Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Debra's Patient Story

Patient Info: Debra, Female | Stage III

Debra was still receiving chemotherapy and radiation for Stage III colorectal cancer, with tumor-removal surgery to be discussed after this phase of treatment.

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Stage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Elaine's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Elaine | Stage III

Elaine was declared cancer-free in 2025 after surgery and 4 rounds of chemotherapy.

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Anna

Patient Info: Anna | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

At the time of the story, Anna was living with Stage IV colorectal cancer and was 2 weeks into a planned 6-month treatment course.

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Stage I Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Ger's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Ger | Stage I

Ger was declared cancer-free in June 2024 after surgery and continues routine follow-up.

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Colorectal cancer: using a blood test (ctDNA) to guide immunotherapy after surgery — Case 1

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s

Biomarkers: KRAS ; TMB 11 mutations/Mb; loss of MLH1 and PMS2; dMMR/MSI-H; germline multigene panel negative; ctDNA positive after surgery and chemotherapy

Pembrolizumab cleared ctDNA within about 3 months. After completing 1 year of immunotherapy, surveillance CT showed no evidence of disease and ctDNA remained negative.

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Colorectal cancer: using a blood test (ctDNA) to guide immunotherapy after surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; pathogenic germline MLH1 c.1459C>T consistent with Lynch syndrome; postoperative ctDNA rose during chemotherapy and became near-undetectable on pembrolizumab

He continued pembrolizumab with no evidence of disease on interval CT and near-undetectable ctDNA. Grade 1 thyroiditis was monitored without treatment interruption.

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Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Maggie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Maggie | Stage II

Diagnosed in September 2024 and declared cancer-free in December 2024 after surgery.

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Metastatic Colorectal Cancer With Leucovorin Hypersensitivity During Cetuximab-FOLFOX Treatment

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

Biomarkers: EGFR mutation detected; no KRAS, NRAS or BRAF mutations detected

Metastatic Site: lung

After 18 cycles of cetuximab plus FOLFOX, her metastatic colorectal cancer was stable and treatment continued with modifications for leucovorin hypersensitivity.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jeff's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jeff Williams, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs

As of December 2023, Jeff was living with recurrent Stage IV colorectal cancer, had recently developed more lung tumors, continued chemotherapy locally every 2 weeks, and returned to UT MD Anderson every 3 months for scans.

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Colon cancer surgery complication: fistula after extensive pelvic surgery and radiation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: upper vaginal wall; lungs

She remained alive after treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and recovered without clinical fistula recurrence at 1- and 2-month postoperative follow-up.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Dania's Patient Story

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

Biomarkers: Not reported; pathology supported Keytruda eligibility

Metastatic Site: Liver; peritoneum

As of December 2023, Dania had Stage IV colon cancer but described an excellent response to Keytruda, successful colon/hernia surgery, and successful liver surgery while still healing and continuing follow-up.

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Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Patient Story

Patient Info: Allison Rosen, Female, Under 40

Allison describes herself as a colorectal cancer survivor and has returned to travel, physical activity, and patient advocacy after her surgeries.

Rare anorectal melanoma that spread to the liver, lungs, and lymph nodes

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver; lungs; lymph nodes

Five months after completing treatment, he presented with severe respiratory distress and died 4 days later.

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Hidden bowel cancer first discovered through a rare nerve disorder (Morvan syndrome)

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

The tumour was completely resected with no nodal involvement, and no further cancer treatment was required; neurological recovery was partial.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Stephanie's Survivor Story

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

As of November 2023, Stephanie reported that her oncologist said her cancer was in remission after surgery and chemotherapy, with CT/lab follow-up and a PET scan for reassurance.

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Stage IV BRAF Colorectal Cancer: Loralee's Patient Story

Patient Info: Loralee Lovell, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRAF mutation; microsatellite stable

Metastatic Site: liver|lungs|lymph nodes|peritoneal lining

Loralee continued treatment for metastatic colon cancer for several years and died on May 26, 2026.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Barbara's Survivor Story

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

As of November 2023, Barbara described herself as a colon cancer survivor in year 4 after surgery and chemotherapy, continuing surveillance scans and living with scan anxiety and lasting treatment effects.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jessica's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jessica Bishop | Stage III

Jessica was receiving chemotherapy for Stage III colorectal cancer and had completed 2 of 4 planned rounds.

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Stage II MSI-High Colorectal Cancer: Shannon's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: MSI-H; Lynch syndrome; MLH1 mutation

As of October 2023, Shannon had no recurrence described while approaching year 5 after Stage IIA colon cancer surgery and continued intensive Lynch syndrome surveillance.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Julie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Julie Flower, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs; lymph nodes; bones

As of September 2023, Julie had longstanding Stage IV colorectal cancer but a strong clinical-trial response after about 2.5 years on trial, with possible first no-evidence-of-disease assessment expected soon but not confirmed in this record.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Amanda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Amanda Peters, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: No genetic markers reported

As of September 2023, Amanda reported no recurrence about 3 years after Stage IIIB rectal cancer surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, with surveillance CT scans now yearly.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Keith's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Liver; lymph nodes; lungs

As of September 2023, Keith was on third-line treatment for Stage IV colon cancer with lung metastases, small lung lesions under 1 cm, a low tumor marker after 2 rounds, and possible trial/transplant options after standard care.

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Hidden colon cancer first discovered through a rare brain/nerve inflammation

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage II

At 1 year he was asymptomatic and off treatment, with no neurological deficits and a normal repeat PET scan.

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Cancer Researcher Becomes Cancer Survivor

Patient Info: J. Mark Brown, Male | Stage III

Ten years after his Stage III colorectal cancer diagnosis, Mark described the treatment as having cured his cancer; he had completed 6 years of periodic oncology follow-up and was living actively with an ileostomy.

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