Winthrop native to be featured as in 'Colondar'

WINTHROP September 14, 2008 01:07 am

— A Winthrop native now living in Woodbury is one of 12 colon cancer survivors from across the nation featured in a calendar aimed at educating people about colorectal cancer.
Jamie Mattes, 38, bares his belly and his surgical scar as Mr. May in the Colon Club’s 2009 Colondar.
The calendar features five men and eight women who have all battled colorectal cancer under the stereotypical age of 50.
Mattes was in college when his bowel movements went from once or twice a day to a dozen or more. A doctor said it was probably ulcerative colitis. He wrote a prescription and Mattes’ life went on, but two years later he told a new doctor of his ongoing symptoms. After a colonoscopy, the doctor confirmed it was ulcerative colitis.
For the next seven years, Mattes struggled to control his bowels with drugs and regular screenings. He was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer at 32. He received chemotherapy and was given a temporary ileostomy which has since been reversed. As he recovered, he felt better than he had in 10 years, finally realizing just how much control ulcerative colitis had on his life.

On the Web: www.COLONDAR.com