Tag: Folfiri

Jennifer’s Stage 4 Colon Story

Post author By Katrina Villareal
Post date January 11, 2025
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January 13, 2025

Jennifer’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Story

Jennifer was diagnosed with early onset colon cancer in 2017 (stage 3) at the age of 23, which progressed to stage 4 in 2020. Her diagnosis came after an iron deficiency flagged by her endocrinologist led to further testing and a colonoscopy revealing a 5 cm tumor. Before her diagnosis, she experienced scattered symptoms including weight loss, coughing, vomiting, sciatica pain, and persistent fatigue, which were initially attributed to depression, stress, and other conditions.

Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Katrina Villareal

Treatment began with a colectomy in December 2017, followed by six months of FOLFOX chemotherapy. Despite an initial remission, Jennifer’s cancer returned in her lungs in 2020, discovered during post-stroke scans after a medical complication left her blind in one eye. Subsequent treatments included FOLFIRI chemotherapy, cetuximab immunotherapy, and two lung wedge resections to remove nodules.

Jennifer candidly discusses the challenges of navigating complex medical care that came with her early onset colon cancer diagnosis, including periods of insufficient oncology support, medical advocacy struggles, and emotional tolls. She credits her recovery to persistence, familial support, and pushing for surgeries against her oncologist’s preference for extended chemotherapy. A wake-up call from her health crises led her to improve her lifestyle, take control of her medical care, and stay deeply involved in her treatment plans.

Reflecting on her experiences, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself, accepting past circumstances, and maintaining a focus on the present. Her message to others is clear: trust your medical team but actively participate in decisions, avoid panic over statistics, and focus on actionable steps toward treatment and recovery.

Name: Jennifer T.
Age at Diagnosis:
- 23
Diagnosis:
- Colon Cancer
Staging:
- Stage 3 (2017)
- Stage 4 (2020)
Symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Sciatica pain
- Fatigue
Treatments:
- Surgeries: colectomy, lung wedge resection on both lungs
- Chemotherapy: FOLFOX, FOLFIRI
- Immunotherapy: cetuximab

This interview has been edited for clarity. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make treatment decisions.

Thank you for sharing your story, Jennifer!

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Monica’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Story

Post author By Chris Sanchez
Post date November 24, 2024
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November 24, 2024

Monica’s Stage 4 Colon Cancer Story

Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Chris Sanchez

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.

Name:
- Monica A.
Age at Diagnosis:
- 31
Diagnosis:
- Colon cancer
Staging:
- Stage 4
Initial Symptoms:
- Recurrent pain in side
- Severely swollen stomach
Treatment:
- Surgery (removal of tumor and cancerous lymph nodes)
- Chemotherapy (Folfiri)
- Immunotherapy (bevacizumab)

This interview has been edited for clarity. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make treatment decisions.

Thank you for sharing your story, Monica!

Inspired by Monica's story?

Share your story, too!

Instead of succumbing to his initial anger and bitterness, Steve chose to fight. He decided that he didn’t want to be remembered as “the angry guy”—and the realization that if he didn’t fight, his cancer would take him away from his family, was all the motivation he needed to do so. He was also determined to model resiliency for his family, especially his sons.

Steve immediately underwent surgery to deal with his blocked bowel, and ended up having a foot of his colon removed along with the primary tumor. He then had to recover for a few weeks before he could start with Folfiri chemotherapy. He also took the antibody therapy medicine panitumumab along with the chemotherapy. Steve ended up taking 27 rounds of chemotherapy, with some breaks, over the succeeding 3 years.

Steve’s cancer journey was far from easy. For one, he had to endure significant side effects from the panitumumab, including unsightly bleeding rashes that covered almost his entire body. But he continued to fight so he could stay with his family. Moreover, he also discovered that he could “fight cancer in the streets” and help other cancer patients, too, and so he got involved with fundraising campaigns for his local hospital foundation and regional cancer center. He also started serving as a volunteer cancer coach at CCRAN, the Colorectal Cancer Resource and Action Network.

After 3 years of chemotherapy and a liver transplant, at his last checkup, Steve’s doctors were unable to find any evidence of his cancer.

Steve shares his story with us to grow awareness of the risks of cancer, especially colorectal cancer, and to encourage other cancer patients to remain positive and continue fighting, no matter how severe or hopeless their situations may seem.

Name: Steve S.
Diagnosis:
- Colorectal cancer
Staging:
- Stage 4
Initial Symptoms:
- Bloody stool
- Intermittent changes in bowel habits
- Feeling gassy and bloated
- Random pains in abdomen
Treatment:
- Surgery: removal of primary tumor
- Chemotherapy: Folfiri (folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan)
- Antibody therapy: panitumumab
- Liver transplant