**Last updated June 2026**

I was 46 when I was diagnosed in August 2023, although I'm very certain that I had cancer at least a year prior and just didn't know it. I had no symptoms other than being tired, and at the time I had changed jobs and work hours so I figured it was just me getting used to a new routine. Sadly my diagnosis has made me unable to work, and has caused my credit cards and other financial responsibilities to go into debt.

My official diagnosis is "Metastatic Adenocarcinoma, Compatible with Colorectal Primary", which in simple terms is Stage 4 colon cancer with metastatic disease. How I discovered that I had cancer began in January 2023 when I caught Covid. When it ran its course in February it left me with a horrible ear ache, and by March the ear ache morphed into a horrible case of vertigo. I went to the ER for treatment, and mentioned that I was also experiencing some discomfort in the right side of my abdomen. The doctor had me get a CT scan, and it showed what he called a cyst on my liver, and nonchalantly stated that I should follow up with my primary doctor. His blasé attitude combined with the fact that I've had cysts on organs before and it be nothing serious led me to not follow up like I should have. By August 2023 I started feeling pressure in my chest, and finally got checked out.

When I was diagnosed, I had a 3cm tumor in my large intestines, tumors covering half of my liver, small nodules throughout my lungs, and is therefore in my blood. At that time, my cancer markers -- known as CEA and CA 19-9 -- were 4496 and 10k+, with normal/cancer free levels being 5 and 35. I was quickly given a PICC line in my left arm to start chemo while I waited for an appointment to get a port installed in my chest a week later. I started chemo infusion of Folfox and Folfiri in mid September 2023. My cancer was classified as KRAS G12-C. I have since had one colonoscopy, one liver biopsy, two lung biopsies, 2 liquid biopsies, and numerous CT and PET (full body) scans. I currently have a port that was surgically inserted in the right side of my chest which a special IV is connected to in order to receive the chemo medication.

By April 2025, I had completed a total of 40 chemo infusions, and my cancer markers were almost at normal levels when it suddenly mutated to KRAS G12-A. The problem with this particular cancer level is that there is currently no drug or medication that is FDA approved to effectively treat it. My oncologist then decided to try oral chemo medications that were shown to work against colon cancer to hopefully find something effective. In the past year since infusion stopped being effective, I have tried 3 different ones (one round of Fruzaqla, 4 rounds of Lonsurf, and 2 rounds of Stivarga) all with no success.

In April 2026 I received a second opinion from another hospital, and my oncologist knows and is familiar with the doctor there assigned to my case, and is happy that I am looking at all options. This new doctor has advised to try Folfox again while we look for clinical trials that may also help.

My new worry is that while studying my PET scan from February 2026, my oncologist has found that I now have a lesion on my sternum, indicating that cancer has spread there. Due to the severity and wide spread locations of my cancer and that it's in my blood, I'm not a candidate for surgery or radiation, localized or otherwise.

On May 13 2026, my oncologist started me on Folfox again, with this treatment being #41. Knowing that my cancer has now spread to my sternum is scary, as I don't know how cancer in my organs will differ from being in my bones, and if there are different treatment methods for each.

When I was diagnosed, I told myself 2 things:

I can either give up, or I can fight;

And

I'm 46 and about to be 47, I will see 50.

I chose to fight, and have been fighting for nearly 3 years. Despite having Stage 4 cancer I don't look ill or have that proverbial "sick look" one associates with cancer patients from what they've seen on tv and in movies. Most people that I meet are shocked when they see me and hear that I have cancer, much less Stage 4. I'm doing pretty good to the point that I'll be 50 this November. Honestly I'm not doing too bad for a Stage 4 cancer patient going on 3 years.

I don't know how much time I have left, but I'm fighting till the very end. Thank you so much for reading.

#AlwaysKeepFighting

#fuckcancer

#nevergiveupneversurrender

#LivingMyStoryNotMyDiagnosis