Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: 338 Real Stories
338 stories match colorectal cancer and surgery. 274 of them mention chemotherapy.
Colorectal Cancer: Jessica’s Patient Story
Jessica Everts first went to her primary care doctor because she had near-constant stomachache and blood in her stool. She was referred to a GI specialist who came to town once a week, and her colonoscopy was scheduled for January. She was told cancer would…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Cancer: Richard’s Survivor Story
Richard Linde was 61, married, and a father of 2 when he described colorectal cancer diagnosed 2 years earlier. He had not felt generally ill. The warning sign was repeated blood in his stool, which led him to contact his family doctor after 3 days…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Taletha’s Survivor Story
Taletha Walls shared this story as the wife and caregiver of her husband, who was diagnosed with rectal cancer at age 67 after a colonoscopy. The finding came during the holiday season, and Taletha carried the news quietly from December 13, 2018, until…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Johanna’s Patient Story
Johanna Vogel was a 24-year-old student living with familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP, an inherited condition that can fill the colon with polyps and greatly increase colorectal cancer risk. Her father died young from colorectal cancer, and his illness…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Judy’s Survivor Story
Judy Perdue is a mother of 3 with a high-stress healthcare career. When she noticed a little blood, loose stools, and some pain, it was easy to think the problem might be hemorrhoids. A colonoscopy changed everything by finding rectal cancer when Judy was 44…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Cancer: Sebastian’s Patient Story
Sebastian Siemens was 49, married, a father, and self-employed as an electrician when metastatic colorectal cancer reshaped his life. He had bowel problems for a long time, but the symptom that finally pushed him to seek care was severe exhaustion that made…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Lauren’s Survivor Story
Lauren C. had no symptoms when she finally scheduled her first colonoscopy. Her primary care doctor had recommended screening in November 2021, and her OB-GYN pushed her to take it seriously by sharing colon cancer statistics for Black women. Lauren went…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Gerlinde’s Survivor Story
Gerlinde Zeigert was 59, in a long-term partnership, and a former teacher and principal when she described life after hereditary colorectal cancer. Because her brother and a cousin had developed colorectal cancer early, she had already been advised to attend…
Read this storyStage III Colorectal Cancer: Joanne’s Survivor Story
Joanne Kowalec was 40, a mother of 3, and working full time as a nurse when symptoms began to build. Heartburn, bloating, fatigue, and constipation were easy to connect to aging or a busy life. A dull pain in her left upper abdomen had also been present for a…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Susanna’s Patient Story
Susanna Zier was 66 and a widow with 4 adult children when colorectal cancer was found. Ten years earlier, bowel symptoms had led to a colonoscopy that found and removed a polyp. In the years that followed, she faced several other illnesses and many…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Sylvia’s Survivor Story
Sylvia Herrmann had lived with ulcerative colitis since youth, so symptoms such as diarrhea were already part of daily life. At 39, the diarrhea became uncontrollable and led her to seek medical help. Colon cancer was found at a relatively early stage…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Lotte’s Survivor Story
Lotte Buchs was 72 and retired when she shared the story of a cancer diagnosed 10 years earlier. Blood in the stool over a longer period finally led her to a doctor, who performed a rectal examination and sent her directly to hospital. She was diagnosed with…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Matthias’s Survivor Story
Matthias Mitternich was 65 and 7 years past colon cancer treatment when he reflected on his experience. His first clue was a reddish change in his stool, which he initially blamed on eating beetroot. When the change continued despite diet adjustments, he saw…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Amalia’s Survivor Story
Amalia Spatz was 71 when rectal cancer entered a life already shaped by widowhood, family, and work behind her. She first noticed growing weakness and exhaustion and thought a medication might be the cause. After she was taken to hospital, many tests were…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Leon’s Patient Story
Leon Gerspacher was 20 when fatigue and digestive problems led to colonoscopy and CT scans that found rectal cancer. He was a science student and living with his girlfriend, and the diagnosis quickly changed his plans. Initial treatment used radiation therapy…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Ingrid’s Survivor Story
Ingrid Weis was 52, married, and raising 3 children when rectal cancer was found. Her first sign was blood in the toilet, which she initially thought might be hemorrhoids. Colonoscopy instead showed a tumor in the rectum. After further testing, treatment…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Annemarie’s Survivor Story
Annemarie Merscher was already used to close medical monitoring before colorectal cancer was found. Because of polyps, she had colonoscopies and rectoscopies every 6 months from 2006 to 2014. She also lived with a donor liver and immunosuppressive medication…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Julia’s Survivor Story
Julia Weithe was 29 when colorectal cancer was diagnosed in October 2022. For years, her bowel had reacted strongly to stress, but in 2022 she developed severe bloody stools that clearly felt different. Colonoscopy found malignant polyps, and surgery was able…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Cancer: Heather’s Patient Story
Heather Williams was 48 when months of unexplained symptoms finally led to a Stage IV colorectal cancer diagnosis on 30 January 2023. She had been dealing with anemia, a persistent cough, and abdominal pain. Earlier explanations focused on asthma and anemia…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jutta’s Patient Story
Jutta Groß was 47, a single mother of 2, and already familiar with hereditary colorectal cancer risk. At 19, because of familial adenomatous polyposis and many colon polyps, her colon was removed and the small intestine was connected to the sphincter. She…
Read this storyStage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jordan’s Patient Story
Jordan McConahay was 28 when stomach pain sent her to a walk-in clinic after only 2 days of symptoms. She expected something minor. Instead, testing found a mass in her colon, and the cancer had already spread to her liver and lungs. Her colon was nearly…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Petra’s Survivor Story
Petra Markert was 52 when colon cancer was found after months of severe constipation. Several examinations had not explained the problem, and preparation for a planned colonoscopy failed because of intense nausea and vomiting. She was admitted to hospital as…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Keith’s Survivor Story
Keith Akins had worked hard to improve his health before cancer entered the picture. In 2020, he changed his diet and exercise habits and lost 75 lbs, feeling healthier than he had in years. In 2024, his doctor recommended that he start colon cancer screening…
Read this storyColorectal Cancer: Karl’s Survivor Story
Karl Bergmann was 82 when he reflected on rectal cancer first diagnosed 23 years earlier. Blood in his stool initially seemed like hemorrhoids to him, but his wife and daughter pushed him to be examined. Colonoscopy found rectal cancer. Surgery removed the…
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