Annapolis cancer survivor writes about her journey

A mother of four.

Charlotte Cole didn't want to believe her health was declining so she ignored her symptoms for as long as she could.

A wife.

"I finally went in for a colonoscopy after nine months of bleeding," she said.

A cancer patient.

"I'm 42. I shop at Whole Foods. I just don't have cancer," the Annapolis resident thought.

Her diagnosis proved otherwise.

When Cole was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer in July 2011, she decided to blog about how the disease was changing her life.

"I'm going to share my experience and if my faith wavers, I'm going to be honest with these people,'" the author said.

Written as journal entries, Cole documented her journey in "Heartbeats for Cancer," which was published last September by Trinity Press.

She'll hold a book signing Saturday at Family Christian book store in Bowie.

In "Heartbeats for Cancer," Cole recounts scenarios such as how her former husband and four sons, ages 17,15,13 and 8, used humor to lighten the mood.

"I shared with my men that I was told the bag wouldn't smell," Cole writes, referring to her ostomy bag.

"Where'd you hear that — the salesman?" her former husband joked.

Her nearly 300-page story doesn't gloss over difficult times.

"I cried today at my treatment," she wrote. "I just felt like hell. My body is worn out."

Cole, who wrote her story throughout the course of her cancer battle, learned the importance of early detection.

"If something is wrong physically, go deal with it right away."

After months of surgery, chemotherapy and treatment, Cole began the recovery process in June 2012.

"I remember telling my sister, 'I just want to die. If I die, don't revive me.' Thank God, I got through it because I'm, just thankful to be alive."

Cole hopes "Heartbeats for Cancer" will be useful to women dealing with cancer.

"I want to be there for other women that have this secret hiding in their heart."

"Heartbeats for Cancer" is available through www.charlottesheart.com and www.amazon.com.

When you go

What: Book signing for "Charlotte's Heart: Heartbeats for Cancer" by Charlotte Cole

When: Saturday September 12 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Family Christian, 15451 Excelsior Drive, Bowie

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