Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer
By Carol Ann Larson
A Review by Jeanne G. Crowe
Carol Larson’s second
book, Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer is, in her own words, “a
book for patients, written by patients.” As a colorectal cancer
patient, Carol’s search
for firsthand knowledge of what to expect led her to write her
first book, When the Trip Changes, an account of her journey with
the disease.
She joined Advocates
for Colorectal Cancer Education (ACE), a group of survivors,
who together decided to bring their experiences out in the open, to
help dispel the silence surrounding colorectal cancer. Carol
became co-editor of The Advocate, the organization’s newsletter
and each issue featured stories from survivors, giving more intimate
pictures of their own experiences. These stories become a part of this
book. She has also enlisted medical professionals to contribute information.
Carol calls the book “a collaborative effort between the
members of ACE and health care professionals from the area of Minneapolis/St.
Paul, MN.”
This book is also written for caregivers, and considering that colorectal
cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in America,
in both men and women, it is a book for everyone interested in early
detection.
Carol stresses the importance of warning signals; they can be varied
and may be mistaken for other problems, such as stomach upset or ulcers.
These are some symptoms which should not be ignored however: any significant
change in bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhea or constipation;
narrowing of the stools; bleeding; abdominal pain that is unexplained;
bloating; fatigue. This is the time to see your doctor and ask about
screening tests.
American Cancer Society
guidelines for screening tests for those over fifty, not
in a high risk group are: an annual fecal occult blood test, in combination
with a sigmoidoscopy every five years; a barium enema every
five years if a colonoscopy is not feasible; a colonoscopy every ten
years. Those in high-risk groups – (family
history or known heredity) or increased-risk-groups (close
relatives with the disease) should have more frequent screenings.
Carol tells her own
story. She was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer – and she takes us through her reactions, fears, the challenges
that confronted her. We learn of her surgical experiences – interactions
with doctors and nurses, the importance of supportive family and friends,
and so much more. If you’ve ever wondered about the pros and
cons of chemotherapy and radiation, you’ll get a good picture
here. What happens to family life and sexuality when cancer is
diagnosed? How do you cope with depressing thoughts? And how do
you face setbacks, treatments and recurrences?
Carol is an upbeat lady,
a schoolteacher with a need to know and a strong desire to
pass on her knowledge – Her research is
far reaching, her writing skills evident. She incorporates
the stories of fellow ACE group members and the advice and tips from
medical professionals seamlessly into a coherent book, a
valuable asset to the resources for colorectal cancer.
It has been six years
since Carol’s surgery and subsequent treatments
and she leads a full, busy life. To quote Carol, “After surgery
has made divots in our intestines, and as our treatments are being
completed, those of us who have survived find ourselves facing new
challenges…Winning becomes a quest to make every day count.
That is the victory. Cancer is a wretched disease, but it has no
power over the human spirit.”
