Lynne Graduates From High School - 1986

1986 - High School Graduation
ANSWER TO EMAIL QUESTION: TRUE

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23 Year Old Survivor of Colon Cancer Creates 40 Foot Colon

(The following was reprinted from a website called "The Colon Club". This is a nonprofit organization that increases awareness around Colon Cancer in people who are younger than 50.)


The Colon Club was founded in 2003 by Molly McMaster, 28, a colon cancer survivor who was diagnosed on her 23rd birthday, and Hannah Vogler, 30, whose cousin and Molly's friend, Amanda Sherwood Roberts, died of the disease at the age of 27. Our main goal is to educate as many people as possible, as early as possible, about colorectal cancer in interesting and out-of-the-box ways. Our wishes are for people to have "colon talk" in their everyday lives, to know the risk factors and symptoms, and to get screened when it is appropriate for them.

Check out pictures page for more pictures

On the "Today" show in November of 2001, Katie Couric told Molly that if she came up with something crazy for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, the "Today" show would cover it. The wheels started turning, and one day in the shower Molly came up with the idea to build the Colossal Colon®!
“Coco,” as the Colossal Colon® is affectionately known, is a 40-foot long, 4-foot tall oversized model of the human colon that is designed to educate about colorectal cancer and other diseases of the colon. Visitors who crawl through the Colossal Colon® will see Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, cancerous and non-cancerous polyps, and various stages of colon cancer.
The Colon Club’s goal is to educate younger people about colorectal cancer, and the Colossal Colon is the perfect educational tool to do just that. Coco gets everyone talking about colorectal cancer, which is one of the first steps in eliminating it. Adults and children alike can crawl through or look through windows to check out the various features inside Coco.
Since 2002, Coco has visited 74 cities in 34 states and Canada, and has been hosted at hospitals, malls, convention centers, state fairs, museums, a football tournament, an amusement park, and other unique locations. Click here to read more about the history of the Colossal Colon®.

http://www.colonclub.com/crazyprojects.html

Lynne Saves Lives

As an immediate result of this campaign 8 of Lynne's close family and friends have insisted upon and scheduled colonoscopies long before the "recommended" age of 50. To date, 4 have completed their colonoscopies all finding the procedure painless and simple. Here is the shocking news... 3 out of 4 of the people tested so far(all under the age of 50) have had polyps (tiny bumps that can become cancerous if left in the colon) . That is a shocking 75% folks... it is time to take heed and get yourself and your family checked. Thankfully these polyps have been removed and now all 4 of Lynne's family & friends can rest easy knowing they will not contract colon cancer once they continue to monitor their colon (it is usually recommended that you recieve a colonoscopy every 3 -5 years once a family history or polyps are discovered).

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

• The most common symptom is no symptom
• Change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools)
• unexplained weight loss, vomitting, lack of energy, unexplained anemia
• Blood (often not visible) in the stool (poop) or from rectum (bum)
• Abdominal pain/discomfort (gas, bloating, cramps, feeling that the bowel doesn't empty completely)

If you have one or more of these symptoms for more than a few weeks, see a doctor and get a colonoscopy! So far NOBODY has had difficulty convincing their Doctor to refer them for a colonoscopy.

Please hear Lynne's plea.. get scheduled for a colonoscopy asap... remember the most common symptom is no symptom at all. Please let us know of your personal effort to put an end to colon cancer.

Lynne Smith

I have not turned my back on you, so there is no need to cry. I'm watching you from heaven, just beyond the morning sky. I've seen you almost fall apart, when you could barely stand. I asked the Lord to comfort you, and watched him take your hand. He told me you are in more pain, then I could ever be. He wiped his eyes and swallowed hard, then gave your hand to me. Although you may not feel my touch, or see me by your side. I've whispered that I love you, while I wiped each tear you cried. So please try not to ache for me, we'll meet again one day, beyond the dark and stormy sky, a Rainbow lights the way.

-Anonymous

My Journey To Colonoscopy...

(Mt. Boney, Newbury Park, CA - The highest mountain that I ever climbed before "Mt. Colon Cancer Awareness")

Ok... I need to put my money where my mouth is. I went for my annual physical today. Honestly, I haven't had a physical in 4 years. With small kids, we moms barely ever think of ourselves. I could be at the Pediatricians office 4 times a week with my children, yet, I ignore any aches and pains that I may have. There just isn't enough time.

Today, I made time. I filled out paperwork and finally told a doctor about symptoms that I am having that I never want to talk about. You know why?? Its about my bottom. This is never a fun subject for anyone. I talked about it today. I had an exam on my bum today. You know what? It was very quick. It didn't hurt at all.

She did a "hemmocult" (blood in stool) test. She got the results instantly and it looked fine. Because of symptoms that I am having she asked me to go to see a Gastrointestinal doctor and get a colonoscopy. Which I wanted to do anyway. She gave me paperwork to get blood work done. That will show if I am anemic at all. All in all, it took about 6 minutes.

Whether or not you want to know - I have decided to journal my colonoscopy process... the good, bad and ugly along with the prep and the results. If I can do this- YOU certainly can!

Stay Tuned...