Daad Abighanem
Patient/Survivor |
Rectal - Stage IV |
Age at Diagnosis: 48
I owe my life to research that lowered the screening age for colorectal cancer and allowed me to get my first routine colonoscopy one month after my 48th birthday. What followed was a stage IV rectal cancer diagnosis, a whirlwind of countless tests and scans, hospital visits, second and third opinions, and late-night deep dives into the scientific literature. My background in immunology and biotechnology helped me navigate my diagnosis and treatment options and equipped me with the knowledge I needed to advocate for myself and pose pertinent questions to my medical team. Cancer further expanded my vocabulary with words I thought I knew and others I didn’t: Recurrence, survivorship, NED, MRD, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, FOLFOX, neuropathy, ablation, metastasis, clinical trials, anticipatory grief, hair loss, and chemo brain. Cancer also introduced me to the world of advocacy and to a tribe of extraordinary people from all walks of life, connected by golden threads of grief, loss, joy, anger, hope, and resilience. We leverage our collective experience to create a community that offers hope, comfort, and trauma-informed support. We bring our individual candles to the same altar and loudly proclaim: WE NEED MORE. More screening. Increased funding for research into innovative testing, treatment, and surveillance. Increased access to comprehensive resources. Greater equity and inclusion. Enhanced patient involvement. Expanded mental health support for survivors and caregivers.
Daad Abighanem
Patient/Survivor |
Rectal - Stage IV |
Age at Diagnosis: 48
I owe my life to research that lowered the screening age for colorectal cancer and allowed me to get my first routine colonoscopy one month after my 48th birthday. What followed was a stage IV rectal cancer diagnosis, a whirlwind of countless tests and scans, hospital visits, second and third opinions, and late-night deep dives into the scientific literature. My background in immunology and biotechnology helped me navigate my diagnosis and treatment options and equipped me with the knowledge I needed to advocate for myself and pose pertinent questions to my medical team. Cancer further expanded my vocabulary with words I thought I knew and others I didn’t: Recurrence, survivorship, NED, MRD, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, FOLFOX, neuropathy, ablation, metastasis, clinical trials, anticipatory grief, hair loss, and chemo brain. Cancer also introduced me to the world of advocacy and to a tribe of extraordinary people from all walks of life, connected by golden threads of grief, loss, joy, anger, hope, and resilience. We leverage our collective experience to create a community that offers hope, comfort, and trauma-informed support. We bring our individual candles to the same altar and loudly proclaim: WE NEED MORE. More screening. Increased funding for research into innovative testing, treatment, and surveillance. Increased access to comprehensive resources. Greater equity and inclusion. Enhanced patient involvement. Expanded mental health support for survivors and caregivers.
“Screening and self-advocacy saved my life. I aspire to raise awareness about advancements in early detection, surveillance, biomarker testing, and clinical trials, empower survivors to advocate for themselves and give them a permanent seat at the decision-making table.”
Daad Abighanem
Patient/Survivor |
Rectal - Stage IV |
Age at Diagnosis: 48
I owe my life to research that lowered the screening age for colorectal cancer and allowed me to get my first routine colonoscopy one month after my 48th birthday. What followed was a stage IV rectal cancer diagnosis, a whirlwind of countless tests and scans, hospital visits, second and third opinions, and late-night deep dives into the scientific literature. My background in immunology and biotechnology helped me navigate my diagnosis and treatment options and equipped me with the knowledge I needed to advocate for myself and pose pertinent questions to my medical team. Cancer further expanded my vocabulary with words I thought I knew and others I didn’t: Recurrence, survivorship, NED, MRD, KRAS, BRAF, HER2, FOLFOX, neuropathy, ablation, metastasis, clinical trials, anticipatory grief, hair loss, and chemo brain. Cancer also introduced me to the world of advocacy and to a tribe of extraordinary people from all walks of life, connected by golden threads of grief, loss, joy, anger, hope, and resilience. We leverage our collective experience to create a community that offers hope, comfort, and trauma-informed support. We bring our individual candles to the same altar and loudly proclaim: WE NEED MORE. More screening. Increased funding for research into innovative testing, treatment, and surveillance. Increased access to comprehensive resources. Greater equity and inclusion. Enhanced patient involvement. Expanded mental health support for survivors and caregivers.
“Screening and self-advocacy saved my life. I aspire to raise awareness about advancements in early detection, surveillance, biomarker testing, and clinical trials, empower survivors to advocate for themselves and give them a permanent seat at the decision-making table.”
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