Colorectal Cancer Stories Patients Describe Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Read in-depth colorectal cancer stories, both colon and rectal cancers, from our community members who share everything from how they knew something was wrong, including genetic mutations, to navigating life with colorectal cancer and treatment.
Colorectal cancer can start either in the colon or the rectum. It makes up about eight-percent of all cancer cases in the U.S. Finding and removing polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. (NCI) It’s also on the rise for men and women under 50 years old.
Colorectal Cancer Symptoms
Colorectal cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer, symptoms vary and can show up differently for each person. Sometimes, especially for earlier stage (1, 2) cancer, there are no symptoms at all.
Read how our colon cancer patients describe symptoms, along with guidelines from the National Cancer Institute.
This is to give real patient examples and is not a substitute for medical advice.
»MORE: Patients share their colon, rectal, and colorectal cancer symptoms
Colorectal Cancer Patient Stories
Hear from our The Patient Story colon, rectal, and colorectal cancer community members on how they got diagnosed, what treatments they underwent, and how they managed quality of life day to day post-diagnosis. Choose from the specific subtype below.
Colon Cancer Stories
Shannon Mercurio, Colon Cancer, Stage 1
Cancer Details: Found the cancer as a result of her Lynch Syndrome
1st Symptoms: Routine colonoscopy found polyp
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Hugo Toovey, Colon Cancer, Stage 1
Cancer Details: Diagnosed 2 weeks after 5 years remission from testicular cancer
1st Symptoms: Inflamed bowel
Treatment: Subtotal colectomy, immunotherapy
Rachel Braga, Sigmoid Colon Cancer, Stage 1
Cancer Details: The sigmoid colon (or pelvic colon) is the part of the large intestine that is closest to the rectum
1st Symptoms: Stomach discomfort, nausea, bloating, blood in stool
Treatment: Colectomy
Chris Tarver, Colon Cancer, Stage 2
Cancer Details: Discovered Lynch Syndrome after genetic testing
1st Symptoms: Found the cancer as a result of family history, early colonoscopy
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Shannon Costello, Colon Cancer, Stage 2A
Cancer Details: Diagnosed at 29, tested positive for Lynch Syndrome
1st Symptoms: Severe pains after eating
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Barbara Majeski, Colon Cancer, Stage 3
Cancer Details: Family history wasn’t flagged, should have had colonoscopy earlier
1st Symptoms: Stomach discomfort, difficult to process food
Treatment: Colectomy, Chemo (FOLFOX, CAPOX)
Shelley Brown, Colon Cancer, Stage 3B
Cancer Details: Had no usual first symptoms, found as a result of routine colonoscopy and endoscopy
1st Symptoms: None
Treatment:Partial colectomy, chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
Lindsay Danneker, Colon Cancer, Stage 4
Cancer Details: Diagnosed at 32, cancer spread to ovary and lung
1st Symptoms: Lump in pelvic area, funny-smelling food, weight loss
Treatment: Chemotherapy, colectomy (surgery)
Lee Jones, Colon Cancer, Stage 4, Recurrence
Cancer Details: Recurrence then remission
1st Symptoms: Discovered stage 4 cancer from unrelated CT scan
Treatment: Neoadjuvant chemo (FOLFOX), hemicolectomy (partial colon surgery), adjuvant chemo (FOLFOX), chemo post-recurrence (FOLFIRI), liver surgery
Rectal Cancer Stories
Joanna Haydon, Rectal Cancer, Stage 3
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma
1st symptoms: Rectal bleeding, bloating, stomach aches
Treatment: FOLFOX chemo, radiation
Catherine Perka, Rectal Cancer, Stage 3
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma; 98% of rectal and colon cancers are adenocarcinomas
1st Symptoms: Rectal bleeding, constipation, bloating
Treatment: Fertility treatments, chemo, radiation, tumor resection surgery
Jelena Tompkins, Rectal Cancer, Stage 3A
Cancer Details: 7cm mass found
1st Symptoms: Gas changes, rectal bleeding
Treatment: Chemo, radiation, surgery for tumor removal, ileostomy reversal
Jackie Spano, Rectal Adenocarcinoma, Stage 3B, Lynch Syndrome
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma; 98% of rectal and colon cancers are adenocarcinomas
1st Symptoms: Blood in stool, constipation
Treatment: Chemo, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy
Maria Asuncion, Rectal Cancer, Stage 3C
Cancer Details: 7cm mass found
1st Symptoms: Fatigue, weight loss, fast heart rate, bladder infection
Treatment: Chemo, radiation, surgery for tumor removal
Justine Luebke, Rectal Cancer, Stage 3B/ 4
Cancer Details: Metastasized to stage 4
1st symptoms: Increasing bowel movements (up to 20/day), some rectal bleeding
Treatment: Chemoradiation (oral pill capecitabine + radiation), colectomy, FOLFOX chemo, SBRT radiation, cancer ablation, Y90 (radioembolization)
Colorectal Cancer Stories
Cancer in both the colon and rectum
Allison Rosen, Colorectal Cancer, Stage 2C
Age at Diagnosis: 32
1st Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, "blockage" feeling after eating
Treatment: Concurrent adjuvant (oral) chemotherapy + radiation, colectomy, oral chemotherapy
Colorectal Cancer Medical Experts
Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH
Dr. Ng shares the latest on her work and research focused on treatments for colorectal cancer patients. She is the Founding Director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center and specializes in many areas, including the identification of dietary, molecular, and genetic predictors of improved survival in patients with colorectal cancer, with particular interest in the vitamin D and inflammatory pathways.
»MORE: Hear from Dr. Kimmie Ng
Navigating Life with Cancer
A cancer diagnosis leads to many more questions than ones about medical treatment. How do I break thew news to friends and family? Will I lose my hair? Do I need to advocate for myself right now?
Read pieces and hear from our patients on some of the most popular cancer topics. For a full list of cancer FAQ topics, click here.
Processing a Cancer Diagnosis
Hear from cancer patients how they were able to eventually process their cancer diagnosis.
Breaking the News of Diagnosis to Loved Ones
Once cancer patients learn of their own diagnosis, one of the top questions next is how to tell family and friends. Get some guidance from those who’ve already been there.
How to Be a Self-Advocate
Cancer patients share how they advocated for themselves throughout the diagnosis and treatment experience.
Hair Loss & Cancer Treatment
One of the most popular questions, especially with chemotherapy as part of cancer treatment, is, “Will I lose my hair?” Hear how some people managed through hair loss.