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Survivor Stories

Survivor: Linda Scaglia

I had my first colonoscopy in September of 2002 following years of suffering with stomach and intestinal pain. At that time, it was discovered that I had Crohn's disease a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disorder. With medications and a modified diet the disease seemed to be in control. However, in the summer of 2004 the Crohn's seemed to be intensifying and caused me concern.

I arranged for an office visit with Dr. Kenneth Weiner, a Denver gastroenterologist. I told Dr. Weiner that I wanted to schedule a colonoscopy and he agreed since I had some family history of colon cancer. My mother had died at the age of sixty-six from a combination of ovarian and colon cancer.

Early in December of 2004 Dr. Weiner performed the colonoscopy and discovered a small lesion which he removed for a biopsy. The biopsy confirmed that the lesion was malignant and I was scheduled for a CatScan, PetScan and surgery.

On December 27, 2004, Dr. Craig Brown, a Denver colorectal surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery, removed a portion of the colon and surrounding lymph nodes. Subsequent lab results indicated that the cancer was Stage III and had spread to thirteen of eighteen lymph nodes.

In January 2005, I began six months of chemotherapy under the care of Dr. Al Cohn, a Denver oncologist. I wasn't going to put my wedding on hold for cancer. I believed I was in great medical hands as all of my doctors and nurses worked together and made me feel like I was their only patient.

The chemotherapy continued until August 2005 and was followed by a series of PetScans and CatScans and regular examinations by Dr. Cohn. In August of 2008, I will have been in remission for three years.

As a cancer survivor I firmly believe that everyone over 50 should be screened, especially if you have a family history. If you don't, you might be giving up precious time with those you love.

Linda Scaglia
May 4, 2008

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