Click here to register for Push For Your Tush or make a donation!

Paul Smeltzer

When I was 49 years old, I conducted the FIT (fecal) test as instructed by my GP during my annual physical. Though I was younger than the recommended age of 50 and did not have a family history of colorectal cancer or any symptoms, my doctor pushed the test so that I got it done. It came back positive and he advised me to have a colonoscopy. During this procedure we found my colon to be littered with polyps, including one cancerous polyp. A few months later and after many tests, I had a full colectomy procedure.

Approximately one week after surgery, I had great news: My surgeon reported to me that the cancer had not spread (Stage 1) and that I would need no further cancer treatments. I did not have much knowledge regarding CRC, and ironically enough, I had eaten oatmeal nearly every morning of my life and had never had any issues down there. It was the last place I thought I would develop a problem.

I’m living proof that everyone should do their routine physicals. You may think that you or a loved one will never be touched by colorectal cancer – but you are wrong. Colorectal cancer is affecting younger and younger people. As the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada, we must raise awareness about this cancer to help others. I was so fortunate that this was detected early and that I didn’t have go through any chemotherapy or radiation.

90% of colorectal cancers are curable when caught early or at a localized stage! Be sure to begin screening at the age recommended by your doctor or screening program based on your risk level. Don’t wait until it is too late!

Rada’s Story

Awareness is the best medicine I remember many things from my battl [...]

READ MORE

Gaston’s Story

April 2023 My story goes back to the start of 2000 when I made a ra [...]

READ MORE

Hanna’s Story

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Hanna Lengkeek, a stage [...]

READ MORE

Eric’s Story

At 41 years old, I was relatively young, healthy, and enjoying time wi [...]

READ MORE

Coping with the impact of cancer on your mental health: Lisa Martin’s story

Lisa Martin is a stage II colorectal cancer survivor and a passionate advo [...]

READ MORE

Gordon Levine’s Story

Gordon was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at the age of 48. After num [...]

READ MORE

Sam Megarry’s Story

Sam was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and Lynch syndrome when she was 2 [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Jordan

To donate: https://ccc.akaraisin.com/ui/bashforhope “Hope is all yo [...]

READ MORE

BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED: LESSONS LEARNED FROM MY CANCER JOURNEY

In just one moment, your life can completely change. Last year, I h [...]

READ MORE

Becky Cassidy’s Story

“You have cancer.” To me, when it’s regarding my own health, those words s [...]

READ MORE

Claudia Pavao: early age onset colorectal cancer and Lynch syndrome survivor

Claudia was diagnosed with early age onset colorectal cancer and Lynch s [...]

READ MORE

Lisa Blobstein’s story

It has been 10 years since my husband Steve Lisiak lost his incredibly b [...]

READ MORE

Connie Pickett: Living with LARs

The whole cancer experience really challenged me - mentally, physically, [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Stephanie Budgell

Hi, I’m Stephanie Budgell, a colorectal cancer survivor. I was diag [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Bryna Dilman

My day started as it always did: I was woken up by my five year old da [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Haydn

Hi, my name is Haydn Bechthold and I’m a 22-year-old who is currently figh [...]

READ MORE

Gurvinder Garcha, Cancer Survivor

In the year 2000, my Mom’s world was turned upside down when she was diagn [...]

READ MORE

Anita’s Story: How Dress in Blue Day Began

In 2006 I started Dress in Blue Day at my children's k-8 school. I had bee [...]

READ MORE

Caregiver Story: Bunnie Schwartz

When I was 35 years old my sister was 45. She was diagnosed with stage 4 c [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Pierre

Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Pierre, who was diagno [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Meagan

I was diagnosed at 29. I was 9 months pregnant with my daughter and my tod [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Stephen

My name is Stephen. Thank you for allowing me to tell you my story. Up [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Don McQuaig

The day will be etched in my memory forever. On February 28, 2006 afte [...]

READ MORE

Patient Story: Henry Klumak

In early December 2016, Klumak was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic colo [...]

READ MORE

Cancer Recurrence amid COVID-19: Robin’s Story

It was the day of the lockdown. My family doctor called. “The colorectal c [...]

READ MORE

Aneta’s Story

I am grateful. I am grateful for the storm and I am grateful for all the m [...]

READ MORE

My Cancer Story: Annette Reilly

My story begins when I was 30 years old. I had started directing theatre a [...]

READ MORE

A PASSION FOR CARE – by Robert Hamilton

The colonoscopy room seemed small when filled with bizarre equipment. My [...]

READ MORE

Gemma’s Story

My name is Gemma (Filipino-Canadian). I have colorectal cancer, stage 3B [...]

READ MORE

Kathy Torunski’s Story

I recently had the distinct pleasure of attending the Brice Tiamuh Blue R [...]

READ MORE

VANESSA’S STORY

It was the summer of 2009 and I was only 21 years old...My mother, who was [...]

READ MORE

Mary Devera

I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a young age – 36 years old and 8 [...]

READ MORE

A Wife’s Worst Fear Realized – Gilda’s Story

Hi, my name is Gilda. Our story starts out like many others who are diagno [...]

READ MORE

The Dark, Long and Winding Road…Dominic Loccisano’s Story

I would like to thank Colorectal Cancer Canada (CCC) for their ongoing hel [...]

READ MORE

Sponsors

Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo
Sponsor Logo