GEORGE SHANNON

Stage II Colon Cancer
Age at Diagnosis: 43

George Shannon, healthy with no family history of gastrointestinal trouble and almost no symptoms, was shocked by colon cancer. Despite his diagnoses, he returned to his athletic lifestyle to prove to himself that he would triumph over/defeat cancer.

George was training for a marathon and playing ice hockey, but no matter how hard he tried, his performance wouldn’t improve. He had slight pain in his side, but thought he had pulled a muscle. When it returned, he finally went to his doctor, who immediately scheduled a colonoscopy.

The exam showed a tumor, so George had a CT scan and surgery and was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer. Soon he was back to his old routine, running and playing ice hockey again. He has now been cancer-free for almost three years and maintains the active life he had before cancer.