Colorectal Cancer Stories
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 Stories
Explore below for colorectal cancer stories from our community of patients and thrivers, who share their experiences with colon and rectal cancer diagnoses and treatments.
Colon Cancer Stories
Shannon M., 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 T., 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 B., 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 T., 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 C., Colon Cancer, Stage 2A
Cancer Details: Diagnosed at 29, tested positive for Lynch Syndrome
1st Symptoms: Severe pains after eating
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Barbara M., 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 B., 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 D., 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 J., 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
JJ S., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4
Age at Diagnosis: 27l
1st Symptoms: Abdominal pain, blood in stool
Treatment: Surgery to remove tumor, chemotherapy, clinical trial of Keytruda (pembrolizumab)
Rectal Cancer Stories
Joanna H., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma
1st symptoms: Rectal bleeding, bloating, stomach aches
Treatment: FOLFOX chemo, radiation
Catherine P., 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 T., 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 S., 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 A., 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 L., 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
Allison R., 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 Resources
Colorectal Cancer Medical Experts
Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH
Role: Gastrointestinal oncologist
Focus: Young-onset colorectal cancer, microbiome
Provider: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston)
Navigating Life with Cancer
My Spouse Was Diagnosed With Cancer | The Patient Story
Marriage is wonderful, but a cancer diagnosis can create a disconnect for some couples. Here are three things to keep in mind in order to keep your relationship healthy after a diagnosis.
How To Tell Your Family and Friends You Have Cancer
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are unsure how to go about telling your friends and family, read stories from real cancer survivors who share their experiences on how they broke the news.
Fertility and Pregnancy After Cancer Treatment
Hear how cancer patients took steps to increase their chances of fertility and pregnancy after undergoing chemotherapy or other cancer treatments.
Fertility After Cancer Diagnosis, Egg Retrieval & Egg Freezing
From egg harvesting to retrieval, making the decision between freezing eggs or embryos, the process of giving herself shots daily, paying for the procedures, and the paperwork that brought up so many unanticipated questions, Kimberly shares every part of this intimate journey.
Patient Self-Advocacy | Hodgkin Lymphoma
From 1st symptoms of cancer to how we communicate with our doctors, the importance of patients advocating for themselves is key to getting through diagnosis and treatment in the best way possible.
Hodgkin lymphoma patients/survivors share how they were able to advocate for themselves throughout their cancer care.
Hodgkin lymphoma patients/survivors share how they were able to advocate for themselves throughout their cancer care.
Cancer Treatment Side Effects: Chemotherapy, Radiation, Surgery
Cancer treatments save lives, but they also come with side effects. Hear straight from patients who’ve been treated for cancer - what they experienced and what helped them get through it.
What Does Cancer Feel Like?
Hear from cancer patients in their own words about what cancer felt like - from diagnosis to treatment to recovery.
Reacting to a Cancer Diagnosis
It’s cancer. How should you be feeling? That’s a complex question without a single answer. Hear from real cancer survivors about how they reacted to their diagnoses.