January 9, 2006

Former Westmont Dean of Students stays
cancer-free for two years

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

Amy Goldsbury was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer at the age of 29. Since she underwent surgery and chemotherapy two years ago, she has been cancer-free, and now wants to spread the word that colon cancer is not just an “old people’s” disease.

Cancer survivor Amy Goldsbury poses with her son Ty.

A member of the “Colon Club,” she recently posed for the month of October in the 2006 Colondar™ calendar. Each month shows one or two survivors—under the age of 50—who are living with the disease and what strides they have made in their lives. Each month also notes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. But most important, each month shows that colon cancer, once thought to be a disease for the middle-aged and seniors, can strike individuals at any time of their lives.

“The Colondar’’ job is to demystify colorectal cancer; to let people know it’s not an older man’s disease,” said Goldsbury. Some people, she added, have a genetic predisposition to colon cancer. In fact, one Colondar model is one of seven victims in his family. His grandfather, mother, cousin, aunt and two uncles also have the same genetic mutation.

The Colondar’s final two pages show facts about colorectal cancer, its symptoms and a list of resources.

Founding the club
The club was founded by cancer survivor Molly McMaster and Hannah Vogler, whose cousin (and Molly’s friend) Amanda Roberts died of the disease at 27. The club’s goal is early education for as many people as possible about colorectal cancer, to spell out its symptoms and risk factors and get people screened when it’s appropriate.

“One of the special things the Colon Club provides is called the Colossal Colon,” said Goldsbury. This giant 40-foot walk through colon shows the various diseases associated with colorectal cancer. Goldsbury is working with the American Cancer Society, Good Samaritan Hospital and Xilinx to bring the exhibit to the South Bay.

“Since I got sick I’ve wanted to do something. I’ve been e-mailing other cancer victims in the North Bay and in Connecticut,” said Goldsbury, and she’s been active in the Colon Club. But it was after Willow Glen’s Relay For Life that she began working with Xilinx, a local company that’s also been active with cancer-prevention efforts. Goldsbury and the company are working to declare the San Jose area a “colon cancer-free zone.”

She recently spoke at the Xilinx Health Fair and notes the importance of younger survivors getting the message out. “It’s really important,” she said. “I was an athlete in high school and college. I played soccer and I’m living proof it can happen to anyone.”

Young mother
Goldsbury was diagnosed with the cancer when her son Ty was only 17 months old. Dean of students at Westmont High School, she noticed blood in her stool and went to a new doctor because her doctor was unavailable. She had a colonoscopy on a Tuesday and surgery the following Friday with doctors removing nine cancerous lymph nodes. Four weeks after surgery, she started chemotherapy.

The calendar featuring Amy.

“I got the newest drug for colon cancer, and it was a very aggressive treatment. They gave me the highest dosage possible, and I made it. But just after my last treatment, I got pneumonia and ended up very sick. My weight dropped to less than 90 pounds. I got out of the hospital on Christmas Day because I was determined to be home for Christmas,” Goldsbury said.

Once out of the hospital, she began regaining her weight and began to feel strong again.

She credits her friends with providing her with “an amazing support system. Everyone around me was so positive … it was the most amazing support.”

Friends, work colleagues and her soccer club friends all helped out. “My soccer club friends hired and paid for a house cleaner to come in every month during my chemo,” she said, adding that her husband had to go out and buy a freezer to put all the food people brought to help them get through the treatments.

After last May’s American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, she invited a large number of friends and family over to her home for a thank you party. There was little room to move, she said, because of the 70 people that attended.

She cautions people to get over their fear and go for a colonoscopy. “Having a colonoscopy is so much better than the alternative. You don’t want to go through what I went through. It can be prevented. It’s the only cancer that can be prevented. Pre-cancerous polyps can be removed. A colonoscopy is an easy thing to do to avoid cancer.”

Since her surgery and chemo, Goldsbury has had a colonoscopy every six months and blood work done every three months. Soon she will only have to have scans once a year. “Once you hit the two-year mark, it’s a big thing because colorectal cancer typically comes back before two years—if it’s going to come back.”

For more information about colon cancer and the Colon Club, visit the Internet at www.colonclub.com or write to 17 Peachtree Lane, Wilton, NY 12831. To purchase the calendar for $15, visit the same Web site and click on store.