My name's Jason Randall. I live in Eudora, Kansas, with my wife and three children. We live on a hobby farm here in Kansas. I was in the Navy for five years from 2003 to 2008, and I'm a cartographer by profession. Back in 2005, during my Navy service, I had some stomach issues, and after testing, they concluded I had GERD and put me on medications like Zantac and Omeprazole. That managed my symptoms for years.
In 2018, I was diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer. About two weeks before my diagnosis, I experienced severe abdominal pain and changes in my bowel movements. My primary care doctor initially thought it might be diverticulitis due to my family history, and I underwent a CT scan on July 16th, which revealed that about 80% of my liver was covered with metastatic lesions. A PET scan the next day confirmed widespread liver involvement, marking the start of my journey with advanced colorectal cancer.
Looking back, the disease likely began at least 10 to 15 years earlier, during my military service. Before the acute symptoms, the only other sign I had was occasional discharge from my belly button every few months, which was located near my primary tumor in the sigmoid colon. I was diagnosed on July 17th, 2018, two days after my son’s second birthday, while my wife was six months pregnant with our third child. Hearing the news that my cancer had spread to my liver was devastating, and I felt completely overwhelmed. I had a fully blocked sigmoid colon, which required an emergency stent to allow me to pass stool.
I began treatment quickly, starting chemotherapy within two weeks, which included FOLFIRINOX, a combination of Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin, and Fluorouracil. I also underwent two Y-90 radioembolization treatments in my liver. Throughout 2018 and 2019, I cycled through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, adjusting drugs as needed for side effects and disease progression, including FOLFOX, Vectibix, and additional liver-directed therapies.
During this time, my son was born at home, which gave me motivation to keep fighting. I experienced significant complications, including a fistula caused by chemotherapy, and began incorporating integrative medicine for side effect management and mind-body support. This helped me process the emotional and physical toll of treatment and strengthened my resilience.
In February 2020, I underwent a 12-hour surgery with curative intent, including a right hepatectomy, a lower anterior resection of 30 cm of colon and a quarter of my rectum, removal of my gallbladder, and five ablations on my left liver. By that point, I had lost 110 pounds. I paused chemotherapy afterward, but later that year, the cancer recurred in my tailbone. I resumed FOLFIRI with Vectibix and completed four more cycles, even testing positive for COVID two days after my last session.
In 2021, I underwent 28 full pelvic radiation sessions, which caused significant complications and required a temporary ileostomy, later reversed. In June 2021, I had an abdominal perineal resection, removing my anus, rectum, tailbone, and part of my sacrum, resulting in a permanent colostomy. This allowed me to regain normal bowel function and significantly improved my quality of life.
In 2022, a lung recurrence was detected early through ctDNA testing, and I underwent a successful ablation procedure with minimal downtime. As of now, I have no evidence of disease, have been off chemotherapy for two and a half years, and continue follow-up scans and ctDNA monitoring.
Throughout this journey, I have been deeply involved in the colorectal cancer support community, working with Colon Town and “Man Up to Cancer” to provide support and guidance, particularly for men who may isolate during a diagnosis. I emphasize the importance of support networks, mental health, and day-to-day perseverance, encouraging patients to find their people, access support groups, and navigate the emotional and physical challenges of cancer treatment. It has been a long and challenging journey, but I have hope, purpose, and a commitment to helping others facing similar battles.
How I Discovered I had Colorectal Cancer
Re: How I Discovered I had Colorectal Cancer
Jason Randall of Eudora, Kansas, has endured advanced colorectal cancer since 2018, undergoing extensive chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, and ablations. Now with no evidence of disease, he advocates through Colon Town and Man Up to Cancer, supporting others with resilience, community, and hope
