At UCEC, we are honored to present the story of Carlos, a brave man who, at the age of 46, faced the shocking diagnosis of colorectal cancer. His journey is a testament to resilience, hope, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Hello, my name is Carlos, I am from Chile, and at 46 years old, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which began with severe pain in the anal area in May 2023. I went to the doctor, who initially diagnosed it as hemorrhoids. However, I wasn’t satisfied with this and explained that our family had a history of familial multiple polyposis. He urgently referred me for a colonoscopy. That’s when we discovered that my colon was full of polyps, but thank God, none of them were cancerous. So, they scheduled an operation to remove my colon and rectum, and I would need a colostomy bag for a couple of months until my recovery. The operation was scheduled for July 28, 2023, and when I woke up, I found a colostomy bag on my right side, “my new best friend.” I had no trouble adjusting to it at all (hygiene, showers, changing the bag, etc.), but unfortunately, there was one big issue. They couldn’t remove the rectum because there was a small tumor in the anal area, which was sent for a biopsy, and the result was a word no one ever wants to hear in their life: “Cancer.”
The first thing I remember, while in the clinic and calmer, was thinking about God, handing my life over to Him, asking Him to be my Savior and the God of Covenant, because in such situations, you surrender to God, and it was the best decision of my life. The second thing I thought about was my family, my wife, and children—talking to them and explaining this new reality.
It’s been about six months since the operation, with many ups and downs, sleepless nights, and my wife helping me with herbal steam baths using matico leaves, sitting with me through entire nights. She has never left my side. I also used a hot water bottle to heat the anal area, which helped alleviate the pain, although with careful protection to avoid burns. We continued moving forward, reaching the stage of radiotherapy—five sessions in Valparaíso with top-notch care from very compassionate people, just like all the staff at Illapel Hospital, where I was always treated with great kindness by doctors, nurses, and administrative personnel. They were all very human, and I wish every public hospital in Chile could offer such care, humanizing public health.
Now, I’m in my chemotherapy treatment, having completed 3 of 9 sessions. I no longer have pain in the anal area, I can sleep better, and that has helped a lot. We are happy, we feel fulfilled. People might say, “How strange, he has cancer, yet he feels happy and fulfilled.” But you know, God’s timing is perfect, and He knows how to place everything where it belongs.
I also want to thank many people who have been by our side throughout this process, the CDT in La Serena where I’m doing chemotherapy, the Unidos Contra el Cáncer Shelter, which is completely free and makes you feel right at home, and our family, friends, and community, including trading friends, who have been amazing—such excellent people. We are eternally grateful. This is my small testimony, and I want to leave a testimony of faith and hope for life. The word cancer should mean life, fighting against the disease and not giving up. And remember, “The Bag is Life.”