Colonoscopies for 100,000 Hockey Players

 CARHA Hockey delivered this message to 100,000 hockey players in Canada.

on the CARHA News Highlights, and the CARHA facebook page

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Penalties for Not Listening

Hockey player Paul Riome didn’t listen to his body or his doctor.  

Minor Penalty was undetected cancer.  

Major Penalty was a permanent colostomy.  

Riome tells of his experiences, attitude adjustments, and comeback to hockey. 

The story is about overcoming colorectal cancer 

and showing other hockey “tough-guys” the importance of prevention.

Read the full story published by The Phoenix magazine

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even with daily rectal bleeding for over 2 years,  I refused all tests and examinations.

“You got Cancer ...  Life-expectancy is uncertain”.  Reminiscent of nasty and unexpected hockey hits, I asked myself  “what the hell was that for?”  Of course there was no answer. But I  vowed I would live & play hockey again. 

The rehab routine was similar to hockey injuries, but the outcome would be drastically different, as the surgery damages could never be restored.  With trepidation, I started Public Skating, surrounded by grandparents teaching pre-school kids to skate.

Exactly four months after surgery, I was back playing hockey.  I was amazed at how many players made a point of acknowledgement, usually with the back-handed male style

‘… Nice you’re back, looking dangerous as ever’

‘… I always hated going into the corner with you, but now I’m really afraid of the sh*t flying’

‘… I thought with your butt sewn shut, that your stride would be shorter’  

After an aggressive altercation around the net, a large and hostile defenseman pummeled me with a verbal tirade of hockey-trash-talk.  I said ‘you can’t really call me that, because I don’t even have one’.  Instantly he went silent, smiled, put his arm around my shoulder, and said in amazement “you’re the one”. 

Hockey team-mates were curious, so I volunteered to answer any questions they had, and show them anything they wanted to see.  They all related to the red-neck attitude that prevents us from having rectal examinations and colonoscopies, even while knowing that these procedures are effective lifesavers. 

With earlier tests and earlier detection,

I may have avoided the surgery and permanent colostomy.

Several wives (mostly with tears) told me it was my experience that convinced their husband to get a colonoscopy.

As hockey players  might say  … I paid the price, so now I can send the message

Get a Colonoscopy.  It could save your ass.  Maybe your life.

 We, the fortunate warriors and survivors, can save lives by educating others … one person at a time.  

Maybe YOU can help someone – please SHARE THIS with your friends.

CLICK HERE to Read the full story published by The Phoenix magazine

CARHA Hockey is a national, not for profit, charitable sport organization who is dedicated to providing resources and benefits to the adult recreational and oldtimers hockey industry in Canada.  CARHA Hockey

HockeyGear: StomaGuard

I had traded Rectal Cancer for a Resection and Permanent Colostomy, and 4 months later I was back playing hockey.  I was naturally concerned about herniating, and about stoma-damage by rubbing or impacts.

Hockey is a rough game.  The best hockey players are big, strong, fast, aggressive, and mean.  I only have the ‘fast’, and some players are double my weight.  I have always worn the best protective equipment to avoid injuries.  And that was before I had a colostomy and stoma. 

I first tried playing with just an unprotected pouch. As my stoma was on-line with my hockey pants belt, the rubbing was an obvious problem. I was feeling unsupported and insecure about herniating, and certainly nervous about impacts.  So I quit this experiment after 1 game.

I then tried playing with the Convatec Stoma Cap Cover and a Nu-Hope Ostomy Girdle.   I used this setup for most of 2 years, and it gave me moderate impact protection, and good hernia support.  But the girdle cost some flexibility of movement, and there was slippage of both the Stoma Cap Cover and the girdle, which stressed my flange adhesive.

I wanted superior impact protection, similar hernia support, with better flexibility.  I talked with Bob Zurowski from Stomaplex and got the answer.  

Freedom-Guard's outer shield is strong enough to take hockey impacts, but can be bent to fit the abdominal contour. The belt is comfortable on my skin, and gives good hernia protection without restricting flexibility or mobility.  The U-shaped padding holds the appliance in place, while protecting the stoma.  I wanted extreme protection for hockey, so Bob built the neoprene padding out to 5/8 inch.  I was pleasantly surprised that the Freedom-Guard stays in place, with no shifting or sliding, even with the hockey-belt right on the Freedom-Guard, and the hockey pants moving as I stretch, bend, and rotate.

With the Freedom-Guard, I feel confident the appliance will stay secure. 

I feel supported for hernia protection, and I know I am safe from impacts.

Now the real game-day testimonials. It has been mentioned that I play bigger than my size (‘he’s only 150 pounds, but plays like he’s 190). I think that is intended to be complimentary, but that style is hard on my body.  In 55 years of hockey I made a quick count of 3 concussions requiring hospitalization, 12 broken bones, 3 shoulder separations, and 1 torn knee.  A colostomy hasn’t changed that style. I have taken hits, crashed into the boards, fallen on the ice, blocked shots, and been speared with sticks.  

Sometimes I hurt.  But my stoma has never been hurt. 

It is a real testament to StomaPlex that I can continue to play that style with warranted confidence.

Read Prior posts on

My Comeback to Hockey

HockeyGear:Cup&Girdle

I receive NO financial benefit for sharing this experience and product review

Penalties for Not Listening

Hockey player Paul Riome didn’t listen to his body or his doctor.  

Minor Penalty was undetected cancer.  Major Penalty was a permanent colostomy.  

Riome tells of his experiences, attitude adjustments, and comeback to hockey. 

The story is about overcoming colorectal cancer 

and showing other hockey “tough-guys” the importance of prevention.

Even with daily rectal bleeding for over 2 years, I refused tests and examinations.

“You got Cancer ...  Life-expectancy is uncertain”.  Reminiscent of nasty and unexpected hockey hits, I asked myself  “what the hell was that for?”  Of course there was no answer, but I adjusted quickly and vowed that after surgery, I would do everything that I could do before surgery, and I would play hockey again. 

Surgery day arrived.  A nurse fussed to be sure the hospital gown covered my backside.  I joked at the silly gesture, as a dozen people would see everything I had, from the outside and the inside. 

After 6 hours of surgery, “I am back and I am alive!”

During recovery at the hospital, I set my sights on completing what I named a sprint, a half-marathon, and a full-marathon (actually … a shuffle to the doorway, to the nursing station, then a full loop around the ward). 

The rehab routine was similar to hockey injuries, but the outcome would be drastically different, as the surgery damages could never be restored.  With trepidation, I started Public Skating, surrounded by grandparents teaching pre-school kids to skate.

Exactly four months after surgery, I was back playing hockey.  I was amazed at how many players made a point of acknowledgement, usually with the back-handed male style

‘… Nice you’re back, looking dangerous as ever’

‘… I always hated going into the corner with you, but now I’m really afraid of the sh*t flying’

‘… I thought with your butt sewn shut, that your stride would be shorter’  

After an aggressive altercation around the net, a large and hostile defenseman pummeled me with a verbal tirade of hockey-trash-talk.  I said ‘you can’t really call me that, because I don’t even have one’.  Instantly he went silent, smiled, put his arm around my shoulder, and said in amazement “you’re the one”. 

Hockey team-mates were curious, so I volunteered to answer any questions they had, and show them anything they wanted to see.  They all related to the red-neck attitude that prevents us from having rectal examinations and colonoscopies, even while knowing that these procedures are effective lifesavers.  

Earlier tests, with earlier detection, probably would have ‘saved my ass’ 

and I may have avoided the surgery and permanent colostomy  

Several wives (mostly with tears) told me it was my experience 

that convinced their husband to get a colonoscopy. 

I am humbly pleased that others have benefitted from my experiences

An ostomy is not as good as the original equipment 

but I get to live

Two years ago my doctor told me I could have a perfectly normal life with a colostomy. 

     I didn’t believe him then.  

     I do believe him now.

CLICK HERE to Read the full story published by The Phoenix magazine

HockeyGear: Cup & Girdle

Hockey is the coolest game on ice.  Hockey has speed, contact, and violence.

Hockey is a GREAT game for those that love to play.

Hockey can be played by ostomates, with the right attitude and the right gear. 

I wear the best quality protection gear that is worn by all players.  I also wear some ‘specialty’ gear.  

For some protection from hernias, and for full-confidence that the flange stays in place, 

NuHope Ostomy Girdle

To protect my stoma from shots by the puck, or jabs by sticks, or hits by players, 

Stoma Cup by Convatec

Then I cover it all up with Spandex Shorts

I use Convatec Durahesive flanges because I play hockey twice a week, sweat a lot, and shower every day.  I change flanges every 6 days.

I’ve played over 80 games with a colostomy without any damage to my stoma. I have blocked shots, been speared by hockey sticks, taken hits by players and collided into the boards.  Never been hurt   Never had a leak or an explosion.  Never had an ostomy-related  problem.

Yes we can.  Ostomates can play hockey.


Read the full story of  my 
Comeback to Hockey 

Read a newer post HockeyGear: StomaGuard

Prevention

Many men will find reasons to decline a colonoscopy, 
even knowing it is a simple procedure and a proven lifesaver. 

A Colonoscopy could save your ass – maybe your life!

I sat in our hockey dressing room with 15 men, all over the age of 50.  There were subtle questions about ‘what caused it?’ with each hockey player quietly and cautiously wanting to avoid or prevent the same from happening to him.  

To a man, they all related to the red-neck attitude that prevents us from having rectal examinations and colonoscopies, even while knowing that these procedures are effective lifesavers. 

Even with daily rectal bleeding, I had refused any tests and examinations for 2 years.  

Earlier tests, with earlier detection, 

probably would have ‘saved my ass’ 

and I may have avoided the surgery 

and permanent colostomy

  

I watched the somber faces as I talked.  Over the next two years, I had more than 25 hockey players discretely tell me they had ‘that procedure’ done.  Several wives (mostly with tears) told me they had unsuccessfully ‘encouraged’ their husbands for years, but it was my experience that had convinced their husband to have the colonoscopy procedure done.  I am humbly pleased that others have benefited from my experience.

Read the full story of my 

Comeback to Hockey

Comeback to Hockey

December2009 [4 months after surgery]

I had Traded Cancer for a Colostomy 

then  Recovered with Rehab 

                              from Colostomy&Resection Surgery

Exactly 4 months after surgery, I was back playing hockey.

This was the first big test of my conviction that 

After surgery

I will do everything I could do before surgery

The first milestone was to earn confidence that I could block shots and take the hits … without an explosion!  

Hockey Talk

Hockey team-mates were curious about what had happened to me, so I volunteered to answer any questions they had, and show them anything they wanted to see … and that had a way of dispensing with what could have been an uncomfortable situation.  Players aged 50-65 parade around the dressing room and shower together after games – and we jokingly concluded that even with an ostomy, my body would not be the worst among the variety of sizes and shapes!     

News of my cancer and surgery somehow travelled around the league of about 250 hockey players.  As I played ‘first game back’ with each team, I was amazed at how many players made a point of acknowledgement, usually with the back-handed male style ... 

'Didn't slow you down a bit'

'Nice you're back, looking dangerous as ever'

‘I always hated going into the corner with you, 

but now I’m really afraid of the shit flying’

‘I thought with your butt sewn shut, 

that your stride would be shorter’ 

It was all sincere and heartfelt, but the presentation

was the just the best that men that age can do.  

You're the one

After an aggressive altercation around the net, a large and hostile defenseman pummeled me with a verbal tirade of hockey-trash-talk including “…#@*& ass-hole …”.    I sniped back ‘you can’t really call me that, because I don’t even have one’.  Instantly he went silent, smiled, put his arm around my shoulder, and said in amazement “you’re the one”, knowing only that someone in the league had been hurt by cancer and surgery, but had recovered.

Read the full story of  my 
Comeback to Hockey

  

Yes we  can.  
Ostomates can play Hockey.