them that they weren’t God, and that he would decide when it was time for me to go. Little did I know that he had more in store for me, In June of 2003, at 40, I was diagnosed with Rectal Cancer. They told me I would have a permanent colostomy and basically not much of a life. They wanted me to go to counseling, but God wanted me to be the counselor.

In conclusion, I just want to sing and share my testimony with the world.My prayer is that my book will be a blessing to you and your loved ones. It has been very healing for me to write. I look forward to sharing my whole story with you in my book: One Woman’s Story: How I Survived Cervical, Colon, Liver and Rectal Cancer. Please contact me for further questions, or feel free to visit my website at www.4xcancersurvivor.com.

In His Grip,
Karen
www.4xcancersurvivor.com
www.sonnyandkaren.net
fourxsurvivor@yahoo.com







If current statistics hold, one out of every 18 of us will develop colon cancer in our lifetime. And because colon cancer doesn't have a gender prefernece -- one of the few cancers about which this can be said -- it will strike those of us who are male just as frequently as those of who are female.

Understanding causes and risk factors
There is no one, single cause of colon cancer. But there are a number of factors that seem to play a role in the development of the disease. For instance, both cancer genes and inherited genetic mutations can cause a huge spike in our colon cancer risk.

These are the sorts of risk factors -- along with age and medical history -- that we can't do much about. But, there are a number of risk factors that we can potentially modify. Some studies have suggested, for instance, that colon cancer might be caused by heavy alcohol consumption.

That's why we need to know what puts us at increased risk for colon cancer: not so that we can live in fear, but so that we can take steps to get screened and catch colon cancer's precursor -- the polyp -- before it turns malignant.

The major risk factors include:

• Family history: People with a family history of colon cancer are more likely to develop it. Anyone with two or more close relatives who have had colon cancer make up 20% of the current colon cancer population.

• Genetic syndromes: As many as 10% of those of us with colon cancer are carrying one of two main inherited genetic abnormalities that are likely behind our malignancy. One of these is familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and the other is heredity nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Those of us who test positive for one of these syndromes should begin annual colon cancer screenings as early as age 20.

• Colorectal polyps: Those of us who have a history of colorectal polyps -- even benign ones -- are at greater risk for developing cancerous growths down the line those those who've never had a polyp in their lives.

• Chronic stomach problems: Those of us with inflammatory bowel diseases such ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease are at greater risk of developing colon cancer due to chronic colon inflammation. Because of that, we need to begin screening for colon cancer within 8 to 12 years of our diagnosis with one of these coniditions.

• Age: Not only does getting older lead to wrinkles and gray hair, it also puts us at higher risk for colon cancer. More than 90% of people diagnosed with colon cancer are age 50 or above. That's why all of us who have no other major risk factors are urged to begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50.

• Medical history: Any of us who has had any previous cancer is five times more likely to develop colon cancer.

• Race and Ethnicity: The prevalence of colon cancer in the US varies by race and ethnicity.

• Weight: Colon cancer is more common in those of us who are overweight or obese. It's possible that losing weight may actually reduce your colon cancer risk.

• Diet: Colon cancer risk doesn't only hinge on the fat on our bodies, but on the fat in our food as well. Those of us who make sure we eat a healthy diet are less likely to develop colon cancer.

By becoming educated about these potential colon cancer causes -- these modifiable risk factors -- we can make better choices. It's possible, even, that we can save our own life.

See also

• Colon cancer - introduction
• Colon cancer - prevalence
• Colon cancer - prevention
• Colon cancer - detection and diagnosis
• Colon cancer - treatment options
• Colon cancer - prognosis
• Colon cancer - support