April 10, 2009 @ 12:05 AM

For those that don't know me or for those that may have forgotten, I am Cyndy and I am married to Chuck. We are going through this journey together. This is not what we expected to be doing at this time in our lives but we will do what we need to each day until we beat "THE BIG C".

One of the main reasons for starting this blog about our journey is to heighten the awareness of needing to listen to our bodies regardless of where we are in life - young, old, older, oldest... When we are young, we feel invincible. When we are seemingly healthy, we feel invincible. As we get older, we are no longer invincible! Our surgeon, Dr Ondrula, said when we ask how we were "chosen" when there is no cancer on Chuck's side of the family tree answered, "dumb luck". We don't want to look back and say "shoulda, woulda, coulda" because we didn't have our colonoscopy at age 50 so we are looking forward and asking - "HAVE YOU HAD YOUR COLONOSCOPY YET?"

Another reason for the blog is to make sure that ANYONE that has experienced cancer with another family member will be at a higher risk of also getting the disease. It might not be the exact same type or location, but why take the chance? Dr Ondrula asked if we had children. We told him three - two sons and a daughter. He said that they should definitely not wait until 50 or even 40 before they get their first colonoscopy but should do it at 35. That's a 15 year head start for possible detection! And, that this type of cancer very often will manifest itself as breast, ovarian, and/or uterine cancer in women. So, again I ask - "HAVE YOU HAD YOUR COLONOSCOPY YET?"

And last, for tonight at least, is to share our experience with our family and friends. While we would love to talk to each and every one of you on the phone, we just wouldn't have the time to do that AND work AND fight this tumor. So, we will blog away (this was my brother Ray's idea who told my mother Phyl who told me who told my daughter Marcia who has made it possible to now tell all of you)! Please feel free to comment - we would love to hear from you! Oh, I'm also collecting "butt" jokes for those times in the future when we would rather laugh than cry! So, they can be groaners or funny or play on words, just remember this is a family site!

We will probably post updates this week end regarding all of the parade of doctors that we've seen and have yet to see and let you know more of the technical "stuff". Until then, please have a safe and wonderful Easter season with your families, and remember to answer the question - "HAVE YOU HAD YOUR COLONOSCOPY YET?"