Colon Cancer May Suck, But Christine Shines
By Joy Pincus

Christine Niemi is a vivacious 28-year-old woman from Los Angeles, California. Up until a year ago, she was working as a financial analyst and pursuing her interests in travel and the theater.

Then, in August 2005, Christine was hospitalized for anemia. Soon after, she received a horrifying diagnosis: colon cancer. The doctors warned her that it might be untreatable, but in October they decided to go ahead with an operation to resect Christine’s colon.

Colon Cancer Sucks Ass is Christine’s blog. What began as a way to easily update friends and family about her condition has turned into something more — and has opened up a whole new world to Christine.

“There were a few blogs that I was reading at the time,” says Christine, “but I had no idea how extensive the blog community was.”

Blogging has allowed Christine to reach out to other young people around the world who are dealing with the fear, uncertainty and pain that comes with a disease like cancer. The responses from her readers have been quite rewarding — especially considering that a diagnosis of colon cancer is relatively rare in women or men of Christine’s age.

“I have gotten a pretty significant number of e-mails… Several of the people that I’ve met online are from small towns and really have no local support,” said Christine. “They get all of their support through the Internet.”

Sometimes readers living with colon cancer contact her privately. She enjoys connecting with others who are dealing with the disease, offering what support she can and assuring them that they are not alone.

Christine publishes information about common surgeries for colon cancer patients and details her own experiences with several stages of the disease. In one of her earlier posts Christine shared an odd, lesser-known symptom of her drug treatment: sensitivity to cold. She wrote, “On the surface, it doesn’t seem to be that odd or disturbing; however, it means that I cannot open the refrigerator like a normal person. Instead, I will have to stand behind the door to block the cold.”

Now, almost a year since her first surgery, Christine is preparing for an imminent liver resection, with a possible re-resection of her colon and removal of her gallbladder to follow. Does it dampen her spirits? Not at all — Christine is choosing to focus on the bright side, such as the results of a presurgical evaluation, which showed that her heart is completely healthy, and the possibility of only needing two more months of chemotherapy.

Aside from the community she has established through blogging, Christine receives support from a circle of close friends who attend medical appointments with her and have held fundraising benefits on her behalf. In addition, a donation link on Christine’s site has resulted in significant contributions from her readers. But even with generous community support and disability payments, it has been a serious financial struggle for her.

"I had to leave my job after my diagnosis," she said. "I was a temporary budget analyst with a health insurance company. Ironically, I did not have health insurance, since I was a temp. There is no job security when you go on disability from a temp job."

Despite all the challenges she faces, Christine keeps up with her blog faithfully, although it is not always easy.

"It can feel like an added pressure," she said. "I know that there are people who check for updates every day and there are times when I just don't feel like writing."

Christine sometimes feels the need to distance herself from the disease. While she does regularly check out blogs by other cancer patients, she is drawn more to blogs by people living "normal" lives.

"I've become much more attracted to the mundane aspects of life," said Christine. "I read dooce.com and opinionistas.com religiously. I also like gossip blogs such as gofugyourself.com and fametracker.com. There's also a more obscure blog called BSC Headquarters by a woman who is rereading the Baby-Sitters Club books, which I loved as a kid."

What will happen to coloncancersucksass.com after Christine has recovered from the illness, the treatments and the surgery?

"I plan on continuing it," she said. "I'm hoping that I can slowly segue into stories about my daily life that don't involve cancer, but I will continue to update my health status."

Her plans also include building up the cancer-related links on the site, specifically for colon cancer and cancer in young adults. But most importantly, Christine wants to make sure that anyone out there seeking help has the best chance of finding it.

Away from her blog, Christine is currently focused on resting, reading and gathering energy for her next treatment. She's looking forward to a time when this struggle lies behind her, and she is planning to write a book about the experience. Despite her difficulties, Christine is determined to count her blessings and find creative ways to turn the situation to her advantage.

"It’s amazing how a cancer diagnosis puts everything into perspective... There is always a silver lining -- even in a situation like this," she said. "I have realized how many people care about me and have reached out and offered their support. One wall of my bedroom is covered by about 100 get well cards. I now know on days that I feel all alone, I am alone by choice because there are so many people out there that I could call. The card wall is a constant reminder of that."