Colostomy: 75 Real Stories

75 stories match colostomy. 73 of them mention surgery.

Lauren, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Lauren's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lauren, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No actionable biomarkers reported; tumor testing suggested Lynch syndrome/hereditary pattern was unlikely; germline genetic testing pending

Lauren had Stage IV signet-ring cell colon cancer diagnosed after obstruction and emergency surgery with colostomy. As of July 2025, she was receiving traditional colorectal chemotherapy and awaiting germline genetic testing; remission was not stated.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
James, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: James's Survivor Story

Patient Info: James, Male | Stage III

James had Stage IIIC / possible Stage IV rectal cancer with major lymph node involvement and an uncertain liver spot. After chemotherapy, radiation, multiple surgeries, permanent colostomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy, he later reported no evidence of disease.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Crystal, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Crystal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Crystal, Female

Crystal completed limited chemotherapy and multiple major surgeries for colon cancer complicated by bladder involvement and infection risk. She lost her bladder and adapted to ostomy changes. No explicit NED, recurrence, or active-disease status was given.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Crystal, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Crystal's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Crystal, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Bladder involvement

As of May 2025, Crystal was living after major surgery for Stage IV colon cancer involving the bladder, with both colostomy and urostomy bags and an emphasis on mental health, support, and quality of life.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Lynch syndrome bifocal colon cancer: complete pathological remission after sintilimab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: Lynch-associated colon cancer with MSI-H and KRAS/NRAS/BRAF wild type; tumor markers were low or near normal.

As of April 2025, pathology after proximal colectomy showed tumor regression grade 0 with complete pathological remission, and follow-up found no recurrence or metastasis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Heather, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Heather's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Heather Russell, Female, Under 40 | Stage III

In her fifth year of remission at the time of the 2025 story after treatment for Stage III rectal cancer; she had returned to family and working life, with some lasting treatment effects.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Cattie, who was diagnosed with Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer: Cattie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Cattie Fleming, Female

Cattie remained on chemotherapy, and her most recent scans showed that treatment was effective.

Fight Colorectal Cancer
OutcomeResponding Well
Tracy, who was diagnosed with Stage II Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Tracy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tracy, Female, 40s | Stage II

As of February 2025, Tracy was in post-treatment survivorship after Stage IIB colorectal cancer treated with 28 days of Xeloda chemoradiation, colostomy surgery in December 2015, and discontinued post-surgery chemotherapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Rachael, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Rachael's Patient Story

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

Metastatic Site: Ovaries; liver

As of January 2025, Rachael had completed intensive chemotherapy for Stage IV sigmoid colon cancer involving the ovaries and liver and was awaiting scans to determine whether liver surgery and HIPEC would be next.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Rachael, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

How I Found Out I Had Stage 4 Colon Cancer!

Patient Info: Rachael Marie, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: ovaries, liver

Rachael completed 12 cycles of FOLFOX/oxaliplatin; colonoscopy looked clear, liver lesions had shrunk, and no new lesions were reported, with further surgical planning pending.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
Roshonda, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Roshonda's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Roshonda Clark, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Roshonda completed chemoradiation and permanent-colostomy surgery, returned to work, and described living day by day with recurrence worries but no active treatment reported.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Roshonda, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Roshonda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Roshonda, Female | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Lung

As of January 2025, Roshonda was living after treatment for Stage IV rectal cancer with a lung spot, including chemoradiation, IV chemotherapy, and permanent colostomy surgery.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Gastric cancer recurring in the rectum about 20 months after gastrectomy

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

Metastatic Site: rectum, peritoneum

Metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma involved the rectum and pericolonic fat, with peritoneal nodules seen at surgery. He died 6 months after the rectal operation.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
Jazz, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Jazz: Stage III / borderline Stage IV colorectal cancer

Patient Info: Jazz, Male | Stage III

As of November 2024, Jazz was in active treatment for Stage III / borderline Stage IV colorectal cancer after colostomy surgery, chemotherapy, stomach tumor removal, and radiation, with surgery still planned for the remaining tumor.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Jazz, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jazz's Patient Story

Patient Info: Jazz Page, Male | Stage III

As of November 2024, Jazz was still in active treatment planning with radiation, oral chemotherapy pills, and final surgery expected; no post-treatment remission status was reported.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Jessenia, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jessenia's Patient Story

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

As of September 2024, Jessenia had completed major treatment steps and was adapting to the physical and emotional effects of treatment, including a temporary colostomy; a clear remission/NED status was not stated.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Stephanie, who was diagnosed with Stage III Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stephanie’s Stage 3 Colon Cancer Story

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

CT and PET imaging after treatment showed no active colon cancer. Her October 2023 scans were clear and her oncologist described the cancer as in remission; unchanged spots in the liver and lung continued to be monitored.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / Remission
Tracy, who was diagnosed with Stage 0 Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage 0 Colorectal Cancer: Tracy's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tracy Robert, Female, 40s | Stage 0

Biomarkers: Chemotherapy metabolism gene variant reported; exact gene not stated

As of August 2024, Tracy was a long-term survivor. After chemoradiation and surgery, pathology showed Stage 0/no remaining cancer, and no recurrence was reported.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung squamous cell carcinoma spreading to bone and intestine

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 positive in almost all tumor cells

Metastatic Site: bone (left femur), intestine, abdomen

Despite chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation, the lung cancer progressed with intestinal and extensive abdominal metastases, cachexia and gastrointestinal bleeding. Palliative care was planned, but he chose discharge and received no further treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Clear Cell Cancer Surgery Followed by a Serious Bowel Complication

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female

She recovered from the bowel perforation and reactive subdiaphragmatic cyst, stopped infection medication after negative cultures, and was discharged 78 days after the initial surgery while additional anticancer treatment remained planned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing