Ananda | Colorectal Cancer | The Patient Story

[ananda]

So my name is Amanda Peters. I live in Rapid City, South Dakota. My husband Joe and I have eight kids, ages 3 to 20. I'm originally from Canada, and my background is in journalism. I love writing and reading—those are my two big hobbies. I love people and I also enjoy ice skating.

My son Reeve, number six, was born in 2014. After he was born, I experienced some rectal bleeding. It was really painful, so I went to the doctor. She examined me and said I had a fissure and recommended increasing fiber intake and drinking lots of water. I followed her advice, took magnesium, and it helped, and the issue cleared up.

Two years later, my son Abram was born in August 2016. I experienced more bleeding, so I increased magnesium, fiber, and water again, but it wasn’t clearing up. The bleeding was sporadic, and even taking two magnesium supplements didn’t resolve it. In January 2017, five months after Abram was born, my uncle was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and died about a month later. That made me realize I needed to address my health concerns seriously.

I got pregnant again and had a late miscarriage, which delayed my colonoscopy. I finally went in around July 2018. I told the doctor about my family history, and she asked about other symptoms. I said no, just occasional blood. She examined me, said I had hemorrhoids, and gave me treatment, suggesting I return if it didn’t clear up. We were moving interstate at the time, so it wasn’t a priority. However, the symptoms persisted and became more mucousy. At one point, I passed a hard mass about the size of a grape. I was pregnant again, and my doctor said we could schedule a colonoscopy after the baby was born.

My son was born in January 2020, the same day COVID-19 was announced as a global crisis. I had trouble nursing him, which made me feel guilty, but bottle feeding allowed me to schedule my colonoscopy in April 2020. The gastroenterologist again assumed it was hemorrhoids, but I insisted on the colonoscopy because a friend my age had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer the year before. During the procedure, the doctor discovered a large, hard mass in my rectum and suspected cancer. A biopsy was sent to pathology, and I waited anxiously for results.

I called the Mayo Clinic, and they were able to see me the next morning. I drove with my 15-year-old daughter, who had a learner’s permit, and my three-month-old baby to Minnesota, arriving early in the morning. The clinic was very efficient—they performed a CT scan, MRI, and other necessary imaging, and by the end of the day, we had confirmation that it was cancer. I met with a surgeon who scheduled my surgery for a month later. He explained that colorectal cancer progresses slowly, and I likely had it for six to eight years, possibly since the time of my first fissure.

I underwent surgery on June 1, 2020. The tumor was removed with clear margins, but post-surgery pathology revealed it had penetrated the rectal wall into surrounding tissue, making it stage 3B. I began adjuvant chemotherapy in July 2020. The chemo was physically and mentally challenging. I experienced anxiety, fear for my children, and struggled with the idea of injecting poison into my body, even though the cancer was removed. I initially considered quitting but continued after discussions with my oncologist. Oral chemo made me very sick, but switching to the FOLFOX infusion method was much better.

The experience was extremely difficult, balancing survival, caring for my children, and managing mental health. I used Ativan for anxiety occasionally and relied heavily on faith, family, and friends for support. I completed chemotherapy, rang the bell in November 2020, and have had no recurrence. Follow-up CT scans were every six months and now are once a year. After five years, my recurrence risk will be the same as the general population.

I learned the importance of trusting your instincts about your body, being your own advocate, and leaning on support systems. Genetic testing showed no markers, though my uncle’s history and my father’s polyps suggested a potential predisposition. Anxiety and fear are natural and part of the process, and it’s essential to acknowledge them without guilt. Faith, family, and a supportive medical team made navigating this journey possible. Even in difficult diagnoses, there is hope, strength, and the potential for positive outcomes.

[Deep]

Amanda, your perseverance and courage through every delay, doubt, and diagnosis are deeply inspiring. Balancing motherhood, faith, and treatment while advocating for yourself took incredible strength. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding others to trust their instincts and seek answers. Wishing you continued health, peace, and many joyful years ahead with your beautiful family.