Colorectal Cancer: Monica's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Monica Diaz first noticed blood in her stool, followed by weight loss and abdominal pain. A colonoscopy led to a cancer diagnosis, and subsequent scans also found a tumor in her liver. She remembers the fear of potentially leaving her children while they were still young.

Her treatment pathway was intensive and involved several distinct steps. Monica first had surgery to place a chemotherapy port and create a colostomy. She then completed 6 rounds of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, followed by liver resection. Next came 28 radiation treatments. She later underwent surgery to remove the cancer in her colon and affected lymph nodes, reverse the colostomy, and create an ileostomy. After surgery, she completed another 6 rounds of chemotherapy.

Monica reported having no evidence of disease since March 17, 2025. Although she continued to heal physically and emotionally, she expressed deep gratitude to the medical team that helped her remain present for her daughters. Her experience also made her a strong advocate for colorectal cancer screening. She emphasizes that colonoscopy can save lives and believes access to colorectal screening should receive the same level of public support as other widely recognized cancer screening programs.