MIKE HARRINGTON

Stage II Colon Cancer

Age at Diagnosis: 21

Story Published on September 2005

College is a time to gain knowledge, have fun, and learn about life, but for Mike Harrington, it became a time to wonder if he would even live.

Mike was a college student when he became so exhausted and sick that he couldn’t even go out with friends. By the time he was fired from his job, he had lost almost 40 pounds and was in severe pain. Mike moved home and went straight to his doctor, who biopsied a mass in his colon. He had surgery and began chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer. He was on medical leave from college, but was forced to take classes close to home to keep his insurance, despite the fact that he was so ill from chemotherapy that he often missed lectures.

After completing treatment, Mike returned to school, and has recently graduated.