Battling Cancer with a Support Squad

The first Monday in August started as a typical day for Jeff Morrow.

He woke up, ate breakfast, said goodbye to his wife, Bobbi, and headed out the door to his construction job.

But that evening, shortly after coming home from work, the Williamsport resident felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Despite taking ibuprofen, the pain continued and began radiating through his back. Morrow headed to the emergency department, thinking his gallbladder was to blame.

Instead, test results revealed Morrow, 53, had stage four colorectal cancer – one of the most common cancers diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The cancer had also metastasized to his liver.

Morrow was shocked at the diagnosis. Aside from that sudden sharp pain in August, he had no symptoms.

Physicians at the John R. Marsh Cancer Center recommended chemotherapy to treat the disease. Every two weeks, Morrow receives a new round of medicine.

“The cancer center’s doctors, nurses, dietitians, social workers, they’re all awesome,” Morrow said. “I don’t think there’s a weak link in the chain out there. They’re great.”

Since his diagnosis, Morrow said he’s received an incredible amount of support. Close friends and family have made “Support Squad” T-shirts and “Team Jeff” cups in his honor. The experts at the John R. Marsh Cancer Center, who he spends hours with each month, have also become like family to him, he said.

“They’re just as much a support team to me as my close friends,” he said. “How can a man fail when you have that kind of support? Physically, I’m the one who has to fight the fight, but there’s a lot of people fighting for me. They motivate me and give me the strength to fight this.”

As Morrow continues his cancer treatment, he wants others to learn the importance of early detection. Before his diagnosis, Morrow had not received a colonoscopy – an exam that can detect precancerous or cancerous colon polyps.

“If I can inspire just one person to get early detection, to go get that colonoscopy, then I can say I’ve done my job,” he said. “Go get it done.”

For more information or to schedule a colonoscopy, visit Meritushealth.com/digestivehealth.