Invisapeeps 2.0

 http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-cancer-story/mothers-death-colon-cancer-stigma/?xid=aol_eh-digest_3_20140331_&aolcat=AHD&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl34%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D459914

By Michael Sapienza, Special to Everyday Health

In 2006 my mother, friend and inspiration, Chris Sapienza, was diagnosed with stage IIIc Colon Cancer. To say that it was devastating is an understatement. This was a women who dedicated her life to others; many called her a “force for good in this world.” Mom had a loving husband, four children, (two of whom were adopted at a very young age) two successful businesses, and a smile that would melt you every so sweetly.

Over the next three years we endured what was, in my opinion, one of the hardest things a family could experience. Three years filled with fear, pain, grief, good news, then fear, pain and grief all over again. Every time we got up, life would knock us back down.

One of the most painful memories came about three months before my mom passed away. She had been in and out of the hospital for weeks, and on one occasion was bent over on the stairs in our foyer crying/screaming in pain. The look of fear in her face is something I will never forget. My mother was terrified, to the point that fear had crippled all thoughts other than death.

To this day my mother’s fear remains my main impetus.  I want to make sure that no one else will ever suffer from this preventable disease again.

With Death Brings New Life

It was 9:00 am on May 11th, 2009, the day after mother’s day, that our mother, friend, and inspiration passed away at the early age of 59.

After mom passed, I remembered how often she spoke about the fact that no one ever talked about colon cancer — that it wasn’t sexy to talk about it.

Despite colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths with over 150,000 new cases a year, and 50,000 deaths, it still desperately needs recognition.

My mom had such passion about colon cancer screening; to the point where she was almost mad that she never heard about getting screened on TV, the radio, in the newspapers, or like other cancers in the NFL.

In August 2009, I was watching Ted Kennedy’s funeral on TV and it truly inspired me. We as a family had been dealt a blow similar those of  the Kennedy family. I remember hearing his family talk about how when Ted was knocked down he would always transform a tragedy into something positive. That is what Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation is.

We are an organization that has truly turned the tragedy of losing a loved one into a “force for good” for millions of Americans. Colorectal Cancer is 90% preventable when caught early; meaning early detection and screening are incredibly important. Even with these staggering figures 1 in 3 adults are still not being screened. For a preventable disease this is unacceptable.

Chris4Life

To reverse the colon cancer stigma, Chris4Life has started the Love Your Butt Colon Cancer Awareness Campaign. This campaign is designed to bring attention to this disease, and motivate people to make the smart choice to get screened. For more information about the Love Your Butt Campaign visit www.loveyourbutt.org

One of the biggest changes in our founding came when we combined forces with a colorectal cancer community named Colontown. This incredible grass roots community is now the cornerstone of our patient care and community program. There are currently over 1 million American living with colorectal cancer; if we want to make change, we can’t let them suffer alone.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish that I could give my mom a big hug, share dinners, movies and holidays together. In my opinion, my mom’s passing has both been the worst and the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has given me and many others this amazing opportunity to rid this world of colon cancer.  I’ve also had the opportunity  to reach my full potential as a leader (something that I never ever knew I could achieve). Is it painful knowing that my mother will never see me get married or have grandchildren? Yes. But in a way, I think she might have felt just as rewarded knowing that her legacy continues and that she is helping millions of people along the way.

To learn more about Chris4Life please visit www.chris4life.org or to join our national Love Your Butt Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign visit www.loveyourbutt.org

Michael Sapienza, President and Founder of Chris4life Colon Cancer Foundation, lost his mother to the disease in May of 2009. He has turned his profound grief into action, inspiring and challenging the colorectal cancer community, family, friends and professional associates to follow his lead and dedicate themselves to this cause and the Chris4Life mission. Michael holds degrees from both Northwestern University and Rice University and currently resides in the District of Columbia.

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I've had two clear colon cancer screenings in the last 10 years and I'm due for my 3rd at the end of this year.  My mother died of colon cancer, so you can see what this is important to me.  If you're over 40 or younger if you have a family history, please love your butt enough to get a screening.  It should be covered as preventative my most, if not all, healthcare plans, as well as medicare and medicaid.