Robert Shimmons
March 10th, 2008
Labor Day weekend 2004, my father was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer that had metastasized to his liver. He underwent surgery and they removed most of the cancer in his colon, but could not remove the tumors in his liver because there were too many. When we asked his surgeon for a prognosis, he said, “Well, I’m not going to say he won’t be here at Christmas.” He went on to say that 25% of patients with this type of cancer are still alive after 5 years.
To me, 25% didn’t sound like good odds. I only knew I wasn’t ready to lose my Dad, so we better be part of the 25%. My father was only 63 years old when he was diagnosed and I was getting married the next month. He needed to be with us.
He started treatment in October 2004. He was treated with a new drug that was only approved for use earlier that year. It is a cutting-edge treatment that cuts off the blood supply to the tumors, basically starving the tumor. He had treatment every other week; it took four hours and he was miserable for the next few days. Every month, he would be tested and the questions were the same: Were the tumor markers going down? Were the tumors shrinking? Was it working? Well, the answer for my Dad was yes. The treatment had effectively shrunk the tumors in his liver so small that he was now a candidate for surgery — the only thing that could save his life.
In September 2006 – two years since his cancer diagnosis – my father underwent surgery at the University of Michigan Hospital to remove the tumors that threatened his life. It was a 15-hour long day for everyone – including the amazing surgeon who had a similar surgery scheduled immediately after my father. That day in 2006, my father was effectively cancer free. And he was because a new medicine and a talented surgeon were available to change his diagnosis from a death sentence to hope.
Unfortunately, only three months after his liver surgery, we learned my father’s cancer had metastasized to his lungs. He is undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions to fight the tumors in his lungs. The drugs this time are different, but they include a targeted treatment that has only been available in the U.S. for a few years.
The good news is that my father is alive and living with cancer more than 3 ½ years since his initial diagnosis. His treatment isn’t easy, and each week I’m sure he questions why he continues to go, but, the treatments are working. He will never be cancer free, but with these new medicines, he may be able to live a long life with cancer. He is working, playing golf and sharing quality time with family and friends. He even works the summer months outside on the grounds crew for a local golf resort.
I am very proud of my Dad – he keeps fighting even when I know he wants to take a break. I am so thankful he hasn’t given up and that the new medicines available today help him continue the fight.
Note: My dad is far left in the family photo.
One Response to “ Robert Shimmons ”
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May 9th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Hi im a 45yr old female dx with stage 3 colon cancer and a different primary stage 2 breast cancer in aug 07. Your Dad gives me much hope for this fight and i will keep the fight. May God continue to Bless and help your Dad fight this horrible monster.