Monica, a 32-year-old Australian living in Croatia, shares her journey battling stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. Initially, she mistook her abdominal pain for digestive issues and stress. After multiple misdiagnoses, her condition worsened in January 2024 when her stomach swelled so badly that she was unable to stand. Emergency surgery revealed a 4-centimeter tumor that was obstructing her intestines. Further testing found that the cancer had spread to para-aortic lymph nodes.

Monica underwent chemotherapy and has been navigating treatment with resilience, even as she faced delays like that occurring due to her contracting COVID-19 before a crucial surgery. Chemotherapy reduced the size of her cancerous lymph nodes, and she is also on immunotherapy.

While the physical toll on Monica has been significant—causing her to lose hair and endure digestive issues—she remains pragmatic, and finds solace in maintaining an active lifestyle, walking her dog, and focusing on her recovery. She reflects on the emotional impact of her diagnosis, stating that she was not initially devastated. Instead, she quickly adjusted to the situation, finding humor in some of the challenging moments, such as learning to live with a temporary stoma. She acknowledges that the hardest part may come after treatment, living with the uncertainty of remission.

Monica also uses her experience to advocate for cancer awareness on TikTok, where she discusses her journey to inspire others. Her content has resonated with women, who reach out to express gratitude for her openness. Monica stresses the importance of colonoscopies and challenges the tendency of doctors to dismiss symptoms like hers as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), especially in young women.

Despite the difficulties, Monica chooses to maintain a positive outlook. She is determined to fight the disease and rejects the notion that cancer must define or consume her life. She believes cancer should be viewed as an accessory rather than a death sentence and emphasizes the importance of staying active, both mentally and physically. Monica’s story highlights the power of community, as her friends in Croatia have rallied around her during treatment, offering support and care when her family in Australia is far away.