March is colorectal cancer awareness month.
Exceptional Nurse celebrates, Anne Bourque RN, a colon cancer survivor!
In 2014, Anne wrote:
I am a registered nurse and started working at City of Hope in 1980 when I was 25. I can honestly say accepting a job here was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life. I have worked with some of the most talented and remarkable colleagues, and knowing many of them for 30-plus years has enriched my life tremendously.
Fast forward to 2002: Then, as now, I was the clinical nursing director of hematology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. I was divorced, with two children – Elizabeth, who was 19, and Gregory, who was 14.
I was 47, had some bleeding and went for a colonoscopy at a different hospital. I had no desire to have any City of Hope physician see me with less than my normal work clothes on, so naturally, I would have the test done elsewhere.
On Feb. 13, on the colonoscopy table, I found out that I had colon cancer.
Well, forget the concept of having no doctor see more than Anne in her work clothes – that ship had sailed. I had a friend drive me straight to City of Hope, because I was positive this was where I wanted my treatment. I called Stephen J. Forman, M.D., who met me in my office when I arrived. I was joined by my significant other. Dr. Forman began to lay out options for me. I have to say, I was a complete wreck. I have never cried so much in my life.
How could I get cancer? I already clearly knew the value of life, because my mother died of cancer when I was 14. What would my children do? My 14-year-old son knew how to cook only hot dogs and Top Ramen.
I needed to live. I wanted to live. And guess what? I did live!
Click on the following link to read more about Anne's remarkable journey and her ride atop City of Hope's Tournament of Roses Parade float. https://www.cityofhope.org/blog/colon-cancer-survivor-anne-bourque
Cheers!
Donna
I was working in the hospital setting for over 30 years with my BSN after 13 years then MSN in Education working as a clinical instructor but had to quit both my jobs in the ICU and teaching nursing students when I was diagnosed with colon cancer almost 4 years ago. I have undergone aggressive chemotherapy, colon resection, liver wedge resection, radiation therapy, and still ongoing chemotherapy for a small lymph node but all my tumors are gone. I'm praying for complete remission on my next PET scan. Thank you for giving me hope, I want to return to nursing but don't know if this will ever be possible. Judy Hindy, RN, MSN TofilH@comcast.net
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