Stage IIIB to metastatic rectal cancer: setback and treatment journey

Patient Info: Justine, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lung

As of March 2024, Justine was living with metastatic rectal cancer involving liver and lung, described as treatable but not curable, after surgery, permanent ileostomy, IV chemotherapy, liver ablation, lung SBRT, and Y-90 liver radioembolization.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Liliana Bolaños

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Linda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Linda Hartong, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

Linda was feeling well enough to continue treatment after right liver resection and 10 chemotherapy cycles, with further surgery and 2 final cycles planned.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Colon cancer recurrence at a surgical drain site

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

He recovered well after abdominal-wall excision and was followed every 3–6 months, with no clinical signs of further recurrence or metastasis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

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

As of March 2024, Allison was a Stage IIC rectal/colorectal cancer survivor after chemoradiation, major open surgery with temporary ileostomy and J-pouch creation, and additional chemotherapy; no metastatic disease was reported.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Jason Randall: stage IV colorectal cancer and liver metastases

Patient Info: Jason Randall, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lung; tailbone/sacrum/pelvis

As of March 2024, Jason was 2.5 years off chemotherapy and 16 months with no evidence of disease after treatment for Stage IV rectosigmoid colorectal cancer.

City of HopeRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie McBride, 40s

After chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and a temporary ileostomy, Stephanie continued managing neuropathy, pain, and increased anxiety.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Metastatic rectal cancer treated during pregnancy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: CEA within normal limits at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: distant lymph nodes including para-aortic,…

Rectal bleeding stopped after chemotherapy, and PET-CT after cycle 3 showed a partial response in the rectal tumour and several involved lymph-node regions.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Chrystie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Chrystie, Female, Under 40 | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Chrystie died at home on December 19, 2008, after advanced unresectable colon cancer, repeated infections, chemotherapy, unsuccessful surgical attempts, and 9 weeks of hospice care.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Rectal cancer surgery followed by treatment for severe anastomotic narrowing

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s

After rectal-cancer surgery, a woman developed severe anastomotic narrowing that was treated with a minimally invasive magnetic technique.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Raquel's Patient Story

Patient Info: Raquel, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Ovaries; liver; lungs; peritoneal cavity; omentum

As of February 2024, Raquel was living with terminal Stage IV colorectal cancer, on ongoing chemotherapy with mixed response and seeking additional opinions about whether surgery could extend her life.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Kristen's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kristen Van de Geer, Female, 40s

Chemotherapy was complete, and she was focused on physical recovery after treatment.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Coping with the Emotional Burden of Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Patient Info: Kevin Cooke, Male, 40s

He had completed treatment and was focused on family life while adapting to uncertainty after an unexpected metastasis during treatment.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Don's Patient Story

Patient Info: Don Carpenter, Male, 40s

Completed chemotherapy in February and returned to work full time.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Regorafenib produced a radiologic complete response in metastatic colon cancer with lung metastases

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

Biomarkers: KRAS codon 146 mutation; BRAF wild type; MSI-low

Metastatic Site: liver, lung

Nine months after stopping regorafenib, CT showed scarring of the lung metastases consistent with a radiologic complete response.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Katie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Katie LaPira, Female, 40s | Stage III

Katie described herself as in the middle of her Stage III colon cancer journey after surgery, with 6 months of oral and intravenous chemotherapy recommended.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Bobbi's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Bobbi Ratliff, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver|lungs

On February 1, 2024, scans showed no evidence of cancer after multimodal treatment for Stage IV disease.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Pembrolizumab produced a complete response in unresectable dMMR colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; MSH2 loss; RAS/BRAF wild type; MLH1 promoter hypermethylation

Surgery found a pathological complete response with no residual cancer in the colon or 58 lymph nodes, and follow-up showed no relapse.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Pembrolizumab enabled complete response and surgery for unresectable dMMR colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; PMS2 loss; BRAF mutation; MLH1 promoter hypermethylation

The surgical specimen showed a pathological complete response with no residual cancer and 0 of 43 lymph nodes involved, and follow-up showed no relapse.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Pembrolizumab and surgery for metastatic dMMR colorectal cancer with major response

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; PMS2 loss; BRAF/RAS wild type; RET::NCOA4 fusion; MLH1 promoter hypermethylation

Metastatic Site: non-regional lymph nodes

Surgery showed a major pathological response with less than 10% viable tumor. Pembrolizumab was restarted after surgery, and no relapse had been documented.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Pembrolizumab led to complete response before surgery for metastatic dMMR colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; PMS2 loss; BRAF mutation; heterozygous MUTYH p. pathogenic variant

Metastatic Site: liver

The 2023 liver resection showed a pathological complete response with no residual tumor, and he entered follow-up without additional therapy.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV colon cancer treated with FOLFOX during hemodialysis

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: RAS mutation; BRAF wild type

Metastatic Site: lung

Cancer was controlled during chemotherapy for a period, but modified FOLFOX was ultimately stopped because the disease progressed.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV rectal cancer treated with multiple chemotherapy lines during hemodialysis

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: RAS mutation; BRAF wild type

Metastatic Site: liver

Modified FOLFOX was stopped after 6 cycles because the metastatic rectal cancer progressed.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Cristina's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Cristina Patrick, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: ovary

Cristina reported no evidence of disease since June 2021 after surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →