Anonymous colorectal cancer colectomy experience and recovery education

Patient Info: Anonymized

This anonymous colorectal cancer experience centers on colectomy, recovery after bowel surgery, and the need for ongoing follow-up because recurrence risk depends on whether cancer cells had already spread before surgery.

Colorectal Cancer: Keith's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Keith Akins, 40s

Keith Akins had colon cancer found during his first screening colonoscopy at age 45, underwent partial colectomy, and did not need chemotherapy because the cancer was found early.

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Colorectal Cancer: Sylvia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Sylvia Herrmann, Female, Under 40

Sylvia completed surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy for early-stage colon cancer, adapted well to her stoma, and experienced major quality-of-life improvement after removal of the colon also resolved her long-standing ulcerative colitis.

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Colorectal Cancer: Johanna's Patient Story

Patient Info: Johanna Vogel, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: Familial adenomatous polyposis

As of spring 2013, Johanna was living with FAP-related hereditary colorectal cancer risk after preventive colon removal, pouch formation, and ongoing self-management rather than an active colorectal cancer diagnosis.

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Colorectal Cancer: Gerlinde's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Gerlinde Zeigert, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: Suspected Lynch syndrome / HNPCC based on family history; genetic defect discussed

As of spring 2013, Gerlinde had completed surgery for an early colorectal cancer and later recurrent/new tumor disease, was living with a permanent small-bowel stoma, and was managing suspected hereditary risk in her family.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Amber's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amber Madden, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Comprehensive hereditary cancer genetic testing negative; tumor biomarkers not reported

Metastatic Site: Liver

Stage III colon cancer upstaged to Stage IV after liver metastasis was found; after colectomy, chemotherapy, liver surgery, and more chemotherapy, CT scans in May, August, and November 2025 showed no evidence of active cancer.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Janice's Patient Story

Patient Info: Janice Johnson, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CEA tumor marker elevated after colectomy; biomarker/genomic test results not reported

Metastatic Site: Lungs

Ongoing care for Stage IV colorectal cancer after colectomy, years of chemotherapy, radiation, lung resections for metastatic disease, and pelvic stent exchanges every 3 months.

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Kevin's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kevin, Male, 50s | Stage III

Biomarkers: Tumor DNA used to create custom blood test for ctDNA monitoring; no actionable biomarker reported

No issues or signs of recurrence 2.5 years after finishing chemotherapy, with clean colonoscopy 1 year after surgery and ongoing liquid-biopsy monitoring.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Gabriel's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Gabriel Leblanc, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Stage III colon cancer survivor who avoided an ostomy after total colectomy, completed chemotherapy, returned to full-time work, and is described in the source as moving from Stage III to NED.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Zed's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Zed, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

As of June 2026, Zed had completed colectomy and chemotherapy and was in surveillance with no evidence of disease. Lynch syndrome was also identified, supporting stricter long-term surveillance.

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Allison’s Stage 2C Colorectal Cancer Story

Patient Info: Allison, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of June 2026, Allison was sharing her Stage IIC colorectal cancer experience as a patient advocate after concurrent radiation/Xeloda, major surgery with J-pouch and temporary ileostomy, and chemotherapy.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Shelley's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Shelley, Female, 40s | Stage III

Shelley completed colectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage IIIB colon cancer and was in survivorship/recovery with lingering treatment effects and follow-up needs; explicit NED status is not stated.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Lee's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lee, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

Lee initially reached no evidence of disease after chemotherapy and right hemicolectomy, but the cancer recurred in the liver about 1 year later, requiring FOLFIRI and liver resection with major postoperative complications.

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Stage I Colorectal Cancer: Rachel's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Rachel, Female, Under 40 | Stage I

As of June 2026, Rachel’s story described Stage I colon cancer treated with colectomy, no chemotherapy needed, and an oncologist-confirmed NED status, with lingering digestive and scar-tissue effects from surgery.

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Stage I Colorectal Cancer: Hugo's Patient Story

Patient Info: Hugo, Male, Under 40 | Stage I

As of June 2026, Hugo had no active cancer after subtotal colectomy, but care remained ongoing with infusions every 6-8 weeks for bowel inflammation and high recurrence risk.

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Colorectal cancer mimic: benign isolated colonic neurofibroma treated with hemicolectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

Biomarkers: CEA was normal before surgery. Final pathology showed benign neurofibroma, not colorectal cancer; lymph node was reactive only.

As of May 2026, the benign cecal neurofibroma had been completely resected with negative margins, symptoms resolved, and there was no recurrence at 3 years.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Ken's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ken, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of May 2026, Ken was more than 3 years into Stage IV colorectal cancer. He was not cancer-free or NED, but described the disease as minimal and manageable with surveillance, maintenance chemotherapy/targeted therapy, and occasional ablation.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Nathan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Nathan, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; peritoneal membrane

Declared tumor-free after aggressive treatment for Stage IV colon cancer, including colectomy, FOLFOX chemotherapy, and HIPEC, while continuing to live with treatment effects, an ileostomy, neuropathy, and scan anxiety.

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My STAGE 4 Colon Cancer was Revealed by a Routine Blood Test! (NO SYMPTOMS!)

Patient Info: Jim, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs

Stage IV colon cancer with liver and lung metastases responded strongly to FOLFIRINOX-based chemotherapy, with tumor reduction over 70%, no detectable lung cancer on testing, and ongoing maintenance chemotherapy for remaining liver disease.

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Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Cecum in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Patient Info: Anonymized, female

Biomarkers: Pathogenic germline APC mutation; KRAS ; PALB2 mutation; microsatellite stable with intact mismatch-repair proteins

At 18 months after the initial right colectomy, there was no pathologic, clinical, or imaging evidence of recurrence.

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Robotic surgery removes both a kidney tumor and colon cancer in one operation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lung

After combined surgery for the sigmoid and kidney tumors, she was receiving S-1, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab for the remaining lung metastasis.

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Stage III MSI-High Colorectal Cancer: Tommy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tommy Allen, Male, 50s | Stage III

Biomarkers: MSI-high; Lynch syndrome

As of November 2025, Tommy was cancer-free 5 years after pembrolizumab, ileostomy, Whipple procedure, partial colectomy, and ileostomy closure for Stage III MSI-high colon cancer with Lynch syndrome.

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Teenage colorectal cancer: Stage III signet-ring adenocarcinoma and 10-year disease-free follow-up after FOLFOX

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: CDX2-positive; CK7-positive; AE1-AE3-positive; signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma histology

As of November 2025, she was disease-free 10 years after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with clear margins and 6 months of adjuvant FOLFOX for T4N2Mx signet-ring colon adenocarcinoma.

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Stage III dMMR transverse colon cancer: colectomy and adjuvant FOLFOX with no recurrence on CT

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage III

Biomarkers: Loss of MLH1 and PMS2; BRAF mutation; MMR-deficient colorectal cancer

After colectomy and initiation of planned adjuvant FOLFOX, surveillance abdominal CT showed no recurrence or metastasis.

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