
Ernest, United States

I went into surgery for my gall bladder to be removed. When I came out, I will never forget the most devastating feeling when I heard the words from my surgeon. You have inoperable endocrine carcinoma colon cancer that has metastasized. All that stuck out in my mind were the words inoperable and the big word, CANCER. I took the approach that this was just a bump in the road that no matter the outcome, I could and would overcome CANCER. Being from a rural town in West Tennessee, Lexington, I immediately started looking for options at world renowned hospitals in the United States. I tried the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. After looking at all my scans and blood work results, the Mayo Clinic told me that all they could do for me was put me on Chemo and Radiation. I thought I was done for. Still not willing to throw in the towel, I went to the UT Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Evan Glazer told me that he could perform a resection surgery and he was almost certain that he could remove the cancer. He also told me the risks involved, including death. I believe in God and Jesus Christ. I had prayed for direction and the ability to find the right doctor to heal me completely. This was an emotional roller coaster. The analysis from each doctor I went to, most stating chemo and radiation, which I thought would not do anything except possibly kill me. I've heard a lot of people with cancer say, "God's got this", and that is true to an extent. I'm of the belief that yes God does have this, but I have to do my part, then having done my best and exhausting all my resources, then hand it over to God. Several times in this journey, I was so devastated that I wanted to give up hope. My fiancé, Cindy, a God send, helped encourage me many times that God would and did provide a way. West Cancer Center in Germantown, Tennessee was the answer to my prayers. Doctor Obaji, referred me to Doctor Evan Glazer at UT Medical Center, Region One Health. I had surgery on December 22, 2021. I coded once, and the procedure was stopped and was resuscitated and they continued with the operation. 9 hours later I awoke in intense pain. Doctor Glazer told my fiancé that the operation was a success and he felt sure that he removed all the cancer from my colon. I still had to have surgery for a double hernia a year later that was really hard and intense. Two years later and still recovering, I can proudly say that I am cancer free. Cancer is unique in every patient. Even though being cancer free, it is still in the back of my mind that there is always a chance that it can and could come back. Today, I do not let cancer dictate my activities or my life. I have made changes to my lifestyle. My diet, my exercise, both of which are limited. Through it all, if my life ended today, I would consider the most blessed man on earth. I appreciate all the medical staff that worked and continues to work on me, my fiancé, who has been by my side through it all, and my God and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom I give all the credit and glory for my recovery. In summation, I never gave up hope and never quit fighting. I tried my best to do what my doctors told me to do. A lot of people prayed for me and are still praying for me. I am not as grateful as I should be, although I am grateful. I have cancer. Cancer will never have me. My name is Ernest Reed Blankenship, age 63, and I am a cancer survivor. I pray that one day that this dreaded disease will have a vaccine and a cure that will eradicate it from human existence.