Sharon & Ozzy Goof Around
- Colon cancer survivor Sharon Osbourne shared a funny photo of her and husband Ozzy’s heads pasted onto the 1990 movie poster for Pretty Woman.
- Sharon has said that Ozzy was a great support to her during her 2002 cancer battle; her treatment plan included chemotherapy.
- Having a strong support system through cancer via friends, family, spouse, or therapy can be helpful while battling your disease.
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Understanding Colon Cancer
Sharon was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2002. This year, approximately 104,610 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Colon cancer affects your large intestine (colon). It can also affect the end of your intestine (the rectum). Colon cancer is sometimes called “colorectal cancer.”
Related: Common Misconceptions About Colon Cancer
Colon cancer forms when abnormal lumps called “polyps” grow in the colon or the rectum. If left unremoved, the polyps can turn into cancer. Colon cancer is a slowly progressing disease; it can take up to 10 years for a polyp to turn into cancer. Dr. Zuri Murrell, a Colorectal Surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview how the polyps are removed and examined.
“When we see a polyp,” he said, “we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope. What does that mean? That means we basically put a wire through with a little bit of a little flange at the end and we pull the polyp out. Now, note there is no pain with that. Inside the colon, there are no pain fibers. So there’s no pain. What happens is then when we take the polyp out, we send that to a lab. In about five to 10 business days, we get the results back.”
Related: Looking for Polyps During Colonoscopy
Colon cancer is typically treated by surgery, chemotherapy (which Sharon used for her treatment), and radiation therapy. Your treatment plan for colon cancer will depend on how much the disease has progressed, and what your prognosis is.
Choosing the Right Surgery for Your Colon Cancer While Avoiding Marketing Gimmick
Support System Through Cancer
Sharon is so fortunate to have such a strong support network in her corner, which undoubtedly helped make her 2002 colon cancer journey a bit easier to bear. She’s talked about how Ozzy went to great lengths to make her laugh during her cancer treatment going so far as to call up Robin Williams and have him come over to their house to cheer up Sharon.
Having a strong support system through cancer is important. Support can be found not only in partners or spouses, but in family, friends, and, for some, faith. It can also be found in more formal resources, such as therapy or support groups.
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
Ovarian cancer survivor Beverly Reeves told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview how she pulled together a strong support system for herself during her cancer battle. "Get a strong support group together," Reeves advised. "Get your close friends. If you're connected to a faith community, get your faith community, and get your family. Let them know what's going on and let them help you." Asking for support through cancer is a brave and powerful move, and that vulnerability shows tremendous strength.
'Faith, Family, and Friends' Helped Beverly Reeves Get Through Ovarian Cancer Treatment
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