Lea Conway found out she had cancer in April 2021 after experiencing lower back pain and bleeding during bowel movements. Having recently moved, she initially attributed her symptoms to lifting heavy items or hemorrhoids. When she visited her primary care physician, a test for colon cancer was negative, but her doctor recommended a colonoscopy.
After the procedure, Lea received unexpected news.
“[The doctor] let me know that he discovered a tumor, and it was most likely cancerous,” she said. “I felt numb. Those were words I did not expect to hear.”
A whirlwind of tests and scans followed. Lea was referred to oncologist Dr. Pradeep Jolly of Georgia Cancer Specialists, who diagnosed her with stage 3 rectal cancer. Her treatment plan included oral chemotherapy twice a day alongside radiation, followed by a six-week break, surgery, another six-week break and then six months of chemotherapy through a port.
Lea chose to keep her diagnosis private from many people.
“I could tell when some people found out by the look they gave me,” she said. “While it probably was unintentional, to me it was pity and sorrow. I thought to myself, nope, I’m not going to have that. I’m going to be fine.”
Throughout her treatment, Lea said she was supported by an “amazing team of care providers” who made her feel “like they were in this with me.”
Her radiation oncologist, Dr. Nancy Wiggers of Northside Radiation Oncology Consultants, was someone Lea already knew.
“I went to high school with her and did not anticipate seeing her in this capacity,” Lea said, adding that Wiggers and her team were “wonderful.”
Lea underwent radiation five days a week for five weeks. On her final day, she marked the milestone.
“I was able to ring ‘the bell’ and received a certificate of completion signed by the team,” she said. Her co-workers celebrated from afar, sending her a video of themselves ringing a bell at the same time.
Surgery brought new challenges. Conway’s surgeon, Dr. Wayne Ambroze of Georgia Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates, informed her she would need an ostomy due to the tumor’s location.
“I asked him if it would be reversible. He said no,” she said. “I asked if he could go through a previous incision. No. I then asked if he would throw in a tummy tuck to sweeten the deal. No.”
Initially, Lea worried about how visible the ostomy bag would be to others.
“When a friend who knew I had gone through the procedure saw me and asked which side the bag was on, I realized that might not be the case,” she said.
Chemotherapy treatments every two weeks became, in some ways, a source of connection.
“Going in for chemo treatment every two weeks seemed like going and hanging out with friends,” Lea said, noting the relationships she built with nurses along the way.
“Nurse Steve was the first one to hook me up and became one of my favorites,” Lea said. “I always enjoyed when I had Nurse Randall in triage because we would talk about his grandson coming to visit him.”
But the physical toll of treatment was significant. Lea experienced fatigue, frequent naps and difficulty standing for long periods due to the effects of radiation. She adapted by placing chairs around her home to help with daily tasks.
“After six months of chemo every other week, my last treatment was in May 2022. Again, I got to ring the bell!”
Recovery came gradually. Her appetite was limited, and food did not taste the same. Encouraged by a friend, Lea began walking and steadily increased her distance until she was walking 4 miles nearly every day.
She also began returning to activities and experiences she enjoyed. Lea attended Northside’s Cancer Survivor Celebration at Zoo Atlanta with a close friend who is both a cancer survivor and an oncology nurse.
“She had planned to accompany me to my first appointment with Dr. Jolly but, due to COVID-19 restrictions, could not attend. She was on the phone with us,” Lea said. The two now look forward to attending future celebrations together.
Travel became another milestone in Lea’s recovery. A trip to Las Vegas marked her first since surgery.
“I thought, why not? A little getaway would be nice,” she said, adding that the trip also helped her “jump-start” her appetite. Navigating travel with an ostomy bag came with challenges, including explaining it to a Transportation Security Administration agent during screening.
Throughout her journey, Lea said she has been blessed by “extraordinary friends.”
“This has been my journey, but I could not have done it without them,” she said.
She described that support system in her own words:
- Kaitlyn, my daughter who lives in Portland: We’ve got the jokes on ostomy bags!
- Taylor, my younger daughter, moved in with me for a couple of months following my surgery to help me.
- Steve, my favorite person, my in-case-of-emergency person: I live alone. I had extra keys to my house made for Steve to use just in case. I cried in the middle of Lowe’s watching those copies being made because to me they meant there might be a time I would not be able to take care of myself. Did I cry when I was told I had cancer? No.
- Paige, an oncology nurse and cancer survivor, was going to accompany me to my first appointment with Dr. Jolly but due to COVID restrictions could not. She has been a source throughout this experience and we enjoy celebrating life!
- Ann, registered dietitian, helped me when I had to switch to a low-residue diet and was wondering what the heck that even means.
- Alan, reversed coloscopy, informed me about life with an ostomy.
- Tamara Skin, oncology trained esthetician, gave me a skin mask especially formulated for radiation patients. The radiation caused damage to my skin that was similar to a third-degree burn.
- Leslie, like a sister, checks on me, makes me laugh and thinks she gets to submit her own opinion piece on this!
“I could go on and on listing all the wonderful people who have helped me,” Lea said.
Today, Lea is cancer-free and undergoes scans every six months. Her first post-treatment scan in September 2022 was clear.
“I remain hopeful they will continue to be clear, but there’s always that what-if,” she said.
That uncertainty has reshaped her outlook on life.
“I used to think maybe I’ll go next year or see them the next time they are in town,” she said. “I have plans. I want to go places, see things, do things.”
Since completing treatment nearly four years ago, Lea has attended her first live NASCAR race — the Daytona 500 — and gone on trips to New Orleans, Chicago, the Bahamas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic. She loves to attend concerts, sports events, festivals and other activities.
“I am determined to live life and have fun,” she said.
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER CARE AT NORTHSIDE.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
