When it rains, it certainly does pour
I was 46F 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 yet. 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.
My official diagnosis is "Metastatic Adenocarcinoma, Compatible with Colorectal Primary", which in simple terms is Stage 4 colon cancer with metastatic disease. By the time it 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 were CEA 4496 and CA 19-9 10k+. 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. I started chemo infusion of Folfox & Folfiri in mid September. 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 scans. When they did my lung biopsies, they obtain the sample needed through my back as your lungs are closer to your back than your chest, and they can't give you strong pain meds at first because they need to be able to speak with you (you are awake when this happens!). They numb the area, plunge in for a sample, and THEN give you strong pain meds. It hurt like hell.
Up until early 2025, I ended up having multiple PICC lines installed (my port was removed due to issues with the incision made after insertion) due to the tube being accidentally pulled out too far and suddenly getting blood clots in my arm and neck areas (blood thinner injections are not fun) and was given port #2.
By April 2025, I had completed a total of 40 infusions, and my markers were almost at normal levels when my cancer 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 has since decided to try oral chemo medications that were shown to work against colon cancer to hopefully find something effective. In the past year we have tried 3 different ones (one round of Fruzaqla, 4 rounds of Lonsurf, and 2 rounds of Stivarga) all with no success.
I have also 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 -- which is why I used the title that I did -- is that my oncologist has found in my last PET scan from February 2026 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.
I completed Folfox infusion #41 2 weeks ago, and am set to start #42 this coming Wednesday. 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.
When I was diagnosed, I told myself 2 things:
I can either lay down and die, or I can fight;
And
I'm 46, I'm about to be 47, I will see 50.
I chose to fight, and have been fighting for nearly 3 years. I surprisingly 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, and I'll be 50 in 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. 💙🩵
Edit: added additional information