Stage IIIB to metastatic rectal cancer: setback and treatment journey

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

Metastatic Site: Liver; lung

As of March 2024, Justine was living with metastatic rectal cancer involving liver and lung, described as treatable but not curable, after surgery, permanent ileostomy, IV chemotherapy, liver ablation, lung SBRT, and Y-90 liver radioembolization.

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Jason Randall: stage IV colorectal cancer and liver metastases

Patient Info: Jason Randall, Male, Under 40 | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lung; tailbone/sacrum/pelvis

As of March 2024, Jason was 2.5 years off chemotherapy and 16 months with no evidence of disease after treatment for Stage IV rectosigmoid colorectal cancer.

City of HopeRead more →

Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Allison, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of March 2024, Allison was a Stage IIC rectal/colorectal cancer survivor after chemoradiation, major open surgery with temporary ileostomy and J-pouch creation, and additional chemotherapy; no metastatic disease was reported.

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Colorectal Cancer: Stephanie's Patient Story

Patient Info: Stephanie McBride, 40s

After chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and a temporary ileostomy, Stephanie continued managing neuropathy, pain, and increased anxiety.

Fight Colorectal CancerRead more →

Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Jelena's Survivor Story

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

As of January 2024, Jelena was on annual follow-up after Stage III rectal cancer treatment, with her latest colonoscopy showing no polyps or suspicious findings.

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Stage II Colorectal Cancer: Kara's Patient Story

Patient Info: Kara Wutzke | Stage II

After chemotherapy, surgery, a temporary ileostomy, and reversal, Kara focused on gradually rebuilding her fitness, strength, and sense of self.

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Rectal signet ring cell cancer with an unusual metastasis into a lipoma

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: subcutaneous abdominal wall lipoma, peritoneum

Peritoneal carcinomatosis developed during adjuvant FOLFOX. Second-line chemotherapy was proposed, and he died 12 months later.

PubMed CentralRead more →

Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Patient Story

Patient Info: Allison Rosen, Female, Under 40

Allison describes herself as a colorectal cancer survivor and has returned to travel, physical activity, and patient advocacy after her surgeries.

Cancer Researcher Becomes Cancer Survivor

Patient Info: J. Mark Brown, Male | Stage III

Ten years after his Stage III colorectal cancer diagnosis, Mark described the treatment as having cured his cancer; he had completed 6 years of periodic oncology follow-up and was living actively with an ileostomy.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Danielle's Patient Story

Patient Info: Danielle Archer, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No genetic markers reported

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs

As of August 2023, Danielle was living with Stage IV metastatic colon cancer involving liver and lung lesions that were stable on ongoing treatment and 3-month surveillance scans.

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Rectal Cancer Treated With Radiation, FOLFOX and Surgery in a Woman With a Separate Breast Cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s

Surgery showed only minimal residual rectal adenocarcinoma with clear margins, and later follow-up described both of her cancers as appearing in remission.

PubMed CentralRead more →

My Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer Story: How I Never Lost Hope

Patient Info: Jason Randall, Male | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver; lungs; bone/sacrum

As of June 2023, Jason had a negative Signatera test, CT scans showing 9 months with no evidence of disease, and about 2.5 years off chemotherapy after Stage IV colorectal cancer treatment and lung ablation.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Amy's Survivor Story

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

Biomarkers: Lynch syndrome

As of April 2023, Amy had no evidence of disease after Stage IIIB Lynch syndrome-associated colorectal cancer treatment, with clear scans/tumor-residue testing and ongoing Lynch syndrome surveillance.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Carmen's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Carmen, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Liver

As of March 2023, Carmen was in remission after Stage IV rectal cancer with liver metastasis was treated with radiation, chemotherapy, rectum/liver surgery, temporary ileostomy, and ileostomy reversal, with recent CT scans showing no evidence of disease.

Cleveland ClinicRead more →

Recurrent gastric cancer with peritoneal spread and a difficult intestinal fistula

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: peritoneum

About 10 years after her original gastrectomy, recurrent gastric cancer with peritoneal spread progressed despite palliative procedures. She died 3 months after her final reoperation.

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Colon Cancer Returned in a Mesenteric Lymph Node 2 Years After Surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male

The recurrent disease was removed with negative margins in a curative-intent operation. At 8 months, his weight was stable and his energy was improving.

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Colorectal Cancer: Xue's Patient Story

Patient Info: Xue Ming, Male, Under 40

As of the January 2022 story, Xue Ming had undergone chemoradiation, chemotherapy, and successful sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery, with a temporary ileostomy and good 3-month recovery while follow-up care continued.

Stage III Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Elizabeth's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Elizabeth, Female | Stage III

After treatment for a local recurrence, Elizabeth was declared cancer-free in February 2025 and continues to cope with fear of recurrence and life with a permanent ostomy.

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Colorectal Cancer: Barbara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Barbara, Female, 40s

As of October 2021, Barbara described life after completed colon-cancer treatment, including survivorship, parenting, and a stronger perspective; recurrence was not described in this edited video.

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Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Amanda's Patient Story

Patient Info: Amanda, Under 40 | Stage IV

She remains on ongoing treatment for Stage IV disease and describes the cancer as pretty stable while maintaining a good quality of life.

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Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Maria's Patient Story

Patient Info: Maria | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: lungs

After colorectal cancer spread to the lungs, completed 6 months of chemotherapy and is being monitored with CT scans every 3 months.

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Stage III Colorectal Cancer: Allison's Survivor Story

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

As of August 2020, Allison reported no evidence of disease on follow-up scans while continuing survivorship care after rectal-cancer treatment.

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Emergency Surgery for a Malignant Brenner Tumor Causing Bowel Obstruction

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: CA-125 184.2 U/mL

A 62-year-old woman with a rare malignant Brenner tumor required emergency surgery after the ovarian mass caused bowel obstruction and a sealed perforation.

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Stage III rectal adenocarcinoma with concurrent intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 60s

Biomarkers: Rectal cancer CEA was not elevated. Prostate cancer PSA was high before treatment and low after radiation.

The rectal tumor achieved pathologic complete response with no residual tumor and 0 of 13 lymph nodes involved. Surveillance CT at 10 months showed no local recurrence or distant metastasis, and PSA remained low 1 year after operation.

PubMed CentralRead more →