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You Changed My Whole Life

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As a cancer survivor, and in speaking to audiences worldwide, people often ask me, ?How did you get into the speaking business? And, ?Tell me about your cancer.? The answer is simple. On May 2, 1991, I experienced a wake-up call that would forever change my life. I was diagnosed with stage zero colon cancer. And it doesn't run in my family. The good news is that through life-altering experiences such as these, we're often forced to find our passion and fulfill our fate. Here's my story as a cancer survivor, what it taught me and what you can learn from it.

My life in Redondo Beach, California in 1991 was wonderful. Living in an ocean view town home blocks from the beach, and with a job I enjoyed, there was much reason to feel grateful. In addition, my many friends and I had just celebrated my 31st birthday in late March of that same year.

One month later we were all skiing at Mammoth Mountain in California. Having just completed my final ski run of the day, I was feeling happy, alive and energized. It was nearing sunset. Clouds in pink, purple and orange hues filled the sky. The scent of the green pine trees and crisp mountain air was exhilarating.

Two days later, I was sitting in front of the doctor when he said to me, ?Unfortunately, Colleen, you've got colon cancer.? My whole body went numb. I told him that since I was handling it well and wasn't in tears, I must be in shock. He winced with empathy, and said, ?I think you are.? The good news is my colon cancer was stage zero so I never had any chemo or radiation. I was one of the lucky ones.

Having said that, I recently spoke for the 4th annual dinner of a colon cancer survivors? group and was shocked at how many patients were under the age of 40. They were not the relatives of cancer patients but the actual patients themselves. At that dinner, I asked both the patients and their families to write down what they had learned from a colon cancer diagnosis. Here are some of the things they shared:

?My wife is a cancer survivor, and I am now deeply aware of how the birds sing and the flowers bloom.?

?I have become closer to God. I use my experience to talk to youth. My skies are bluer and my flowers more colorful. I see more to life than others. I have better relationships with others I meet.?

?Life is too special and sometimes too short to worry about the small stuff. We need to have a passion for life. Working in oncology and having a cancer survivor mother to share my life with is truly a blessing! This disease is preventable! Get screened and get treatment if necessary!?

?I got a colonoscopy and had polyps in my late 20's. I now know that I am not indestructible.?

?After being diagnosed with colon cancer at age 38, I learned to put myself, my husband and my children ahead of any other obligations. It made me look for God's purpose in my life.?

?As the wife of a cancer survivor I find that my sense of what life is all about has changed. My treatment of others (my husband, children, and other people in my life) has become more loving.?

?I appreciate life much more and am thankful for each day. I look forward to what life has in store for me."

?Increased awareness of life's potential to change suddenly. I'm reconnected with family members not seen for a long time. As a colon cancer survivor, it caused my family members to all get a colonoscopy.?

?I am a cancer survivor. I am now so very very happy and singing praises and helping others. Smile, smile, smile!"

As a cancer survivor, I can tell you that the things that we think are so pressing and urgent often aren't. It's about family, friends, appreciating nature, taking risks and helping others. I hope you will not have to experience a wake-up call in order to find your passion and fulfill your fate. Learn from the experiences of others. March is colon cancer awareness month. Please get screened. Don't die of embarrassment. It could save your life.

Copyright 2006 Colleen Kettenhofen

You Changed My Whole Life

A gentleman named Jason contacted me and said he recently had sinus laser surgery from Dr. Harvey Paley, whose practice is in Beverly Hills, CA. He said flatly that this operation “changed my life". This gentleman has had 3 other conventional surgeries in the past 15 years during which time he had lost his sense of smell and sense of taste. Hearing about such a success after a sinus operation is rare in my experience. I personally have had two of them, and they basically didn’t work, since I continued to have sinus infections after both of them. In fact, I’ve heard of very few people who have had sinus surgery and who were pleased about the results over time.

So when someone is as enthusiastic about his operation as Jason is, it is time to listen, especially considering his background of sinus problems. The operational procedure is called Sinu-Clear, and it uses a laser as well as an endoscope. The laser equipment also provides a steady stream of salt water to flow through the nasal passageways while the operation is taking place. There is apparently very little bleeding during the procedure, since the laser cauterizes the tissue being operated on. Because of this there is no need for nasal packing, and this is a huge positive, as those of us who have gone through a conventional operation with a scalpel and had our noses packed can attest. For me it was just awful. The endoscope allows for good viewing by the surgeon, as the camera projects a picture of the nasal cavities being worked on onto a television screen.

This type of approach seems to make perfect sense. That is, using laser and endoscope technology to limit bleeding and see clearly what is being operated on. The first question I had is “why are there only a small handful of surgeons in the U.S. doing this operation?" It is not brand new, and in fact this laser sinus surgery was apparently pioneered by Dr. Daniel M. Schuman from Boca Raton, Florida over 10 years ago. Apparently Dr. Schuman has subsequently retired from his medical practice.

I asked this question to a gentleman from the company that produces the Sinu-Clear laser equipment, a company called PhotoMedex. He said there are many reasons for so few surgeons using the procedure, and most seem to boil down to the reluctance of people, in this case sinus surgeons, to change. In fact PhotoMedex is emphasizing different product lines of medical laser equipment, and the gentleman I spoke with was not optimistic about growth aspects for this procedure. To me this is certainly a shame. I personally have only spoken to one person, Jason, who has undergone the procedure, but he is extremely enthusiastic. I hope to speak to others and get more inputs. I can only say that when someone who has had 3 other operations tries sinus laser surgery and says he has finally regained his sense of smell again after 15 years, then this is worth taking note of, at the very least.

In addition to Dr. Paley in Beverly Hills, CA, I found out about two other otolaryngologists who perform the Sinu-Clear sinus laser operation. One is Dr. Vincent Pisciotta in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the other is Dr. Robert Bonham in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Bonham also performs another new operation called Sinuplasty, which is similar to angioplasty but for the sinus cavities. I understand there may be a few other surgeons in the country who routinely perform the Sinu-Clear operation, and I intend to continue to research this and get the word out. Results will be posted on the blog and forum at http://www.postnasaldrip.net. I only wish I had heard about this sinus laser surgery procedure years ago. It sounds like it might have been more effective and certainly less painful than the operations I did have. If you are considering being one of the 300,000 people who have sinus operations in the U.S. alone, this procedure is certainly something to know about and consider as an option, even if it were to require travel.

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About Author

Both Colleen Kettenhofen & Walter Ballenberger are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Colleen Kettenhofen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Difficult people and Leadership. Colleen Kettenhofen is a motivational speaker, workplace expert, & co-author of "The Masters of Success," as featured on the Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield.. Colleen Kettenhofen's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.

Walter Ballenberger has sinced written about articles on various topics from Sinus Infections, Baby Shower and Arts. Walt Ballenberger is founder of a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Succe. Walter Ballenberger's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.

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