|
|
|
Bartlett, IL —
Six years ago, Bartlett resident and Hanover Township Community Health Director Trish Simon, 38, was on a ski trip with friends in Colorado when she began feeling severe abdominal pain.
After being hospitalized, Simon’s worst fears were realized: She had stage IV colon cancer, which had also spread to her lungs.
“I had no family history and no real symptoms, but a few questionable items with my health,” she said. “It started with abdominal pain, but very different than I had before. It presented like ovarian cancer.”
With a newborn baby and a 5-year-old at home, Simon underwent surgery to remove a tumor in her colon and then began chemotherapy.
But about eight months later, Simon received another blow. Her husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma — a type of cancer that develops from soft tissues.
He’s now in remission.
“It makes us both really appreciate every day and appreciate all the little things we take for granted,” Simon said.
While she’s been in remission several times herself, Simon said once she goes off her chemotherapy treatments, her cancer returns. She’s currently part of a colon cancer study with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and travels there every other week for treatment.
“My cancer is still stage IV,” she said. “They keep telling me that this trial is not going to cure me, but it will stabilize it. I’ve already beaten the odds by making it for five years. We keep fighting. If it’s the one thing I’ve tried to instill in my kids, is to never give up.”
However, Simon has become an advocate for her disease and has made it her mission to help others prevent it.
Earlier this month in honor of colon cancer awareness, Simon teamed up with gastroenterologist Dr. Brian Muska to offer free screenings for at-risk, uninsured residents.
During the screenings, one person tested positive for colon cancer.
“We were very surprised and shocked at the results,” she said. “It just proves that it’s important to get screened.”
Even though her diagnosis came at a young age, she stressed the importance of those older than 50 getting screened.
In the meantime, Simon continues to pursue her work at Hanover Township and being a mom to her two sons.
“My husband and I pray that we haven’t taken away (our children’s) innocence with this,” she said. “Cancer is a large portion of my life, but I don’t want it to be in the forefront.”
Six years ago, Bartlett resident and Hanover Township Community Health Director Trish Simon, 38, was on a ski trip with friends in Colorado when she began feeling severe abdominal pain.
After being hospitalized, Simon’s worst fears were realized: She had stage IV colon cancer, which had also spread to her lungs.
“I had no family history and no real symptoms, but a few questionable items with my health,” she said. “It started with abdominal pain, but very different than I had before. It presented like ovarian cancer.”
With a newborn baby and a 5-year-old at home, Simon underwent surgery to remove a tumor in her colon and then began chemotherapy.
But about eight months later, Simon received another blow. Her husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma — a type of cancer that develops from soft tissues.
He’s now in remission.
“It makes us both really appreciate every day and appreciate all the little things we take for granted,” Simon said.
While she’s been in remission several times herself, Simon said once she goes off her chemotherapy treatments, her cancer returns. She’s currently part of a colon cancer study with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and travels there every other week for treatment.
“My cancer is still stage IV,” she said. “They keep telling me that this trial is not going to cure me, but it will stabilize it. I’ve already beaten the odds by making it for five years. We keep fighting. If it’s the one thing I’ve tried to instill in my kids, is to never give up.”
However, Simon has become an advocate for her disease and has made it her mission to help others prevent it.
Earlier this month in honor of colon cancer awareness, Simon teamed up with gastroenterologist Dr. Brian Muska to offer free screenings for at-risk, uninsured residents.
During the screenings, one person tested positive for colon cancer.
“We were very surprised and shocked at the results,” she said. “It just proves that it’s important to get screened.”
Even though her diagnosis came at a young age, she stressed the importance of those older than 50 getting screened.
In the meantime, Simon continues to pursue her work at Hanover Township and being a mom to her two sons.
“My husband and I pray that we haven’t taken away (our children’s) innocence with this,” she said. “Cancer is a large portion of my life, but I don’t want it to be in the forefront.”
