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 for treatment decisions.

Thank you for sharing your story, Monica!

Inspired by Monica's story?

Share your story, too!

Steve’s Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer Story

Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Chris Sanchez

Steve, a 51-year-old resident of Ontario, Canada, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer 3 years ago, and he shares his story with us.

Steve’s diagnosis frightened and angered him. He had been suffering the symptoms of colorectal cancer for years before diagnosis, but they were shrugged off as food sensitivities. When the tumor in his colon was finally discovered, it was so large that his doctors could not get the scope past it to perform the colonoscopy. Moreover, the doctors also found 23 metastatic tumors on his liver. He was told that based on stage 4 colon cancer survival rates, he would likely live for just 3 more years. (hint, that was 3 years ago)

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