Dan “Dry Dock” Shockley served in the US Navy for 22 years.  Upon his retirement, he still went in for annual checkups with the Veterans Healthcare System.  Because he was 50 years old, it was suggested he go in for a colonoscopy.  When he checked in, he saw he had lost 14 pounds since his previous checkup.  That’s why doctors suggested that in addition to a colonoscopy that he undergo an esophagogastroduodenoscopy to ascertain the reason for the weight loss.  The results revealed 100 polyps in his colon, rectum and anus.  One of the polyps happened to be a large mass creating an 80 percent blockage in his ascending colon.  Next up was a germline DNA test to rule out a mutation referred to as familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP.  Dan was then told he would have to undergo surgery to remove his colon, rectum and anus.  In the meantime, he learned he a mutation that is more rare than FAP.  It was called Attenuated FAP, usually diagnosed in men between the ages of 50 and 55.

 

Dan Shockley learned that under best practices is to have a proctocolectomy with an ileotomy surgery to make sure that all 100 polyps were removed.  The surgery was a six-hour procedure, including a nine-inch incision in his abdominal area with 35 staples.  He was an inpatient at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.  As a result of the surgery, he no longer had a colon, rectum and anus, and the small end of his intestine was surgically attached to the abdominal area below his beltline on the right side of his abdominal area, and he was fitted with an ostomy bag. 

 

After a major surgery like this, he was wiped out for several weeks.  Dan went on short term disability for nine weeks before going back to his two jobs.  He went back to work as if nothing happened, and continues to work in this manner to this day.

 

Dan Shockley approaches life with a self-created mantra of “Always Forge Ahead with a Purpose.”  Inspired by his military service, this approach takes a negative and turns it into a positive.

 

It is not easy to maintain a colostomy bag, but, taught by a nurse, Dan became self-sufficent with the bag only a few days after he was discharged from the hospital.  He says looks at his diagnosis as a challenge, not an obstacle. 

 

By way of advice, Dan “Dry Dock” Shockley tells anyone diagnosed with cancer to maintain a positive attitude.  He also suggests one maintain faith, having hope in something one is not able to see.  Most of all, Dan urges one on a cancer journey to Forge Ahead with a Purpose.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Colon Cancer Prevention Project  Louisville, Kentucky

https://www.kickingbutt.org

 

United Ostomy Associations of America

https://www.ostomy.org

 

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse Society

https://www.wocn.org