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Even though Robin Odle knew she needed a colonoscopy when she turned 50, she put it off.

¡°I¡¯d been traumatized by a prior GI test, so I didn¡¯t do it out of fear, and I was extremely apprehensive about the prep,¡± she says.

Ten years later ¨C on March 28, 2016 ¨C Robin started experiencing intermittent cramping and bleeding. A gastroenterologist in Memphis, Tennessee performed a colonoscopy and found a polyp too large to remove. The biopsy didn¡¯t show cancer, but the doctor said they still needed to remove that polyp.

¡°The gastroenterologist referred me to a surgeon who said he¡¯d take out a great portion of the colon, that it was a ¡®major, major surgery,¡¯ and I could die,¡± she says. ¡°I left angry and upset.¡±

Â鶹ӳ»­ for advanced surgical techniques leads to MD Anderson

Robin began searching online for doctors who could perform a less invasive procedure. She came across MD Anderson¡¯s , and was impressed by his expertise with endoscopic mucosal resections, a delicate technique that removed complex polyps with an endoscope. She called MD Anderson and set up an appointment.

¡°During my initial visit with Dr. Raju, I told him that if he couldn¡¯t do the endoscopic mucosal resection, then I wouldn¡¯t go forward with treatment, that I would accept death,¡± she says.

On Oct. 20, Dr. Raju performed a second colonoscopy and immediately diagnosed Robin with colorectal cancer. Her only treatment option was a partial colectomy, the surgical removal of part of her colon.

¡°I was so certain that I couldn¡¯t have a major surgery because it was going to debilitate me, like I was told by the other doctor,¡± she said.

Strength to continue colorectal cancer treatment

Robin was ready to give up, but Dr. Raju wasn¡¯t.                                               

¡°He told me immediately, ¡®You can¡¯t let this go. You have to do this, you have to do this.¡¯ I told him I really didn¡¯t have a support network, and he said, ¡®People will show up.¡¯ He was so certain, he wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. He wouldn¡¯t allow me to just accept that this would be the end of my life,¡± she says. ¡°There was such passion, kindness and spirituality within him. When someone wanted me to live that badly, how could I dare not trust him and move forward with my life?¡±

Advance care planning provides peace of mind

With the help of her MD Anderson social work counselor, Robin had already appointed a medical power of attorney and completed a living will prior to her colonoscopy. Knowing she¡¯d done advance care planning gave her some peace of mind once she agreed to surgery since it relieved some of the pressure on the friend she¡¯d asked to become her caregiver.

¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to put the burden of responsibility on someone,¡± she says. ¡°I also wanted to be able to make my last choices. No one can know exactly what someone wants unless someone tells them and puts that in effect.¡±

Minimally invasive robotic surgery for colorectal cancer treatment

On Dec. 5, , performed the three-hour minimally invasive robotic surgery. He removed her cecum valve, a part of her colon, 37 lymph nodes and her gallbladder, which was full of stones.

Robin was able to walk within hours and left the hospital just three days later.

¡°It was the most painless surgery that I¡¯ve ever had. I¡¯ve had tooth extractions that gave me more pain,¡± she says. ¡°Dr. Chang is magnificent. He¡¯s like an artist for surgery.¡±

A new attitude

Robin is now undergoing eight rounds of chemotherapy with , because her cancer had spread to five of the 37 lymph nodes she had removed. But she has lots of hope, and she credits Dr. Raju for that.

¡°Even though I didn¡¯t receive from him what I came here for, I received so much more,¡± she says. ¡°He¡¯s a miracle like I¡¯ve never experienced before. He¡¯s my saint on Earth.¡±

¡°No matter how much we think no one cares, that¡¯s just not true,¡± she says. ¡°People really will show up, and they¡¯ll show up exactly when we need them and exactly for the purpose that we need them.¡±

For more information on advance care planning, please contact MD Anderson's Department of Social Work at 713-792-6195, or tell your nurse or doctor that you would like speak with a social work counselor.

or by calling 1-877-632-6789.