I was seeking treatment to address a large fibroid, and CT imaging confirmed I had a polyp in my colon. I went to schedule a colonoscopy as a follow-up and after the procedure my doctor let me know it was a tumor and could not be removed during the screening test. The next day I went for surgery to have laparoscopic surgery to remove part of my colon. All I could remember is that Memorial Day was right around the corner, and I was preparing for my daughter’s high school graduation and party. My diagnosis was a complete shock no signs, symptoms, or family history it was found incidentally! The worst news of it all was after the surgery a few days later they determined it was stage III colon cancer. About 20 lymph nodes were removed along with the mass and 3 of the lymph nodes were cancerous. The next part of the journey was getting a procedure to address the fibroid before beginning chemotherapy in July (FolFOX 3 months treatment 6 rounds). I have always been an advocate for cribado del cáncer colorrectal, but it was a different world once diagnosed and deemed living with cancer!

Me uní a la comunidad CRC debido a mi empleo actual en el Colegio Americano de Radiología trabajando en la política del cáncer y las actividades de promoción. Tengo 38 años y me diagnosticaron cáncer de colon en estadio III en mayo de 2024 y estoy en tratamiento de quimioterapia hasta octubre de 2024. Me sentí desolada, esto fue inesperado y ocurrió durante una época en la que mi hijo mayor se graduaba en el instituto y planeaba ir a la universidad. Espero convertirme en una superviviente del cáncer y compartir mi historia con las comunidades minoritarias desfavorecidas.