Stage II Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Anne-Marie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Anne-Marie | Stage II

Anne-Marie was declared cancer-free in January 2025 and continues to manage fear of recurrence.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Carole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carole Motycka, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Juvenile polyposis syndrome

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of December 2018, Carole was cancer-free after chemotherapy, complete removal of colon and liver cancers, liver-directed chemotherapy infusion pump placement and a living donor liver transplant; she had returned to normal life.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Anatole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Anatole Karpovs, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of October 2018, Anatole had no evidence of disease after liver surgery and FOLFIRI for a July 2014 liver recurrence, and had been cancer-free for almost 4 years while recognizing that microscopic disease could still be possible.

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Colon Cancer Spreading to the External Ear Canal

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Metastatic Site: right external auditory canal

A man previously treated for node-positive colon cancer developed a bleeding ear-canal mass that represented a rare colorectal metastasis.

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Rectal Cancer Spreading to the Thyroid and Bones

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: CEA 2.75 ng/mL at diagnosis

Metastatic Site: thyroid|bones

His metastatic disease worsened after 3 cycles of bevacizumab and capecitabine. He declined further treatment and died at home within 2 months.

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Colon Cancer With Lung Metastasis Alongside a Separate Thyroid Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage Metastatic/Advanced

Biomarkers: Rising CEA

Metastatic Site: lungs

A 64-year-old woman had colon cancer involving the lungs while a separate follicular-variant thyroid cancer involved the kidney.

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Metastatic Colon Cancer With Painful Skin Fissures During Cetuximab

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

Biomarkers: KRAS unmutated

Metastatic Site: lungs|pericardium|mediastinal lymph nodes

He died not long after cetuximab was stopped following cancer progression.

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Colon cancer surgery complicated by a rectus sheath hematoma

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

After postoperative pneumonia, ileus and a major rectus sheath hematoma, she stabilized and transferred to rehabilitation before discharge home, with CT and clinic follow-up planned 6 weeks later.

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Rectal cancer first presenting as a mandibular metastasis

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

Metastatic Site: mandible, liver, L4 vertebra

He died 2 months after the metastatic rectal cancer diagnosis.

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Metastatic colon cancer in a woman later diagnosed with Lynch syndrome

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

Biomarkers: Pathogenic germline MLH1 p. mutation; Lynch syndrome

Metastatic Site: liver

Twenty years after the metastatic colon cancer treatment, she presented with a separate small-bowel adenocarcinoma rather than recurrent colon cancer. Follow-up imaging 6 months after treatment of that later cancer showed no evidence of neoplastic disease.

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Colon cancer and Lynch syndrome in a woman in her late 30s

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome confirmed by genetic testing

She was diagnosed with colon cancer in her late 30s and later died at age 39.

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Teenage colon cancer initially mistaken for anorexia nervosa

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

Biomarkers: Loss of MSH2 and MSH6 expression; microsatellite instability; MSH2 variant of uncertain significance suspected to affect splicing; Lynch syndrome diagnosis

She remained in remission 3 years after surgery.

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Locally advanced transverse colon cancer complicated by a colocutaneous fistula

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

After initially recovering from surgery, she developed a respiratory infection, sepsis and metabolic encephalopathy and died after cardiorespiratory arrest on postoperative day 12.

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Colorectal cancer discovered during treatment for Klebsiella endophthalmitis

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s | Stage II

Post-treatment pathology showed Stage II rectal adenocarcinoma, with a synchronous sigmoid adenocarcinoma also identified.

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Colon cancer chemotherapy complicated by a severe manic episode

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage III

He completed chemotherapy without further affective episodes on the revised regimen and remained under regular follow-up.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Annie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Annie Schreiber, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

As of March 2018, Annie had recovered from TaTME surgery with a temporary ileostomy instead of a permanent colostomy and was undergoing chemotherapy with a very good prognosis.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Rectal cancer treatment followed by a rare rectovaginal fistula

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

After fistula repair and later ileostomy closure, she remained fully continent despite 5–10 liquid bowel movements per day.

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Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Patricia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Patricia, 50s | Stage IV

Living with Stage IV colorectal cancer after about 6.5 years of intermittent chemotherapy and multiple local treatments; on a treatment holiday while awaiting December 2024 scans.

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Stage IV rectal cancer treatment complicated by repeated heart-related side effects

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: p53 mutation

Metastatic Site: liver

After responding again to adapted chemotherapy and NanoKnife ablation, she had no evidence of active disease and had not restarted chemotherapy; ileostomy reversal was planned.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Severe but reversible neurologic side effects during 5-fluorouracil treatment for Stage IV colorectal cancer

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

Metastatic Site: liver

His confusion, dysarthria and ataxia resolved within 24 hours with intravenous hydration, and the MRI lesion resolved within 1 month. The cancer later progressed on restaging, prompting another treatment change.

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Rectal cancer surgery complicated by severe Clostridium perfringens infection

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

He recovered from severe postoperative Clostridium perfringens septic shock after intensive care, antibiotics and a laparotomy with washout. He was discharged 7 days after the second operation and returned to his baseline mobility.

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Rectal Cancer With Extensive Perineal Invasion Six Years After Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

She was treated for extensive local and perineal rectal-cancer involvement, while chest and abdominal imaging showed no distant metastases.

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Colorectal Cancer: Ronnie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Ronnie, Male

Biomarkers: Biomarker testing performed; specific results not reported

As of June 2017, Ronnie described himself as a late-stage colorectal cancer survivor after recurrence, still fighting with strong caregiver support.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Rachel's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: Tumor biomarker testing performed; specific results not reported

As of June 2017, Rachel was presented as a long-term survivor after Stage III colorectal cancer diagnosed at 34; the story does not state a formal NED/remission status.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →