Colorectal Cancer: Steve's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Steve B., a 30-year-old computer programmer, noticed intermittent rectal bleeding and the feeling that he needed to use the bathroom but could not. His family physician knew Steve had a family history of colon cancer and recommended colonoscopy. The test confirmed colon cancer at an unusually young age. At the time, Steve was moving closer to Cleveland and chose to continue his care at Cleveland Clinic. His treatment began with a rechargeable chemotherapy pump that delivered medication for 7 weeks while he also received radiation Monday through Friday. Chemotherapy drug names and a formal cancer stage were not specified. Steve then had colon resection surgery at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus. During the operation, surgeons created a temporary ileostomy so digestive waste could bypass the healing surgical area. He spent 5 days in the hospital. After a short recovery, Steve completed another 3 months of chemotherapy, and the ileostomy was later removed. As of April 2016, his oncologist described him as doing beautifully after a rough treatment course. Steve felt that moving to Cleveland put him in the right place to receive the care he needed.