By Brandie Kessler
bkessler@pottsmerc.com
POTTSTOWN — Richard Reinert participated in the Relay for Life golf outings for years with the thought he was simply doing something good for a good cause.
But last June, Reinert’s relationship with the Relay for Life and all that it means to support cancer research became more personal when he was diagnosed with cancer.
The 54-year-old went in for orthoscopic surgery on his knee and ended up learning he had colon cancer.
Reinert said he, like everyone else had two choices, to fight or give up. But with a wife, a daughter, an 8-year-old grandson and other friends and family, Reinert knew giving up wasn’t really an option.
Reinert’s grandson calls him Bubba “and he knew he didn’t want to lose his Bubba,” Reinert said of his grandson.
So after 12 treatments of chemotherapy over a 24-week period, surgery to remove the softball-sized tumor and several inches of his colon, and 11 months out of work to undergo the treatment and recover, Reinert is now cancer-free.
“I think I’m very lucky,” he said, adding there’s a 75 to 80 percent chance his cancer will not return.
Reinert said he met a lot of people at the Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center who were being treated for cancer who inspired him. Many of them in worse condition than he was and yet, not many of them were feeling sorry for themselves.
Reinert said he’s indebted to Dr. Maneesh Ailawadi, his surgical oncologist at Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center. He also praised the nurses at the cancer center for their care and compassion.
More than anything, though, Reinert wants people who have not been diagnosed with cancer to take steps so they are never diagnosed with cancer.
One important part of preventing colon cancer is getting a colonoscopy, which Reinert said was something no one ever really pushed on him.
“Nobody ever really said to go,” he said. “The big thing is to get a colonoscopy.”
Reinert said if one person listens to his story and gets a colonoscopy which helps with early detection, telling his story is worth it.
He said his family and friends, including the “union meetings” he had with buddies in his garage, helped him get through treatment and beat the disease.
Now, he’s taking the advice of one of his good friends.
“Slow down,” Reinert said. “Like my one buddy says, ‘I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time.’”