Stage 4 Colon Cancer survivor, Tony Pace, made a life-changing and brave decision after completing a very difficult journey through his treatment.
After bladder reconstruction surgery, a partial colectomy, a partial hepatectomy, followed by chemotherapy, he made the decision to have a permanent colostomy.
During his quarterly colonoscopies, his doctor would remove between 6 – 8 polyps. This continued for over a year and a half. Tony was concerned about both the risk of a tear each time polyps were removed, and the risk that a potentially cancerous polyp may be overlooked. These were chances that Tony no longer wanted to take; hence, the decision to have a permanent colostomy.
What I Learned From Tony Pace
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It’s your body and your life
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Make the decisions on your medical care that are right for you.
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You can lead an “almost” normal life with a permanent colostomy
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Tony works in a physically demanded job. While he has had to make some minor adjustments to his daily routine, he continues to lead a very active lifestyle.
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Attitude is everything! Tony has a terrific sense of humor and a great outlook on life.
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My favorite quote from Tony is “Never take things too seriously and learn to laugh. You don’t have control over most things that happen to you on this journey.”
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