The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

AT HIS 55th birthday last May, doctors diagnosed Hollie Taylor with stage-one colon cancer. In the early stages of the disease, Mr Taylor tolerated his treatment very well with minimal side effects. After almost a year of fighting - one major surgery and chemo treatment - Mr Taylor is still fighting and hoping he beats the disease.

“I didn’t know what I had until I went in to check the doctor and found out. When I heard it, I accepted it and I was prepared for it. After they told me I can have an operation done, I went along with it and it was successful,” said Mr Taylor recalling May 14, 2012, the day he found out about his illness.

The Exuma native told Tribune Health: “My family didn’t react too good at all to the news. They were all broken hearted, especially my son, 24 years old, who was devastated when they told him. I think my three girls, they took it better than he did.”

Mr Taylor said he was happy there were not any major side effects to his treatment process.

“Except for my toe nails and the palms of my hands, which turned black. That was minor compared to the surgery itself. The bottom of my feet were tender and I lost the grip in the palms of my hands, but like I said, it all was minor compared to the surgery,” he said.

Mr Taylor’s medical oncologist at the Cancer Centre Bahamas, Nevein Girgis, said Mr Taylor followed the instructions very carefully and this helped him to finish his post-surgery chemo on time in six months.

“There are different regimens of chemotherapy. The type of chemo we choose depends on several factors, most important are the type and stage of cancer, patient’s other health problems, and age. With Mr Taylor, because his cancer was discovered early, he didn’t need aggressive chemotherapy. So his treatment had a minimal effect on his daily life and activities,” said Dr Girgis.

She said Mr Taylor’s surgery was done in May of last year. He underwent left colectomy.

Mr Taylor said: “I can remember going into the room for surgery, talking, and all of a sudden I was out. There was no major pain, but I was in the hospital for about six or seven days. The difficult part about it was after, when I went home.”

He said laying in bed and trying to get up was difficult for him because the surgery was done on his stomach. It was also difficult sleeping on his side, Mr Taylor said.

“I finished off the chemo in December. And I’m looking forward to when I go back in May, where they will be doing another test and scan. I’m really hoping for the best,” said Mr Taylor.

Dr Gigis said colon cancer is 90 percent curable if detected early. She said colon cancer symptoms may be few or nonexistent, and patients may be asymptomatic for many years, which is a primary reason why screening should begin at age 50 or earlier for those at high risk.

“When symptoms do occur, they may include: change in bowel habits; bloody stools or rectal bleeding; stools with mucus; tarry stools; feelings of incomplete defecation. Less-specific symptoms may include anemia, unexplained weight loss and weakness,” said Dr Girgis.

Dr Girgis advises Bahamians to do their screenings on time. She said people who don’t have other risk factors, should begin screenings at age 50.

“We know 90 percent of new cases occur in patients 50 or older. African-Americans should begin screenings at age 45. For those with a family history of colon cancer, it is recommended to begin screenings 10 years earlier than the age at which the family member was diagnosed,” said Dr Girgis.

Mr Taylor said he would tell anyone, if there is an unusual feeling in your body, don’t just wait, go and get it checked out.

“I think that is the problem with us guys, we are afraid of going to doctors and if you want to live a longer life where you can catch this at an early stage, then I would advise anyone to go in and do a check up. I trust in God and that is the best you can do right there, and hope everything turns out for the best,” said Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor said he tries to get in as much healthy food as possible, which is sometimes hard, but he said at the end of the day, he is hoping to beat the cancer.

“If I can make it to the age of 70, I will be happy and I will be content,” said Mr Taylor.