MarketInk: ‘Am I going to die from this?’ TV anchor Monica Dean’s journey with colorectal cancer

Monica Dean with family members in a hospital room Courtesy Rick Griffin Marketink The majority of contemporary Mother s Day was especially wonderful reported Monica Dean television news anchor with KNSD-TV NBC San Diego That s because the -year-old has been battling her way back from the effects of colorectal cancer since last Thanksgiving Mother s Day this year was more meaningful than ever and I am more grateful than I ve ever been Dean reported Times of San Diego My children Ashley age Caden age and Kelsey age have been incredibly supportive and remarkably resilient The love laughter strength thoughtfulness and contentment they bring into my life along with my husband of years Kevin Kaiser are a beautiful reflection of God s great love for us It s a little piece of Heaven on Earth Nowadays Dean is cancer free NBC anchor Monica Dean at her home Courtesy Rick Griffin Marketink Following a surgery on Jan she returned to work on March For nearly six weeks she anchored two newscasts each weekday and shared her story with viewers on NBC s newscasts and streaming channels as well as on the NBC website Dean a veteran newswoman with years of experience who has worked at KNSD-TV since at this moment remains on curative leave following a surgery last month She is planning a June return to the anchor desk Her cancer journey began with what she expected would be a routine colonoscopy She had no notable effects no pain fatigue bleeding nothing to raise red flags and no immediate family history of colorectal cancer Years ago I had an unforgettable conversation with a man who was dying from colon cancer Dean revealed He informed he would be on a path for healing had he taken the advice of doctors He implored me to get checked when it was my turn Something about his warning resonated in my soul Dean s colonoscopy was one week before Thanksgiving I woke up during the procedure the room was dark and the physician was dictating information to the nurses Dean mentioned Even in the fog of sedation I knew something wasn t right I remember asking in the haze Did you find something They commented something about polyps It felt serious They wheeled me into the recovery room and I remember telling my husband that the doctors had identified something and it wasn t good The healthcare provider came into the room and gave us the news polyps and a centimeter flat malignant mass It was dizzying and hard to comprehend but I remember saying It s going to be okay I believe in a big God Six days later on Thanksgiving Eve and less than minutes before she would anchor the p m newscast Dean got a text on her phone In a secluded conference room at the Kearny Mesa studios Dean and her husband called the medical practitioner on a conference call and together heard the determination of colorectal cancer Am I going to die from this she sought her clinician Our healthcare provider notified us no from everything we know right now this looks treatable Dean mentioned When the phone call ended at p m I walked into the studio and anchored the p m newscast When the world feels chaotic and out of control doing something familiar and normal with people you care about was sort of comforting in an odd way The next day on Thanksgiving Day Dean announced I was surrounded by my loving family Gratitude is a powerful antidote to fear and anxiety Even in the face of a cancer identification there was so much for which I am grateful The circumstances so out of my control brought a softening humbling and gratitude for the things that mean the the greater part in life At times like these you have to rely on the strength that comes from somewhere outside yourself And for me it s my faith and learning on God for guidance strength and comfort One moment I felt strong and full of faith The next I was spiraling into worst-case scenarios But even in that darkness I held on to prayer my faith and to the hope that it had been caught early A surgery on Jan at the Jacobs Biological Center at UC San Diego removed the cancer The days leading up to my surgery were filled with a mix of fear anxiety peace hope and surrender Dean stated After the surgery I spent one week in the hospital recovering and learning to adjust to life with an ostomy Thirteen days later they heard good news We received the pathology description that the cancer was gone she declared The margins were clear and there was no cancer in my lymph nodes Praise God An April surgery reversed the ileostomy that had allowed her lower bowels to fully heal Healing has been a humbling process Dean commented At times my recovery has been painful and frustrating but I m making progress with the help of physical therapy diet patience and lots of prayer The outpouring of advocacy from family church friends and the region has been overwhelming In an interview with fellow NBC anchor Steven Luke Dean announced the experience has converted her into an advocate for preventative screening and early detection I ve been a storyteller of other people s stories throughout my TV news career announced Dean Now I m telling my story to call attention and educate other about the critical importance of screening Dean has shared her story on a Facebook page called My Story Your Glory as well as Instagram accounts mystory yourglory and monicanbcsd This entire experience has given me a new lens to view life one that I never sought but am beginning to understand as a gift she announced I now cherish each milestone holiday and celebration with deeper meaning and renewed appreciation Life is precious This journey also has given me tremendous empathy for everyone fighting a silent battle There is much to be learned in the classroom of suffering It is in the push of the painful pursuit of progress that we find perseverance and perseverance produces character and character produces hope I want to encourage the silent sufferers not to give up You are never alone San Diego s One America News now available to million Spectrum TV viewers One America News Arrangement a San Diego-based right-wing cable television streaming organization is now available to more than million Spectrum TV subscribers across the country Herring Networks Inc the parent company of OAN broadcasted last week a new multi-year content carriage agreement with Spectrum TV Logo for One America News Setup OAN Rick Griffin Marketink OAN as well as A Wealth of Entertainment another TV channel operated by Herring Networks will be added to Spectrum TV Selection and Spectrum TV Stream plans an announcement reported Spectrum TV operated by Stamford Conn -based Charter Communications is one of the nation s largest cable and streaming TV providers with approximately million residential TV subscribers as of the first quarter according to Charter s Q earnings summary issued April We re thrilled to partner with Spectrum to have OAN and AWE available to their customers across the country commented Charles Herring president of Herring Networks This agreement reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality content and expanding viewer access We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship and encourage fans of OAN and AWE to subscribe to Spectrum TV in preparation for the launch of our channels Tom Montemagno executive VP of services acquisition with Spectrum revealed in a declaration Spectrum TV offers a robust lineup of offerings for our customers The addition of OAN and AWE further expands our diverse channel offering providing enhanced value to our customers OAN launched on July produces hours of live latest news coverage every weekday featuring live coverage from the White House Capitol Hill and the Pentagon in addition to national and international news reports The architecture also features four one-hour weekday prime-time political talk shows providing analysis discussion and debate AWE launched in as Wealth TV before rebranding to AWE in focuses on luxury lifestyle initiatives including progress real estate cars and high-end experiences With the addition of Spectrum TV OAN and AWE are available on more than video platforms worldwide a report revealed Spectrum s addition of OAN is the latest expansion for OAN viewership An OAN announcement explained the Spectrum addition solidifies the return of OAN as a major athlete in the initiatives landscape In January of this year Dish Arrangement and Sling added OAN and AWE services to all packages ranging from the preponderance affordable package with channels priced at per month to the premium package with channels priced at per month Last year OAN expanded its worldwide presence to million homes across Europe the Middle East and North Africa through Eutelsat s flagship Hotbird satellite The launch was facilitated by instrument company MuxIP an announcement explained It s been three years since DirecTV owned by AT T Inc notified Herring that its contract with OAN would not be renewed Verizon s Fios TV followed DirecTV with a similar decision In related news Charter Communications and Cox Communications last week disclosed plans to merge in a deal worth billion a figure that includes billion of equity and billion of net debt and other obligations The combined company will use the Cox name and Charter s Spectrum the brand on its cable broadband mobile and other services will become the consumer-facing brand across all customers according to news reports Cox Enterprises will become Charter s largest shareholder The deal faces regulatory approval With approval the combined company would become America s largest cable TV and broadband provider by subscribers leapfrogging Comcast Oceanside tourism up in visitor spending to million Oceanside s tourism industry continued to show positive expansion in reports Visit Oceanside the tourism marketing organization for the North County city Visitor spending in reached million an increase of over the organization declared Nearly of visitor spending occurred in sectors beyond lodging such as dining retail and attractions Local tourism tax revenues increased to million providing a revenue source for the city s general fund to impact inhabitants safety parks street improvements and homeless outreach declared the organization adding that Oceanside s tourism industry supports more than jobs in the city Group expedition accounted for a year-over-year increase in group room-night demand in In the past year Oceanside hosted several corporate events including Simone Biles Gold Over America Tour and San Diego Clippers home games held at Frontwave Arena In October Oceanside will welcome the inaugural Sports Illustrated Women s Games a new multi-sport event In the Olympics surfing competition will be held at Oceanside s Trestles beach With the opening of new beach resorts and the Frontwave Arena Oceanside is better equipped to attract high-caliber corporate sports and group events that were not feasible in the past explained Leslee Gaul CEO of Visit Oceanside Meeting planners and event organizers are excited about Oceanside as a fresh world-class option to offer their clients and attendees For Oceanside these events and meetings align with our goals as they typically drive visitation during the off-season when local businesses need the boost Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based populace relations and marketing consultant His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego