In 2017 i was diagnosed with colon cancer and bladder cancer and that was after cat scans mri’s and a lot of tests. First you just cry and try to say to yourself not me. My husband David was at my side every minute and our cat never left my side when we were home. Dr. Ripple at Norris Cotton center in St Johnsbury Vermont was a great help and we were set to see Dr. Ivatory at Dartmouth Hitchcock cancer center who was also great it came down to two alternatives one was to remove the colon cancer but with that i would not have control over my bowels and going out to shop or just be out anywhere would be not good. Number two choice was to remove part of the colon and have a permanent stoma. I said i was not having either and would live as long as i could but my Husband after a lot of heart to heart talks told me that later the pain would be incontrollable and that was scary so David DR. Ripple and Dr. Ivatory after talks decided to go with the the permanent stoma. My PC Dr. Silva at LRH in Littleton was also a major factor in finding why i was tired all the time and lost weight and vary low iron. The bladder cancer part they wanted to take care of first but that would hold up my starting treatments for the colon cancer so they said that could be done at the time of the colon operation. After 25 radiation treatments to shrink the colon cancer that did work and a lot of chemo pills i had the operation and was in the Hospital four days went in on Tuesday and had the surgery and my Husband took me home that Friday and that was remarkable. Pain yes but was on just Tylenol. Was still on Chemo pills and last check up on December 2019 my CEA cancer # was 1.0 and that is good. have a check up coming up August 28 2020 and hope for the best. The Angels in my life my Husband David and Dr. Ripple and my Surgeon Dr. Ivatory at Dartmouth and soon more to come in this adventure. Linda H DeMontigny.