CentraState - Healthy Directions

the Power of Knowing, Sharing A Colon Cancer Survivor's Story "I think people are still afraid to talk about cancer." That's what Larry Greybill believes; however, he isn't one of those people. And he's happy to do anything he can to remove the stigma surrounding the disease. The 67-year-old from Jackson recently participated in the Phenomenological Study of Male Colorectal Cancer Survivors, spearheaded by CentraState Medical Center. Feeling lucky to be alive, Larry was happy to share his experiences as a colon cancer survivor. "We've got to take the mystery out of cancer," he notes, adding he was very willing to participate in the study, which took place in late 2011. "If anything I do or say can help someone else, why wouldn't I do it? People were there for me." PAin And PAniC Larry's journey began six years ago, when he experienced the worst pain of his life—which he initially attributed to food poisoning. As the excruciating pain worsened, the longtime journalist, who has worked at the Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press, called his physician, who recommended he go to CentraState. He then learned he had a perforated colon—often an indicator of colon cancer. "It was very much touch-and-go," Larry says, adding that he spent several days in the Critical Care Unit and then developed a blood clot, which exacerbated his condition. But Larry, a self-professed "positive-minded person," adds, "I got the best care and had a lot of dedicated people helping me." Mark Lehman, MD, FACS, board-certified vascular surgeon www.centrastate.com He especially credits Mark Lehman, MD, FACS, who performed his surgery, with saving his life. "After surviving [the perforated colon], the cancer [diagnosis] was almost anticlimactic," Larry says. "Now the next step is surviving." Larry underwent a "very ambitious" course of chemotherapy for about six months, under the care of the chief of hematology/oncology at CentraState, Jeffrey Silberberg, MD, with Monmouth-Middlesex Hematology Oncology, PC. "He said, 'Get on your feet, and we'll take care of the cancer.' We hit it off right from the start; I can't tell you how fortunate I feel," Larry says. Jeffrey Silberberg, MD, board-certified hematologist/oncologist About a year after his attack, Larry underwent reconstructive surgery on his colon, allowing him to function without a colostomy bag. MovinG FoRwARd As a healthy, active senior, Larry admits he never had a colonoscopy before his attack. He says he wasn't aware of any history of cancer in his family, so he didn't see the importance. Today, however— after having a recurrence 18 months ago— Larry sees Dr. Silberberg every 60 days and has a PET scan several times a year. "Follow-up is so important," he admits. Because of his recurrence, Larry is not yet considered "cancer free," however, he says he never considered cancer a death sentence. "Can you lose? March/April 2012 5 Yeah, but I've had wonderful doctors, nursing staff, and a family that's been wonderful," he says, especially citing the support of his wife, Linda. Positive, but vigilant, about his future, Larry notes, "I'm not naive. I realize the odds can shift on you. But I can outrun my two young grandsons and play a round of golf." For more information about CentraState's Cancer Center, call (855) 411-CANCER or visit www.centrastate.com/cancer. HD After treatment for colon cancer, Larry Greybill is now an advocate for cancer screenings, encouraging others to be screened regularly.

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