2 weeks Ago
Coast Guard member Robert Dorchak was diagnosed with cancer following a colonoscopy in 2022. The fight was several months long that he said took him to dark places, but the Berkeley County resident emerged with a new inspiration and a story to help others. It all started during a visit to a Naval doctor for a routine physical and check-up.
“So, that led to me getting a colonoscopy on Aug. 25, 2022, and I woke up from that finding out I had a large mass that was nearly blocking me up,” he said. “I was diagnosed with stage 3-C rectal cancer.
” The diagnosis at 41 years old came as a shock to Dorchak who, other than some minor issues, felt healthy. He said the cancer tossed his life upside down, while navigating a rigorous treatment schedule. “As I’m getting ready to go through this stuff and I’m finding out my treatment plans, I’m like, 'Oh my God, this is a lot,'" he said about his treatments of chemotherapy and radiation that were almost constant and began to take a toll.
“What started happening throughout this journey was me realizing that it was three battles in one. It was a spiritual, mental and physical battle. What happened was, my spiritual and mental aspects were far from being OK.
” Along with the side effects from the treatment, he began to feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and sadness. “Things progressively got worse until about December 2022," he said. "It was after the first two rounds of from the chemo pump and I was seeing nothing ahead but how I was going to die.
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'I got that ...
on video': SC man recovering after being bitten by world's most venomous snake He said his battle was near rock bottom when one day he blacked out from being so overwhelmed. When he woke up, things changed. “After that day I started posting stuff about my cancer journey and I started getting lot of feedback from people," he said.
"So, I took it upon myself to share my story and putting stuff out there that is going to help people." Dorchak then took to social media, posting more and more about his fight. He found that opening up about it helped in his battle.
He is now scheduled to speak at various cancer events and has also been featured in podcast called Gryt Unfiltered. After 16 years in the Coast Guard, the cancer forced him to retire, but he is now cancer free to continue on a new path. “I am going to continue to share my story," he said.
"I put myself out there and it is kind of a big deal when you just open up with stuff you are going through." Dorchak offered some advice for all of those who are putting off routine screenings such as colonoscopies — don’t. “That colonoscopy saved my life," he said.
"And now, after going through all that stuff, the best thing I can tell people is the best things they have is their life and their heath. Unfortunately, you only get one body and if have to watch out for that one body. That’s all you got.
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