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>> When I run, I just feel
strong or need to
freeze as I feel like I've accomplished something.
>> In 2015, I had to have a thyroid surgery.
In 2019, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.
I mean, I try to take care of myself,
but now that I've had cancer twice,
it's like, oh gosh, could it happen again?
Or there's always the fear of it could recur.
I think it was in September when
the late Chadwick Boseman had passed away,
and I was at home,
I was working and I heard on the news and I thought,
gosh, if it could happen to him, it could happen to me.
He was younger, but it was just a really moving story for me,
so I called to make the appointment that day.
Somebody in my family actually said,
well, it's COVID time,
you shouldn't be getting a colonoscopy,
and I said, no, this is really important.
I had the procedure and got the result that day that well,
there was a large polyp.
These pathology report started googling each word and I'm like,
oh, this maybe doesn't sound so good.
Then I dissect the report,
so I knew it wasn't just pre-cancerous so it's like,
oh gosh, this is
just a repeat of what we just went through with our past at all.
I can't believe this is happening again and then
doctor's office that had done the colonoscopy, and they said,
we're going to refer you to Dr. Naam,
and she may be able to do a procedure which
is endoscopic submucosal dissection.
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>> This procedure is designed to removed large polyps for
early cancer in one piece by
using electrocautery knife through the endoscope.
After you inject solution
underneath the tumor to lift the tumor from the wall,
then you use a knife to dissect the tumor little by little,
in order to remove the entire lesion in one piece.
Most of these procedures we performed this as out-patient,
so you usually go home on the same day.
You generally can resume your normal daily activity the next day.
Recovery time is very fast.
You also avoid the potential risk of undergoing surgery.
Chance of it recur at a site is extremely low,
less than one to two percent.
>> Remember we were out walking just like, well,
it was cancer and just like,
but we got it all, so it was superficial cancer.
You're stronger than you think you
are and with your family and friends in faith,
you can get through things like this.
>> Fam, I can't keep up with the number of medals,
the time it takes me to make one.
She's just accumulating medals faster than
I can make the rest of them.
>> It's just really important for everybody to really take
advantage of the opportunities that they have to get screened.
It's because you can be without
any symptoms and have something going on.
I'm just really very fortunate and grateful to
be able to have this time back that I'm recovered.
I can spend time with my family to be out running
and walking again and hoping to prepare for a marathon.
Your health is really up to you to take action.
I think it was in
my hands and making the appointment for the colonoscopy.
It's in your hands to take care of
yourself and have a key for
yourself and your family when it comes to health care.
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