“I’m the luckiest man alive.”
Albert Boratynec is a 78-year-old farmer living in the County of St. Paul.
On Valentine’s Day in 2011, he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
One month later, Boratynec was under the scalpel having eight to 10 inches of his colon removed.
Not long after his surgery, Boratynec was headed to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, after being diagnosed with a Staph infection.
“My son and my wife had taken me to the Elk Point Hospital. I was supposed to go to Cold Lake for a CAT scan the next day. At about 2 a.m., my wife got a call saying I wasn’t going to Cold Lake, that I was going directly to Edmonton,” described Boratynec.
He continued, “They gave me 12 to 36 hours to live. I had an infection around my spine, and I guess my system had already shut down.”
Although he doesn’t remember much of the seven to 10 days he spent at the hospital, he recalls something his doctor said during his road to recovery.
At the time, Boratynec was 72-years-old. His doctor was amazed that a man of his age pulled through.
In fact, while he was being transported from the Elk Point Hospital to Edmonton, doctors contacted his wife and informed her of his prognosis. She was instructed to get the family together to say their goodbyes.
“The family was called in to see me take my last breath, but I fooled them,” Boratynec said.
Even though he doesn’t recall feeling any pain in the hospital, Boratynec’s son thinks otherwise.
“He said he would touch me and I would hit the roof… but I don’t remember any of it. My system was shut down already. My mind didn’t record that, and I guess I’m lucky in that respect.”
The cancer returned on Feb. 8 of this year, and once again, Boratynec underwent surgery. This time, the doctors removed 12 to 14-inches of colon.
“I guess, if you’ve had it once you can get it a second and maybe even a third time, but if it works out for me like that every time, I consider myself the luckiest man alive for having cancer and getting through it,” Boratynec said.
Throughout both bouts of cancer, Boratynec is happy to report chemotherapy and radiation weren’t necessary.
“My last surgery was laparoscopic. I was scheduled to be in the Royal Alexandra Hospital for five days, but within 48 hours, I was home. Everything went well,” he noted.
Boratynec stressed the importance of an annual physical. If he had been complying with the general rule of thumb, they may have noticed something wrong sooner rather than later.
Two or three years before going to the doctor in 2011, Boratynec had been noticing blood in his stool.
His regret, is not only failing to address the issue sooner, but also not telling his wife Jeannine.
“My wife didn’t know about it until my doctor phoned and told her,” he said. “I didn’t want to burden my kids or grandkids. I was feeling good.”
When he got home from the doctor that day, his wife asked him how it went. He replied that everything was fine, but she knew better than that.
Boratynec felt his diagnosis wasn’t the worst of the news.
“For me, the word cancer was scarier than the actual situation.”
He added, “I think my family was more worried than I was. The cancer itself really wasn’t a big deal.”
Boratynec is a retired Elk Point-area teacher. He has been married to his wife Jeannine for 56 years. Together, they have four children and 12 grandchildren.
A few years ago, one of their sons passed away after a quad accident. Everyday, Boratynec cherishes the granddaughter their son gave them before his death.
As a member of the Elk Point Elks #460, the Centennial Seniors in St. Paul, and a board member for Haying in the 30s, Boratynec stays active in the community.
He has volunteered with Haying in the 30s for the last 15 years, and is proud to be a part of the organization and everything that they do for families diagnosed with cancer.
“If there is any organization that helps cancer victims, it’s Haying in the 30s,” he expressed. “If there is any organization that gives me a good feeling to be a part of, that’s the one.”
Boratynec said it was his family that helped him get through his cancer diagnosis.
“You can take medication and painkillers, but the best medicine that I ever got was when the grandkids and kids would come and visit me in the hospital.”
His word of advice is to get annual physicals after the age of 50. This was how doctors found his second run-in with colon cancer. Because of the early detection, they were able to conduct a less invasive surgery.
“I think if there is a message there, it’s early diagnosis leads to early treatment and more success,” he expressed.
Early detection and a positive attitude can go a long way after being diagnosed with cancer.
“My wish would be if anyone had to have cancer, we hope not, but if they do, they have the one that I had, which was easy to deal with,” said Boratynec. “Be very positive. They do a lot of good things with cancer today. There is a lot of research being done. If you’re diagnosed early, that’s number one. Just have a positive attitude.”
Despite battling cancer and a near-fatal Staph infection, Boratynec describes himself as one of the luckiest men alive.
“Things worked out for me.”
