karen fisher shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning karen, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Lately I am feeling so overwhelmed with full-time work and the foundation and preparing to downsize our house and planning my daughters wedding and trying to find time for my husband that I don’t feel like I am doing any good at any of it. I have avoided emails recently due to the overwhelming nature of it all. But I just cleaned up my personal email inbox and organized all the folders. Now I am working on the foundation email and hoping to get more organized. So I am sorry for this delay. The small original board that we started with has grown recently and I have stepped back from some of the responsibilities. This has lifted a weight off my shoulders but I still have a lot of work that I want to get done. So I am wandering down a path that I think God is leading me on but some days I wonder where I am supposed to be. But I am doing the best I can. Thanks for your understanding.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a 59 year old pharmacist at a local hospital where I have worked for 24 years. Five years ago I tried to donate blood at the bloodmobile outside the hospital. They turned me away for a low blood count. My doctor confirmed the anemia and sent me for a colonoscopy where they found a mass. I had surgery to remove it and I have been all clear ever since. During those 5 years I found so many resources for colon cancer that I wanted to share them with the world. So my gastroenterologist, my surgeon and my son and I started a 501c3 nonprofit called the Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation. We give out free pamphlets full of information about resources for colon cancer patients and screening for colon cancer. It is the number 1 cancer killer of men under 50 and the number 2 cancer killer of men and women combined under 50. People in their 30’s, 20’s and even teenagers are getting colon cancer at alarming rates. I like to tell people to “weed their intestinal gardens” by getting a colonoscopy. It can remove polyps that can turn cancerous and kill you just like weeds can kill your garden if not removed. I also like to tell people that just like crime in neighborhoods: “if you see something, say something.” If you see blood in the toilet, don’t just assume (or let your doctor tell you) that it is just hemorrhoids or IBS or gluten intolerance. The only way to know for sure is to get a colonoscopy. Don’t let them tell you that you are too young for colon cancer. If you have a colon, you are at risk for colon cancer.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
getting diagnosed with colon cancer
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
get your colonoscopy on time. However, if I did that, they may have found a polyp, removed it and I would have moved on with my life. I feel that it was my purpose and God’s plan for me to get diagnosed with colon cancer so that I can help save others.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
family
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
working
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CitrusCRC@gmail.com
- Facebook: Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation
