Erin Conklin's Fight Against Colon Cancer

It's never a good sign when they won't give you the Goldfish crackers when you wake up in recovery after your colonoscopy. On March 21st, 2022 I awoke from a routine procedure with the news I could not have the Goldfish or Lorna Doones I had overheard everyone else be offered- but I did have a massive tumor completely blocking the entrance of my colon. The surgeon said she was sure it was cancer and she'd just scheduled me an emergency CT scan I needed to leave for NOW. This began a whirlwind of several weeks of testing, appointments and surgeries. At 35 years old, I now have a confirmed diagnosis of Stage 3C Colon Cancer that is invasive and has spread to my lymph nodes. I'm currently 2 weeks into recovery from a surgery to remove my 7 inch tumor and 27 lymph nodes, resection my colon, and get a (hopefully, but whatever) temporary colostomy. I have my 4th surgery in 5 weeks in just days to get my port put in to start chemo next week.

 

It's an aggressive form of cancer, and the treatment plan has, and will continue to be grueling- open stomach surgery with 18 staples is no small feat- but I intend to win this fight. However, this will be a very challenging path, and even I had to concede I am going to need help. I've always been very open about the struggles in my life: mental illness, trauma, miscarriage, sexual abuse, etc because I've always felt a sense of empowerment in sharing them. This, compounded with the crippling need for some semblance of control in my life (and the idea of asking someone to write nice things about me makes me want to throw up) is why I wanted to take charge and write this for myself.

 

With the help and constant support of Sam and my family, I'm taking a proactive approach to this illness and plan to battle it with every tool at my disposal- conventional or otherwise. I'm all in. I've got girls to raise. I'm keeping an (especially shocking for me) positive mindset and have no doubt I'll be baking their birthday cakes for years to come. However, the cost of medicial supplies, traveling daily to appointments, expenses, and so freaking many Ensures, combined with all the time Sam has already had take off and will continue to have to miss from work is going to bring significant financial strain on our family. This dramatically changes our day-to-day lives as a stay at home mom and independent contractor. Most people dealing with this type of cancer aren't still in the preschool and braces and permits stages of parenting- so balancing it all is a bit overwhelming. Therefore, I humbly ask you to consider any contribution you could to help see my family through this difficult time. I would never ask for myself, I just desperately want to help be able to bring some sense of normalcy and happy to my girl's life. I just want to be able to enjoy what time I feel well enough to spend with them instead of spiraling over bills and ostomy supplies. I'm trying to alleviate some of the stress my illness is putting on Sam and the rest of my family (for never having that "in sickness and in health" contract his support has been unwavering.)

 

Please feel free to reach out as well, I welcome any well wishes- the support I've received so far has already proven itself invaluable. And please please please, -if nothing else- don't put off any health concerns you may have. Even if they are "embarrassing." I ignored mine for years thinking it was a lactose thing and I wouldn't give up grilled cheeses and probably had hemorrhoids from kids. No one ever expected it to be cancer, let alone so far advanced. Colorectal cancer is having a HUGE rise in MUCH younger patients than ever before, and unfortunately that means more advocating for yourself. Please don't let yourself almost die from embarrassment too. Thank you for consideration, and positive thoughts. And when you think of me, please think of me healed and well, still saying all the wild stuff no one else would. I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't wait to come back and update you on how I'm kicking cancers ass.

 

So very much appreciated,

 

Erin Conklin

Update: I can't believe the generosity of everyone! I am seriously shook and so so grateful. Thank you all so much!