#José Guillem

[kilowogcore]

This is what capitalism does, poozers. Even when ya' build new housin', the super-rich just snatch 'em up an' leave 'em empty. The rich use 'em like off-the-books banks, or rent 'em out fer Air B&Bs.

We need actual housin' fer actual people. An' I love that Poison Ivy tackled this issue.

(Art sampled from "Poison Ivy" Vol. 1 #13 by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, Guillem March, Kelley Jones, A. L. Kaplan, Arif Prianto, José Villarrubia, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Arianna Turturro, Jessica Berbey, and Ben Abernathy. Edits: Altered Colors and Background.)

[scienceninjaturtle]

BATMAN #152

Written by CHIP ZDARSKY

Art by MIKE HAWTHORNE and ADRIANO DI BENEDETTO

Backup by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis

Cover by Salvador Larroca

Variant covers by Guillem March and Dave Johnson

1:25 cover by Belén Ortega

1:50 variant cover by Joëlle Jones

Artist Spotlight variant cover by Nicola Scott

Hispanic Heritage Month variant cover by José Luis García-López & Joe Prado

$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)

ON SALE 9/4/24

ABSOLUTE POWER TIE-IN!

In a thrilling Absolute Power tie-in, Batman and Catwoman must find the key to Amanda Waller's plans in an extremely remote—and shockingly dangerous—location! Living (dying?) up to their name, some of the Suicide Squad won't be coming back from their mission, but will Batman and Catwoman stay free to fight another day?!

Plus, a Birds of Prey backup finds the Birds facing Waller's minions in an unexpected adventure!

[dispatchdcu]

Poison Ivy #13 Review

Poison Ivy #13 Review #poisonivy #DCEU #dccomics #comics #comicbooks #news #dcuuniverse #art #info #NCBD #amazon #comicbooknews #previews #reviews #batman #darkknight #capedcrusader #detectivecomics

Writer: G. Willow Wilson Art: Marcio Takara, Guillem March, Kelley Jones, A.L. Kaplan Colors: Arif Prianto, José Villarrubia, A.L. Kaplan Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Cover: Jessica Fong Variant Covers: Kai Carpenter & Frank Cho; Mindy Lee; Sweeney Boo; Claire Roe & Tríona Farrell Publisher: DC Comics Price: 3.99 Release Date: June 6, 2023 The Dispatch The love of Ivy’s life lives in Gotham…

[ulkaralakbarova]

During a lunar eclipse, seven friends gather for dinner and decide to play a game in which they must share with each other the content of every message, email or phone call they receive throughout the evening. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Eva: Belén Rueda Alfonso: Eduard Fernández Ana: Juana Acosta Antonio: Ernesto Alterio Blanca: Dafne Fernández Eduardo: Eduardo Noriega Pepe: Pepón Nieto Sofía: Beatriz Olivares Grandmother: María Jesús Hoyos Javi: Gonzalo Torralba Rosa: Valentina Méndez Voice on the Phone #1 (voice): Ana Valeiras Voice on the Phone #2 (voice): Belén González Voice on the Phone #3 (voice): David Robles Voice on the Phone #4 (voice): Vicente Gil Voice on the Phone #5 (voice): Eduardo Bosch Voice on the Phone #6 (voice): Lorenzo Beteta Voice on the Phone #7 (voice): Guillem Vives Gordi (voice) (uncredited): Alberto Bang Film Crew: Producer: Álex de la Iglesia Editor: Domingo González Director of Photography: Ángel Amorós Screenplay: Jorge Guerricaechevarría Music: Víctor Reyes Producer: Álvaro Augustin Producer: Ghislain Barrois Producer: Kiko Martínez Executive Producer: Carolina Bang Executive Producer: Paloma Molina Art Direction: José Luis Arrizabalaga Art Direction: Biaffra Costume Design: Paola Torres Makeup Artist: José Quetglás Sound Designer: Sergio Burmann Sound Designer: Patricia Milanesi Sound Editor: David Rodríguez Original Film Writer: Paolo Genovese Original Film Writer: Rolando Ravello Original Film Writer: Paola Mammini Original Film Writer: Filippo Bologna Original Film Writer: Paolo Costella Production Coordinator: Araceli Pérez-Rastrilla Movie Reviews:

[sapphicomics]

DETECTIVE COMICS #1089 Written by RAM V     Art by GUILLEM MARCH Cover by EVAN CAGLE Backup written by DAN WATTERS Backup art by TBD Connecting variant covers by GUILLEM MARCH 1:25 variant cover by SEBASTIAN FIUMARA Hispanic Heritage Month variant cover by JOSÉ LUIS GARCÍA-LÓPEZ & JOE PRADO$4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)     ON SALE 9/25/24 It began with a melody, strange and haunting, drawing Batman deeper and deeper into a demonic odyssey. From the sewers under Gotham to a hallucinatory desert, from the brink of death to a strange rebirth, from the iron grip of order to the deadly blades of chaos, it has all led to this moment. And now, the curtains close on Ram V’s epic Gothic Opera!

[graphicpolicy]

Absolute Power continues to rock DC in September 2024. See that and all the comic releases

Absolute Power continues to rock DC in September 2024. See that and all the comic releases #comics #comicbooks

BATMAN #152 Written by CHIP ZDARSKYArt by MIKE HAWTHORNE and ADRIANO DI BENEDETTOBackup by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De IulisCover by Salvador LarrocaVariant covers by Guillem March and Dave Johnson1:25 cover by Belén Ortega1:50 variant cover by Joëlle JonesArtist Spotlight variant cover by Nicola ScottHispanic Heritage Month variant cover by José Luis García-López & Joe Prado $4.99 US | 40…

[ferrolano-blog]

El rostro de Sánchez tras los cinco días de espera resultó, si se fijan, espectacular. Ese rostro denotaba los síntomas de algo que los adultos conocemos demasiado bien. Se trata de un giro biográfico... el mismo rostro denota que el punto de partida de esta crisis de cinco días, fue, en efecto, una vivencia y una decisión personal... El dolor, como saben, es universal. Pero cada generación lo calla o lo verbaliza de una manera determinada y desde determinada imaginación cultural... No teníamos que haber analizado la carta como la declaración de una crisis, su alcance, sus consecuencias políticas. Sino, tal vez, tan solo teníamos que haber visto a un hombre de su generación verbalizando, exhibiendo algo... esta forma de copar la información y la atención –por, lo dicho, motivos generacionales, antes que éticos– apunta a un hecho político importante... A saber: Sánchez está solo... Lo que habla de la época. Una época que empezó en 1945, precisamente con la intensificación de decisiones informadas, no individuales, ha finalizado (Guillem Martínez)

[sentimentarlequinat]

L'Europa B s'endú la pugna pel liderat davant el Filial

El Sabadell B ha caigut derrotat per tres a un davant l’Europa B. Des de l’inici, els graciencs exerciren el seu control sobre el conjunt arlequinat amb aproximacions, les quals, en pocs minuts, van culminar-se en els gols de Sergi i Guillem. Amb el pas dels minuts, el Filial reaccionà i retallà distàncies amb el 2-1 de José Enrique. No obstant, el domini europeista fou un obstacle massa complex…

[diyeipetea]

INSTANTZZ: Highlands Project (Especial 27º Mallorca jazz Sa Pobla V/V) [Galería fotográfica AKA Fotoblog de jazz, impro… y algo más] Por José Luis Luna Rocafort

INSTANTZZ: Highlands Project (Especial 27º Mallorca jazz Sa Pobla V/V) [Galería fotográfica AKA Fotoblog de jazz, impro… y algo más] Por José Luis Luna Rocafort

27º Mallorca jazz Sa Pobla Fecha: Martes, 24 de agosto de 2021. 22:00h. Lugar: Sa Pobla. Mallorca Grupo: Highlands Project Sergio Llopis: teclados, dirección Jordi Tugores: guitarra eléctrica, laúd Gori Matas: teclados Guillem Nadal: trompeta Thomas Fontin: saxo tenor Xema Borràs: trombón Joan Colom: guitarra eléctrica Juanjo Amengual: bajo eléctrico Teo Salvà: batería Rogerio Santos:…

[useless-catalanfacts]

Protests held during the trial of the neonazis who murdered the young Valencian antifascist Guillem Agulló, and a photo of Guillem’s parents.

On April 11th 1993, the 18-years-old Valencian boy Guillem Agulló went camping with his friends. There, a group of neo-Nazis identified him as an antifascist and independentist by the t-shirt he was wearing. The neo-Nazis, who were members of the Nazi organisation Komando Marchalenes IV Reich, attacked Guillem while shouting “viva España” (long live Spain) and “Seig Heil”, they stabbed him in the heart, and left while singing “Cara al sol” (the anthem of Francoist Spain).

These neonazis were Gerardo Mora, Juan Manuel Sánchez, José Cuñat, Francisco Garcia and Pedro Cuevas. Only Pedro Cuevas, who confessed to stabbing Guillem, was sentenced to 14 years of jail for murder, and all the others were set free. However, Pedro didn’t spend 14 years in jail: he was set free after only 4 years for “good behaviour”. Even though it was clearly a hate crime, the judge said it was not a political case and called it “a simple fight between teens”.

The trial was humiliating for the witnesses on Guillem’s part. For example, Guillem’s friends were forced to sing “Cara al sol” to prove that they know what song it is and that they could recognise it, when it’s obvious that they knew the song because everyone knows it (during Franco’s dictatorship, until 1975, all children had to sing it every day in school, it was on TV, radio, the cinema...). They were also made fun of by neo-Nazis, pro-Spanish media and politicians.

Meanwhile, people from all around the Catalan Countries protested and showed their support to Guillem’s family, but none of that could change the verdict. Guillem’s case, though it was not the first time after the end of the dictatorship where a fascist had murdered a Valencian young man for being pro-independence, it became an emblematic moment where all the country came together, and Guillem’s name is still remembered and can be seen spray-painted in the walls of different places of the Catalan Countries.

The murderer Pedro Cuevas went on to became the leader of the neo-Nazi party Alianza Nacional in his area. He was arrested again in 2013 for illegally owning weapons, for stealing, and for different crimes against public health, but he was sentenced innocent and set free.

Even nowadays, Guillem’s parents still receive death threats from neo-Nazi groups and often have their home vandalized with Nazi symbols.

The banners in the photos above, written in Valencian-Catalan, translate to: “Guillem Agulló case: the judicial system protects fascism”, “the State of Spain protects fascism”, “Guillem, we don’t forget you!!”, “Guillem was murdered by fascists. Justice!”.

[Photos from the family’s collection, published by El Temps.]

[veredes]

Arranca #Foros2019 “Identities” en UIC Barcelona School of Architecture

[elarafritzenwalden]

The face of the architect ~ J. José María Lillo

Apartment building at Carrer de Guillem Tell Sarrià-Sant Gervasi - Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; 1970’s

«El promotor ofreció un presupuesto escaso, que la inflación desbordó. Pero era un hombre simpático que me dejó hacer lo que queríamos. Con materiales pobres, claro. Es el racionalismo, pero vestido de luto. Para disimular fue rosa. El negro ahora es de ricos. El, mis amigos y nosotros somos pobres. Buenaventurados los pobres.»

see map

[ujamaalive]

Afro-Spaniards are Spanish nationals of West/Central African descent. They today mainly come from Cameroon, Gambia, Mali and Senegal. Additionally, many Afro-Spaniards born in Spain are from the former Spanish colony Equatorial Guinea. Spaniards of Sub-Saharan ancestry originating in Latin America are generally excluded from this definition.

Afro-Spaniard

Total population  Spain 1,045,120 (2016) Regions with significant populations Andalusia, Catalonia, the Balearics, the Canaries, Madrid, Murcia, Valencia Languages Spanish; English, French, Portuguese, various languages of Africa Religion Predominantly Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), Sunni Islam, Traditional African religions, others, nonreligious Related ethnic groups African people, Spanish Equatoguinean, Cape Verdean Spanish, Afro-European

Notable people

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Activists

Antumi Toasijé, historian and Pan-African activist

Artists and writers

Juan Latino, poet and Renaissance humanist

Juan de Pareja, painter

Explorers and conquistadores

Juan Valiente

Juan Garrido

In entertainment and media

Francine Gálvez, journalist

Vicenta Ndongo, actress

Concha Buika, singer

Emilio Buale, actor

Virginia Buika, singer

Frank T, MC and rap producer

Dareysteel, rapper

Desirée Ndjambo, journalist

El Chojin, rapper

Santiago Zannou, film director

Jimmy Castro, actor

Hijas del Sol, music duo

Paloma Loribo, singer

Norberto de Noah, singer and writer

Andrés Montes, journalist

Philanthropists

Bisila Bokoko

Politicians

Dolores Johnson Sastre

Rita Bosaho

Juan Antonio de la Morena Doca, alcalde of Villamantilla

Pedro Oma Nkomi, alcalde of Pampliega

Guillem Balboa Buika, alcalde of Alaró

In sports

Miguel Jones, former football player

Vicente Engonga, football manager and former player

Benjamín Zarandona, retired football player

Venancio José, retired athlete

David Davis, retired handball player

Lauren, retired football player

Rodolfo Bodipo, football manager and former player

Glory Alozie, athlete

Yago Yao, retired football player

Souley Drame, basketball player

Iván Zarandona, football player

Valdo, football player

Rui, football player

Josephine Onyia, athlete

Marta Mangué, handball player

Alfi Conteh-Lacalle, football player

Javier Balboa, football player

Trihas Gebre, athlete

Alemayehu Bezabeh, athlete

Eva Ngui, athlete

Jade Boho, football player

María Bernabéu, judoka

Ruth Ndoumbe, athlete

Mark Ujakpor, athlete

Manuel Onwu, football player

Richard Nguema, basketball player

Godwin Antwi, football player

Jean Marie Okutu, athlete

Stephen Sunday, football player

Rubén Belima, football player

Aauri Bokesa, athlete and basketball player

Iván Bolado, retired football player

José Luis Collins, former basketball player

Serge Ibaka, basketball player

Emilio Nsue, football player

Pedro Obiang, football player

Eddy Silvestre, football player

Joel Johnson, football player

Omar Mascarell, football player

Derik Osede, football player

Jonás Ramalho, football player

Randy, football player

Astou Ndour, basketball player

Keita Baldé Diao, football player

Ilimane Diop, basketball player

Vanessa Blé, basketball player

Mamadou Diop, basketball player

Mamadou Tounkara, football player

Adama Traoré, football player

Iris Junio, basketball player

Larry Abia, basketball player

Sitapha Savane, basketball player

Iñaki Williams, football player

Marcelo Djaló, football player

Pape Cheikh Diop, football player

Nely Carla Alberto, handball player

Alexandrina Barbosa, handball player

Moussa Bandeh, football player

Mohamed Traoré, football player

Yankuba Sima, basketball player

Roberto Tobe, futsal player

Bacari Kambi, football player

Carlos Akapo, football player

Sergio Akieme, football player

Ismael Athuman, football player

Aitor Embela, football player

Igor Engonga, football player

Pablo Ganet, football player

José Kanté, football player

Niko Kata, football player

Josete Miranda, football player

Ana Peleteiro, athlete

Iván Salvador, football player

Boison Wynney, football player

Aridane Hernández, football player

Madger Gomes, football player

Juliet Itoya, athlete

Fátima Diame, athlete

Youba Sissokho, boxer

Gabriel Enguema, boxer

Jael Bestué, athlete

María Vicente, athlete

Joshua Tomaic, basketball player

Sebas Saiz, basketball player

Esteban Obiang, football player

Mujaid Sadick Aliu, football player

Jordi Mboula, football player

Cristopher Moisés, football player

Fátima Diame, athlete

Saúl Coco, football player

Jordan Gutiérrez, football player

Paolo Fernandes, football player

Sergio Hinestrosa, football player

Alberto Edjogo-Owono, former football player

Juvenal Edjogo-Owono, former football player

Juan Epitié, former football player

Rubén Epitié, former football player

James Davis, football player

Ruslan Elá, football player

Óscar Engonga, football manager and former player

Kily Álvarez, football player

Ruth Álvarez, football player

Sergio Barila, football agent and former player

Darwin Echeverry, athlete

Robert Sánchez, football player

Bambo Diaby, football player

Usman Garuba, basketball player

Aitor Ekobo, athlete

Ángel Mañana, basketball player

Óscar Ngomo, basketball player

Sebastián Bacale, basketball player

Riky Mendizábal, basketball player

Gorka Luariz, football player

Mamadou Gassama, handball player

Sekou Gassama, football player

Ángel Binyogba, futsal player

Luis Meseguer, football player

Acoydan McCarthy, basketball player

Adams Sola, basketball player

Federico Obama, football player

Salomón Obama, football player

Salma Paralluelo, athlete and football player

Mabel Okoye, football player

Fatoumata Kanteh, football player

Seth Airam Vega, football player

#AfroSpaniards are #Spanish nationals of West/Central #African descent. They today mainly come from #Cameroon, #Gambia, #Mali and #Senegal. Afro-Spaniards are Spanish nationals of West/Central African descent. They today mainly come from Cameroon, Gambia, Mali and Senegal.

[ulkaralakbarova]

The story of a woman who is slowly losing her sight whilst trying to investigate the mysterious death of her twin sister. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Julia / Sara: Belén Rueda Iván: Pablo Derqui Créspulo: Joan Dalmau Mina: Clara Segura Isaac: Lluís Homar Inspector Dimas: Francesc Orella Soledad: Julia Gutiérrez Caba Dr. Román: Daniel Grao Police Parking: Oscar Foronda Blasco: Boris Ruiz Lía: Andrea Hermosa Iván: Dani Codina Police Parking: Pere Ventura Nurse 1: Ramón Moreno Nurse 2: José Sánchez Orosa Subinspector: Carlus Fábrega Film Crew: Writer: Guillem Morales Writer: Oriol Paulo Cinematography: Óscar Faura Original Music Composer: Fernando Velázquez Producer: Joaquín Padró Producer: Mar Targarona Producer: Guillermo del Toro Editor: Joan Manel Vilaseca Script Supervisor: Glòria Blanes Movie Reviews: Matt Golden: Twin sisters Julia and Sara (each played by Belén Rueda) both suffer from a degenerative eye disease that robs them of their sight; Sara lost her vision completely, and it’s only a matter of time before Julia’s sight follows. The film begins with the death of the blind Sara, apparently being menaced by someone in her home, then hanging herself. Details surrounding Sara’s death don’t add up for Julia, however; why would Sara kill herself? She was scheduled to have an operation to restore her sight, and she just met someone. Julia and her husband Isaac (Lluís Homar) begin to investigate, but time is running out: Sara may have been murdered, her danger is now turning toward Julia, and the added stress is stealing Julia’s remaining vision ever faster… There are so many great concepts here. The most primary is blindness, and the terror it invokes. Our heroine knows the remaining time she has with her sight is short, and the agony she (and her husband) feels over its loss is palpable. Not content with the mundane horror of blindness, the film ups the ante by putting this woman with ever-dimming sight into a life-or-death struggle to discover what happened to her sister and prevent it from befalling her as well. Few horror films are able put their protagonist in such a nail-bitingly vulnerable position. Even fewer horror films, however, have the terrific Belén Rueda anchoring them. Rueda’s performance is incredible, by turns vulnerable, heartbroken, terrified and full of steely resolve. She and Homar have a warm, believable chemistry that informs their performances as a married couple with a devastating disease hanging over their heads. Will he love her when she’s blind? Will he abandon her? He’s sick with worry over the stress and her imminent plunge into blindness. She’s driven by guilt to discover what happened to her sister, even knowing what it may cost her. The film itself is a masterwork of tension and style, including some gorgeous and clever cinematography by Óscar Faura. This is indeed one of the most stylish thrillers I’ve ever seen, particularly a conceit that director Guillem Morales effects around the midway point and is clever, frustrating, and hideously effective. The film eschews (as all the best do) copious blood and gore, and milks the quiet horror of Julia’s predicament for everything it’s worth. There are a couple of story beats high-concept enough they may raise your eyebrow after the fact, but when your film is this immaculately-crafted, this terrifying, this effective…who the hell cares? If you’re not on the edge of your seat by the time of the film’s hellishly tense finale, I fear you may require medical attention. Mystery, thriller, horror, character study…the film is all these things and more, blended into an arresting film experience that elicits a full catalog of fears ranging from the mundane to the Grand Guignol. Julia’s Eyes is ever more proof of what I’ve been saying: these days, the best horror films speak Spanish. CinemaSerf: Failing eyesight runs in the family here as the blind “Sara” apparently takes her own life in the basement of her home, leaving sibling “Julia” (Belén Rueda) – herself wi...

[sapphicomics]

BATMAN #152 Written by CHIP ZDARSKY Art by MIKE HAWTHORNE and ADRIANO DI BENEDETTO Backup by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis Cover by Salvador Larroca Variant covers by Guillem March and Dave Johnson 1:25 cover by Belén Ortega 1:50 variant cover by Joëlle Jones Artist Spotlight variant cover by Nicola Scott Hispanic Heritage Month variant cover by José Luis García-López & Joe Prado $4.99 US | 40 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 9/4/24 ABSOLUTE POWER TIE-IN! In a thrilling Absolute Power tie-in, Batman and Catwoman must find the key to Amanda Waller’s plans in an extremely remote—and shockingly dangerous—location! Living (dying?) up to their name, some of the  Suicide Squad won’t be coming back from their mission, but will Batman  and Catwoman stay free to fight another day?! Plus, a Birds of Prey backup finds the Birds facing Waller’s minions in an unexpected adventure!

[enzaime-blog]

Rebecca’s Colon Cancer Story

New Story has been published on https://enzaime.com/rebeccas-colon-cancer-story/

Rebecca’s Colon Cancer Story

As a healthy mother of two and a gastroenterology nurse, Rebecca was shocked when at 43 she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. When she was told she needed chemotherapy and radiation prior to surgery, she came to Memorial Sloan Kettering for a second opinion. Feeling confident with being treated at a cancer-focused institution, she opted for minimally invasive surgery less than two weeks later.

When Rebecca (Grunza) Collins, 43, noticed blood in her stool in February 2010, she was not overly concerned. She enjoyed an active, healthful lifestyle, exercising five days a week, caring for two young daughters and working two days a week as a gastroenterology nurse at an endoscopy center in Connecticut. Also, there was virtually no history of cancer in her family.

Rebecca mentioned the symptom to one of the physicians at the center, who thought it was nothing serious but suggested that Rebecca undergo a flexible sigmoidoscopy, an exam to inspect the lower part of the colon. Rebecca instead opted for a colonoscopy, which examines the entire colon and is more thorough. She had it performed at the center where she worked.

“When I woke up from the colonoscopy, everybody I work with was standing around me, so I knew something was wrong” she recalls. “My gastroenterologist told me she had found a cancerous growth in the rectum that needed to be surgically removed. I was shocked that this was happening to me.” A CT scan the next day suggested the cancer might have spread to a lymph node. Rebecca scheduled appointments with a local oncologist and a surgeon for the next week.

A Second Opinion Makes the Difference

“The surgeon told me I would need five weeks of chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor before I could have surgery,” Rebecca says. The surgeon also told her she would need a temporary ileostomy, a procedure that brings a section of the small intestine out through a surgical opening in the abdominal wall. Intestinal waste comes out through this opening and is collected into a plastic pouch attached to the skin.

Fortunately, just before meeting with these physicians in Connecticut, Rebecca had decided that she also wanted to see a surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering for a second opinion. The referral specialist on Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Physician Referral Service, Maureen McEvoy, scheduled an appointment for Rebecca with colorectal surgeon José Guillem. “Maureen was wonderful,” Rebecca says. “She called me several times, saying ’I want the slides sent here, I want the medical reports faxed here.’ If she had not received something, she would call back to remind me. She made sure all the necessary information was there for Dr. Guillem when I came in.”

When Rebecca met with Dr. Guillem at Memorial Sloan Kettering, he performed a flexible sigmoidoscopy and found that the growth was not actually in the rectum but a bit higher.

“I diagnosed it as a rectosigmoid cancer, meaning it was located at the juncture where the lowest part of the colon, the sigmoid colon, meets the top of the rectum,” Dr. Guillem says. “This was fortunate because the cancer was high enough — above the narrow confines of the bony pelvis — that it could be removed more easily.”

I was confident that Dr. Guillem knew what he was doing; there was no hesitation. I just put myself in his hands and trusted him.

After the procedure, he sat with Rebecca and told her he wanted to do surgery as soon as possible. “I was really surprised because I expected him to say I needed five weeks of chemo and radiation before anything could be done,” Rebecca says. “But Dr. Guillem said, ’You don’t need any of that. I can get to this surgically right away.’”

There was an opening on Dr. Guillem’s surgical schedule in less than two weeks, and Rebecca decided on the spot to have the operation at Memorial Sloan Kettering. “I was confident that Dr. Guillem knew what he was doing; there was no hesitation,” she says. “I’ve been working with surgeons for 20 years, and you get an idea of who knows what they’re doing and who doesn’t. With Dr. Guillem, I could tell after talking to him for ten minutes. I just put myself in his hands and trusted him.”

A Successful Surgery

Exactly three weeks after the colonoscopy that brought Rebecca distressing news, Dr. Guillem removed her tumor through laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique using a thin, lighted tube with a video camera and other tools at its tip. The procedure requires only small incisions in the abdomen, often in the belly button. Dr. Guillem removed the cancerous portion of the colon and then attached the two ends of healthy colon together.

“When I woke up, Dr. Guillem told me everything went well, and that I did not need an ileostomy bag,” Rebecca recalls. “I joked, ’You know I’m in love with you now.’ He laughed and said, ’OK, I gotta go.’” Maintaining quality of life is a high priority for Memorial Sloan Kettering’s doctors, who have refined techniques for minimizing the side effects that may accompany some procedures.

Rebecca recuperated for four days before being discharged to go back home. “The hospital stay was wonderful — everybody was great,” she says. “A medical fellow visited and talked with me every morning, and Dr. Guillem saw me as well.” Rebecca had requested an epidural for the surgery and experienced virtually no pain from the operation. “When they removed the epidural two days after the surgery, I took half a Percocet [pain medication] and nothing else while I was there.”

Addressing the Side Effects of Chemotherapy

The next week, Dr. Guillem called with the news that two of the pelvic lymph nodes he had removed during surgery were found by pathologists to have cancer cells, which meant Rebecca would need chemotherapy. Although she wanted to receive the chemotherapy in Connecticut, she consulted with Memorial Sloan Kettering medical oncologist Neil Segal for a second opinion.

“Even though he knew I wasn’t going to be receiving treatment from him, Dr. Segal and his assistant spent 90 minutes with me,” Rebecca says. “He explained that he would have given me the same chemo that I would receive near home, so I felt comfortable with my decision. He also went over the side effects so I had an idea of what to expect.”

The chemotherapy regimen Rebecca was given is called FOLFOX, a combination therapy in which the drug oxaliplatin is given with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin every other week for 24 weeks. The oxaliplatin and leucovorin were given over a two-hour period through intravenous lines, and the 5-FU was administered through a portable pump over two days. “I felt bad for about three days — mainly tired and nauseated — and then I felt fine until the next treatment,” she says. “But I didn’t lose my hair like with other types of chemo, so most people couldn’t even tell I was a cancer patient.”

The chemotherapy went fine for three months, until Rebecca had an allergic reaction to oxaliplatin in August 2010. She consulted with Dr. Segal, who recommended that she alter her regimen to receive only 5-FU for her remaining treatments. Around the same time, Rebecca also began having symptoms of peripheral neuropathy; specifically, tingling and numbness in her hands and feet. Dr. Segal suggested acupuncture to alleviate this side effect, so in October she began receiving weekly acupuncture treatments in Connecticut.

Follow-up sigmoidoscopies by Dr. Guillem and CT scans in Connecticut — both done first in July 2010 and then in January 2011 — showed no signs of disease. As a precaution, Rebecca will have yearly CT scans for the next five years and a colonoscopy every two years. Dr. Guillem says Rebecca’s long-term prognosis is good.

“There Is Hope”

Rebecca has become a strong advocate of colonoscopies, speaking often to others about their importance. She also hopes to volunteer in some capacity to help people with colorectal cancer, especially those undergoing chemotherapy who want advice about dealing with symptoms.

“For other people diagnosed with cancer, my experience shows that there is hope, if you get the right treatment and the right person doing the surgery,” she says. “I felt confident because I was being treated at a center where all they do is cancer.”

In addition to the expert care provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering’s specialists, Rebecca also received vital assistance from family, friends, and coworkers. “I could not have done it without them,” she says. “Everyone was so supportive and understanding as they helped me through this difficult period.”