Time For Change

     My friend & fellow Colorectal Cancer Warrior, Dawn Eicher, has started an online petition to present to Congress in hopes of lowering the screening age for CRC; currently the "recommended" age is 50...this is entirely TOO late. Below are 2 excerpts from Dawn's petition, which already has over 50,000 signatures.

• "The facts are that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., and every year approximately 140,000 people are diagnosed. Of those, the current stats show that between 10-20% are under the age of 40, but the screening age remains 50 years old. Colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates continue to rise in the population under 50. It is also a misnomer that colorectal cancer is mostly genetic. Current data shows approximately 5% of all cases are genetic in nature. With appropriate screening, colorectal cancer is one of the few 100% preventable cancers. This fact is so very important it bears repeating: COLORECTAL CANCER IS 100% PREVENTABLE WITH EARLY DETECTION! Unfortunately, insurance companies refuse to cover diagnostic tests for those under 50."

• "According to the latest stats, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will face cancer in their lifetime. Let’s take colorectal cancer out of the equation NOW and save people today. We have enough to worry about; colorectal cancer shouldn’t be one of them. This is not an “old man’s disease” and 1 in 20 is the average risk factor. There are currently more than ONE MILLION colon cancer survivors."

Please, if you haven't already, click the link & sign the petition. We whole-heartedly thank you for your time.

Never Too Young - Lowering CRC Screening Age Petition

love&lyrics,

- LISA -

31, Here I Come!

Sunday was a big day...like a big, big day. Sunday I turned 31-years-young & I couldn't be more EXCITED! Perhaps 31 doesn't sound like an age that you want to - metaphorically - "shout from the rooftops", but I do! Almost 5 years ago, I was diagnosed 2 months & 6 days after I turned 26 (whoa - just noticed the strange repetition of the 2's & 6's there) so I was very much facing the potential of being what I call "forever 26". Is my life anywhere near where I ever "thought" it would be?...hell no, but I'm alive, I'm loved, I'm healthy (fingers-crossed for low tumor-markers on Friday) & I'm surrounded by incredible people who I love so very much. Those incredible people helped me celebrate being able to live & learn another year in the crazy, chaotic, wouldn't-trade-it-for-anything world. 

Birthday snapshots 

Celebrating with my lady-love & bffff, Franki! LY! ☮

     Along with my excitement about my birthday, I'm also pretty pumped for next month because March is officially Colorectal Cancer Awareness month! Unfortunately you won't see blue ribbons displayed as prominently around as pink ribbons in October (believe me, the emotional-struggle is REAL) however we are still doing our damnedest to spread the word about prevention, detection, and the reality of this disease. We - I can't do this alone so I need your help & this easiest way to show your support is participating in National Dress In Blue Day on Friday, March 06, 2015. What does that mean exactly? It's seriously incredibly easy...by simply wearing something blue you are supporting me, the CCA, & the thousands of other CRC Warrriors & their families who fight the fight everyday. Easy peasy, right? If you can, take a minute to help us spread the word. Share your pictures& join us while we raise awareness & save some butts! ;)

Please feel free to take & pass this along! 

Also, be on the lookout for lots of "GDHC" blog lovin' in March...here's hopin' you won't get sick of me!


See you soon!
love&lyrics,
- LISA -

Back on the Horse

     Happy Belated 2015. Like a lot of things in my life, "blogmas" didn't go quite as planned but I hope you did enjoy the few posts I did manage to get put-up.
     I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted but I decided to take a little time away from the web; I needed to work through some things in my head & in my heart before I felt "ready" enough to get back on the horse, or in this case...back on the blog.
      From now on, "Goodbye Dancer, Hello Cancer" will be in honor of my fellow colorectal warrior Mrs. Amanda Stewart. Amanda was a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a hero, an inspiration, & an amazing friend. She fought a fight no one should have to fathom, let alone experience but she did it with a smile & her famous "thumb's up" attitude. She became an angel on December 31, 2014 at the much-too-young age of 28. My promise to her was to continue to share our stories about CRC, colostomys, the importance of colonscopies, & most importantly - debunking the age myth that accompanies colorectal cancer. I was diagnosed 2 months after I turned 26; Amanda was diagnosed at only 22-years-old. It's time for change & I am going to do everything I can to make that a reality.

...forever in our hearts...

thank you for your patience,

talk to you very soon.

love & lyrics,

- LISA -