In September 2019, Emerson was diagnosed with stage 3 Colorectal cancer. His cancer had spread outside of the colon and into his lymph nodes.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women globally. The disease does not often show any symptoms until it is in the later stages. It is therefore regularly diagnosed in the more advanced stages when it is much harder to treat.
After his cancer diagnosis, Emerson was feeling extremely depressed. He was anxious as he didn’t know whether any treatment could work for his advanced cancer. He didn’t know what the future would hold.
A friend suggested he get a second opinion, so he went to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi where he met Dr. Fadel Shabeeb and the team at the Digestive Disease Institute.
When a patient has advanced colorectal cancer, treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Dr. Fadel Shabeeb and his team performed surgery on Emerson. This was followed by 9 rounds of chemotherapy in a space of 6 months.
Thankfully, Emerson tolerated the chemotherapy treatment well and his surgery was successful. He is now living cancer free – and is a very happy man.
Emerson says “I am a strong and positive person. I trusted myself and I trusted my doctor. I surrounded myself with my family. Cancer is curable. Thanks to Dr. Fadel and his team I am now cancer free – this is the new beginning of the rest of my life”.
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