Colorectal Cancer: Shiva's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Shiva Sharma, Male, 40s

As of September 2025, Shiva described being told he was cancer-free after surgery and continued follow-up with scans every 6 months and regular colonoscopy.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Metastatic rectal cancer: total scapulectomy improves pain and function

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

Biomarkers: CEA 418 ng/mL preoperatively; 10.3 ng/mL postoperatively; 7.2 ng/mL at 7 months; 11.1 ng/mL at about 5 months postoperatively; 6.4 ng/mL at 8 months

Metastatic Site: liver, right acromion/scapula, left adrenal gland

The patient had meaningful pain relief and functional recovery after total scapulectomy, but later developed liver and left adrenal progression and remained on palliative chemotherapy with a positive response.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Nicole's Survivor Story

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

Nicole completed surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy for Stage III sigmoid colon cancer. As of August 2025, she described good scans and bloodwork while managing survivorship issues, including lasting chemotherapy-related nerve damage.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Samantha's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Samantha Fletcher, Female, Under 40

After surgery and 8 rounds of chemotherapy, Samantha completed treatment in March and scans showed no evidence of disease.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Kathy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Kathy Ball-Toncic, Female, 60s

As of August 2025, Kathy had been declared cancer-free again in August 2024 after treatment for breast DCIS and a later colorectal cancer, rebuilt strength with physical therapy, and completed a 162-mile Pan-Mass Challenge ride.

Dana-FarberRead more →

Stage IIIB sigmoid colon cancer: disease-free 1 year after sigmoidectomy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage III

Biomarkers: CEA and CA19-9 were normal. Bone/node granulomas suggested sarcoid-like reaction rather than metastasis.

Disease-free 1 year after sigmoidectomy; sarcoid-like reaction lesions remained stable and postoperative CT did not show bone lesions.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Devon's Survivor Story

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

Devon first reached no evidence of disease in February 2024, then had a Stage IV recurrence in August 2024. After additional chemotherapy and radiation ending January 2025, her June 2025 scans, bloodwork, and tumor markers were clear or negative.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Dan's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Dan Trombley, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; portal vein; duodenum

As of July 2025, after Stage IV colon cancer that had spread through much of the liver and involved the portal vein and duodenum, Dan’s cancer had not returned and he had regained strength, returned to work, and welcomed a daughter in 2023.

City of HopeRead more →

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Ian's Survivor Story

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

Ian had Stage III sigmoid colon cancer treated with robotic laparoscopic surgery and adjuvant FOLFOX-based chemotherapy. As of July 2025, he described negative ctDNA tests and clear scans, with his oncologist comfortable saying he had been NED since surgery on December 13, 2022.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage IIIB ascending colon cancer with later cervical and vaginal metastases, systemic nodal progression, and death

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

Biomarkers: Primary colon cancer and vaginal/cervical metastasis both supported colorectal origin. MMR proteins were retained; HER2 0; Ki-67 high in metastasis.

Metastatic Site: cervix, vagina, rectal wall/serosa, systemic lymph…

After initial Stage IIIB ascending-colon cancer and later cervical/vaginal metastatic recurrence, CAPEOX was stopped because of cardiac toxicity; systemic lymph node metastases developed in early 2023, treatment was abandoned, and she died in April 2023.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage IIIC ascending colon adenocarcinoma with appendiceal goblet-cell/signet-ring features: no recurrence at 46 months

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

Biomarkers: Colon tumor: MMR proteins retained, p53 positive, Ki-67 80%. Appendix lesion had neuroendocrine markers and Ki-67 10%.

At last follow-up on December 31, 2024, about 46 months after surgery, outside CT imaging and CEA testing showed no radiologic or biochemical evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

I Was SHOCKED At My STAGE 4 Diagnosis!

Patient Info: Lauren, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: peritoneum / abdominal cavity

Lauren was early in treatment for Stage IV signet-ring cell colon cancer. As of July 2025, she was receiving chemotherapy, living with a colostomy, and hoping for enough response to allow further surgery or HIPEC; remission was not stated.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Kate Joyal

Patient Info: Kate Joyal | Stage IV

After 8 rounds of chemotherapy and colorectal surgery, Kate reported clear follow-up scans and remained hopeful about becoming cancer-free.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Lauren's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lauren, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No actionable biomarkers reported; tumor testing suggested Lynch syndrome/hereditary pattern was unlikely; germline genetic testing pending

Lauren had Stage IV signet-ring cell colon cancer diagnosed after obstruction and emergency surgery with colostomy. As of July 2025, she was receiving traditional colorectal chemotherapy and awaiting germline genetic testing; remission was not stated.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Metastatic colorectal cancer during pregnancy: chemotherapy and liver metastases

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

Biomarkers: Mismatch-repair deficient; KRAS ; BRAF not detected; CEA 38 ug/L; Lynch syndrome family history

Metastatic Site: liver, porta hepatis lymph nodes, retroperitoneal…

After initial response to FOLFOX, she developed bowel obstruction after moving closer to family and died during that admission after conservative management.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Andrea's Patient Story

Patient Info: Andrea Suarez V | Stage II

Nearly 9 years later, Andrea described herself as a survivor and advocate for culturally appropriate colorectal cancer care.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage 4 colorectal cancer: complete response with panitumumab and FOLFOX4

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

Biomarkers: KRAS/NRAS/BRAF wild type; MSS/pMMR; HER2 not overexpressed. CEA and CA19-9 were elevated.

Metastatic Site: periaortic and pelvic lymph nodes; left ovary/adnexa

As of November 2024, she was alive and continuing second-line FOLFIRI with stable disease after prior complete remission on panitumumab plus FOLFOX4 and later progression with ovarian metastasis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Paige's Patient Story

Patient Info: Paige Cipher, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

Paige had Stage III rectal cancer and was still in treatment. After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, the tumor had shrunk but was not gone; as of June 2025, she had just completed round 7, had 1 more round planned, and expected surgery in about 3 weeks.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jackson's Survivor Story

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

Jackson completed surgery and chemotherapy for Stage III colon cancer. After his final infusion on January 28, 2025, Signatera was negative, chest and abdomen CTs were clear, tumor-marker bloodwork was negative, and he was declared in remission/no evidence of disease; a later CT in June 2025 was also clear.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Julie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Julie Goodrich

Nearly 2 years after surgery and 12 rounds of chemotherapy, Julie described herself as doing well.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jay's Survivor Story

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

Metastatic Site: liver

Jay was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in 2013 with extensive liver metastases. After surgery, systemic chemotherapy, hepatic arterial infusion pump therapy, liver resection, ablations, and prolonged chemotherapy, he became clear by 2016 and later described long-term survivorship.

The Patient StoryRead more →

Metastatic rectal cancer: complete response after repeat SBRT to oligoprogressive right lung lesion

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

Metastatic Site: liver; lung

As of June 2025, imaging 20 months after repeat SBRT showed a complete response of the treated right lower lobe lung lesion with no tumor progression.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC

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

Metastatic Site: peritoneum, liver

She recovered sufficiently to be discharged home after cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC despite postoperative bone-marrow suppression, anastomotic dehiscence and pelvic sepsis.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Metastatic colon cancer: soft-tissue and adrenal metastases responding to FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab

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

Biomarkers: KRAS codon 146 mutation; BRAF wild type. CK20 and Ki-67 supported colorectal metastasis; CEA/CA19-9 were elevated.

Metastatic Site: lungs; left arm/biceps soft tissue; right…

As of May 2025, metastatic colon cancer involving soft tissue, muscle, lung history, and right adrenal gland had regressed after 12 months of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab, and the patient was alive 1 year after chemotherapy completion.

PubMed CentralRead more →