Colorectal Cancer: Crystal's Survivor Story
This colorectal cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy
- Outcome
- Survivorship / Completed Treatment
Treatment course, step by step
- CT and biopsy confirmed a cancerous colon tumor with a fistula contributing to recurrent UTIs
- Colostomy was placed to divert stool before chemotherapy
- First colostomy did not function correctly and had to be redone
- Port was placed or kept
- Chemotherapy was given about once weekly for 4-5 rounds, but infections continued and tumor shrinkage was not enough
- Major surgery with colorectal, gynecology, and urology teams removed the bladder and left her with a urostomy and ileostomy
- Ileostomy was later reversed
- Specific chemotherapy drug names were not given.
What happened, in summary
Crystal was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022 after years of symptoms that were easy to explain away, including persistent urinary tract infections and later severe abdominal pain. Imaging showed a mass, and a needle biopsy confirmed that the tumor was cancerous. Doctors explained that a fistula was causing infections, and because she would need chemotherapy, they wanted to divert waste away from the area first. Crystal had a colostomy placed, but the first surgery did not work correctly; nothing was coming through the bag, and testing showed the connection was wrong. She was transferred by ambulance and had the surgery redone so the colostomy could function. Chemotherapy then began, likely once a week. After 4 or 5 rounds, infections were still not stopping, and the tumor was not shrinking enough. Her team decided they could not safely wait. A colorectal surgeon, gynecologist, and urologist planned a major operation because the hole in her bladder was significant. The urologist warned that he might not be able to save it. Crystal woke up without her bladder and with a urostomy and ileostomy; the ileostomy was eventually reversed, but losing her bladder was permanent. As of May 2025, she was living after intensive treatment, relying more on loved ones, and processing how much the experience changed her relationships and daily life.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by The Patient Story. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer