Teresa Davis-Mills was initially diagnosed with celiac disease, but after undergoing an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, a biopsy of two small polyps revealed she had colon cancer. 

 

Teresa’s journey began in 2017 with the sight of a drop of blood.  When the bleeding repeated itself, she went to a gastroenterologist.  After some lab work, Teresa was told she had celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune disease.  For years, she had had these odd symptoms which led her to believe she had been a longtime undiagnosed celiac.  That got the attention of the gastroenterologist, who ordered an endoscopy and a colonoscopy.  They revealed two small polyps.  One of them was biopsied and weeks later, Teresa learned it was cancerous.

 

Teresa admits she knew nothing about colon cancer, and as a result, she wasn’t too shook up with the news of the diagnosis.  She thought the polyp would be removed and she would go back to work in two or three days.  It wasn’t until she saw her first surgeon that she learned her cancer was Stage 2B, and it was serious.

 

Teresa, from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, went on to get a second opinion, and based on that second opinion, she had a robotic surgery.  She felt she was in good hands with the second surgeon in nearby Jacksonville.  At first it seemed like the procedure had gone well, but Teresa was shocked to learn when the margins came back, they were not clear, and as a result, she would have to undergo radiation treatment and chemotherapy.  Teresa said she was more terrified of the treatment than the cancer itself.

 

She chose to take an oral form of chemotherapy, called capecitabine, once every morning and once every night, seven days a week for two months.  She also went in for radiation treatment Monday through Friday at 1:00pm.  This was a very difficult time and Teresa was getting to the point in which she almost quit.  The side effects from the radiation, the blisters, the burns, and a level of pain she had never experienced, were almost too much.

 

At the end of January 2018, Teresa Davis-Mills finished her chemotherapy and radiation regimen.  She underwent a PET scan, and the scan was clear.  The scan was on a Monday, and thrilled, she went back to work on Tuesday, her heart filled with gratitude. 

 

Looking back on her chemotherapy regimen, Teresa recalls her feet being swollen and her hands were weak.  She experienced loss of appetite and was tired all the time.  While her hair thinned, Teresa avoided alopecia, or hair loss, which is not typical for capecitabine or xeloda.

 

Teresa Davis-Mills says these days, there is nothing she cannot do that she was able to do, pre-diagnosis.  However, as a celiac, she says must monitor her diet, which is gluten-free.  She still works out and still does yoga, and is thrilled to have a normal life again.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Teresa’s Website: https://www.teresadavismills.com