Faces of Blue: John Sarzoza Jr., 2023 Update
Note: This was an article update I sent to The Colon Cancer Coalition back in April. I’ve had quite a few people now who have asked for an update and since the CCC hasn’t posted my update yet, I thought I’d post it (unedited) here until they do so I can at least steer people to the article update for now.
By John Sarzoza Jr. April 30, 2023 Faces of Blue
I was diagnosed on July 5, 2017, as stage IIIc colorectal cancer and was given 6-9 months to live …if I chose to do nothing. Nothing?!? Well, I’m married with children so naturally, I decided to fight it. Although it took a year to do so, I finally beat cancer (so I thought) and was declared cancer free with no evidence of disease (NED) in August of 2018. (Read the first part of John’s story here.)
The first battle left its scars and left me with massive nerve damage, so I now walk with a cane but hey, I’m alive so, I’ll take it. Then, in the summer of 2020 a spot in my lung that has been there since the very beginning decided to start growing.
By the fall of 2020 the spot was large enough to biopsy. The biopsy results came back as cancerous. Additionally, the DNA workup showed a perfect match for the tumor they removed from my colon back in 2017. Since the cancer had now spread to my lungs, I was reclassified as a stage IV (terminal) cancer patient. But fear not, terminal does NOT mean I’ll die tomorrow. Well, unless I get hit by a bus or something.
I also learned that the tumor was in the worst possible location, nestled right up next to my aorta. After consulting with a cardio-thoracic surgeon, I scheduled my tumor removal surgery for the end of December 2020. The one thing the surgeon said to me was… “don’t get sick.” So, what did I do? I went got COVID-19. And not just me, but my whole household, and my wife even developed double-pneumonia on top of that.
Surgery was cancelled, and I was not allowed to reschedule the surgery until the house was healthy again.
Surgery to remove the cancer mass from my lung was finally rescheduled for Monday, March 29, 2021. It was a very complicated surgery, that came with many risks, but I was ready for it and had faith in my talented medical team.
As everyone I know can attest, I am a cancer warrior who will fight like hell and will, in the end, kick cancer’s ass once again. I didn’t come this far along to have cancer take me out now. But I’m not a cat so I’m not sure how many lives I have left in me. I was hopeful though that I had at least one life left and that I could rejoin the cancer FREE crowd once again.
So into the OR we went once again and unfortunately for me, once the surgeon got in there, he determined that he would not be able to remove the tumor without killing me so the decision was made to take the lung out of the equation and the lower left lobe was removed and after the recovery phase, I was deemed cancer free (NED) once again and began 2022 as a two time cancer survivor.
But as luck would have it, my follow up scans in the spring of 2022 would reveal another tumor but in the right lung this time. This time I was presented with a chemo and targeted radiation plan as the least invasive solution. However, a second opinion that summer at the Mayo Clinic convinced me that leaving a dead tumor and it’s “bed” (that it sat in) in my lung was out of the question and would only spawn new tumors. I was told that tumor chasing (year after year) was not a smart choice for me.
So, into the OR I went (in the fall of 2022) as part of my third battle with colorectal cancer but they did keep their promise not to take out my lung this time and the goal to remove the tumor and it’s bed was successfully achieved and although my recovery was very challenging to say the least, I got through it and happily became a three-time [five year] cancer survivor.
My 90 day and six month follow ups were both clean and as of today, I am considered to be in full remission which is a good thing so that I can focus all my future efforts on helping my dad who is now going through what I did.
I’m often asked why things like this happen and how I get through it all with such a positive attitude. Well for me, I typically say that things happen for a reason, and although we may not always know why bad things like this happen to us or even understand the reasons, we need to respond in a positive manner as we are an example to others.
This is NOT about me. It’s never been about me. Heck, even if I can inspire one person to fight on or, help someone get through the war alive or help someone navigate the battlefield, then it’s all worth it to me.
There is no cure for colon cancer. So, regardless if I win or lose this war, the takeaway is this, get screened, advocate for yourself and never give up! Help others along the way and always be a great example to those who will face this tomorrow. You just never know who’s watching.
Editor’s Notes: His six month follow up in March of 2023 was clear of any cancer and he is considered to still be in full remission. John (JR) is looking forward to helping his dad with his battle as well as getting back to (and producing) his cancer related podcast that aims to help cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
He also plans to continue raising awareness about colorectal cancer (CRC) through his website & blog, podcast and social media pages with the ultimate goal of providing love and support as well as hope to those who have none.
John is part of the Get Screened MN PSA campaign that began airing in Minnesota in April 2021. For more information about this campaign and to find screening options in Minnesota visit that project page.
Copyright 2023. John Sarzoza Jr & The Colon Cancer Coalition. All Rights Reserved.
The Colon Cancer Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN 30-0377727