Colorectal Cancer Alliance

"When I was diagnosed with colon cancer in November 2021, I experienced every emotion—rage, frustration, fear, and tears.

But seeing the impact it had on my family shifted something in me. I decided I wanted to face this part of my path differently—with humor.

As a writer and storyteller, I began sharing parodies, poems, and lighthearted videos on social media. It became my way of coping and staying connected to myself and others.

There were incredibly difficult moments along the way, including multiple surgeries, complications, and time in the ICU. Through it all, my family and friends remained my foundation—offering strength, love, and constant support.

A year later, I was declared without evidence of disease.

Looking back, I’ve learned how important it is to stay present, to find moments of connection, and to hold onto what brings you joy—even in the hardest times. For me, that meant creating memories with the people I love and finding reasons to smile along the way." - Ramendra Kumar

If you need an ear to listen, give us a call the Alliance's free helpline at 877-422-2030. We're here for you every step of the way.

Join PeerView and the Colore**al Cancer Alliance at for an in-person and virtual symposium on advancing colore**al cancer care.

Experts Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD, FACP, Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO, and Marwan Fakih, MD will share practical guidance on the rapidly evolving role of immunotherapy, molecular profiling, and precision-based treatment strategies in colore**al cancer.

Attendees will gain insights on optimizing diagnostic testing, integrating updated metastatic CRC treatment algorithms, and applying new targeted therapy data in real-world practice.

🗓️ May 29, 7:00 PM CDT | Hyatt Regency Chicago + Virtual
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/2026CRC-F

www.peerview.com

"My husband, Michael, was diagnosed with Stage IIIc colon cancer in January 2022 at age 36. He'd been having difficulty with bowel movements for a few weeks, which he attributed to eating too many sunflower seeds and assuming there was a blockage of sorts. He thankfully sought care and testing, and at each step along the way, we were assured he was too young for colon cancer — until a colonoscopy found a mass. He promptly had surgery and began chemo (CAPOX). He had a rare reaction to Oxaliplatin after his first infusion, but he continued with a higher dosage of Capecitabine through 8 rounds of treatment. His Signatera number remained negative from after surgery, through chemo, and for roughly 15 months after finishing treatment. During that time, Michael was accepted into and began a Data Science master's program, his goal being to find ways to use data to help cancer patients like himself. Given the aggressiveness of his tumor, we took this stint with so much gratitude and hope that he would be a survivor.

When his Signatera number turned positive in November 2023 and a CT scan showed a recurrence in lymph nodes around the original surgery site, he restarted chemo and had another surgery, which found spread to his peritoneum. In August 2024, he went through HIPEC surgery, but only a few months later we found that his cancer had spread to his liver and bone marrow. He died in February 2025 at age 39, surrounded by a whole lot of love but very much too soon.

I know everyone thinks this about their people, but Michael truly was the best dad, husband, brother, son, and friend. He had a beautiful gift of making people feel welcome and at ease, and one of our biggest comforts is that he lived life so fully for the years that he got to be here. He is so greatly missed, and I'm sharing his story in hopes that it encourages someone to check out anything that feels off. It's so easy to focus on kids/work/etc. and push off our own needs, but the risk is too great. If you feel something, say something." - Jodi M.

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