I am a stage 4 rectal cancer survivor.
In July 2020, at the age of 40, I was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer. Shortly after diagnosis, I received the devastating news that the disease had spread to my liver, lungs and throughout my lymph nodes. Several months after my initial diagnosis, I found COLONTOWN through a friend. I was immediately accepted into an amazing, supportive and educational community, which taught me so much about my disease and how to advocate for myself as a patient. The information that I gained from COLONTOWN led my family to an international move, a change in oncologist and a new chemotherapy regime, which got me to surgery to remove my primary tumor and liver mets. I am still in active treatment, working towards NED, and thanks to COLONTOWN, have a medical team who is just as dedicated to getting me there as I am.
Before my diagnosis, I worked for 15 years as an elementary school teacher in the US, Spain, Egypt, China and the UK. I hold a BA in Psychology and Spanish Literature from Smith College and a Master’s in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College. I am an Arizona native and currently live in Tucson with my husband and two children. We love the outdoors and spend our weekends traveling, swimming, hiking and cycling. Through COLONTOWN, I have found so much hope and support and gained the tools to advocate for myself and search out the best treatment options. I am so excited to join the team and help bring the same sense of hope and empowerment to others who are in a similar position.