Anderson Thriving Amid Cancer Battle
- Criscilla Anderson, 42, is again battling colon cancer but she’s not letting that slow her down. The stage 4 colon cancer fighter recently shared a video showing her dancing with friends and leading the high-octane choreography with vigor.
- Anderson was first diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2018, and underwent years of chemotherapy. In 2021, scans showed she was disease-free, and in 2022, her cancer returned.
- Anderson used chemotherapy to treat her cancer. For stage 4 colon cancer, treatment options can include surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments.
Anderson is married to Coffey Anderson, 44, and the pair share three children together. They live in Texas.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
Anderson’s Colon Cancer Battle
Anderson was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2018. She underwent years of treatment, including chemotherapy, which led to the shrinking of her tumors.
Stage four colon cancer indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the colon, and spread to other parts of the body. In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Daniel Labow, Chief of Surgical Oncology at Mount Sinai Health System, explains how each case is handled individually. He says, “Well, I think it’s critical that for stage 4 cancers in general, but certainly for colon cancer, not all stage 4 patients are the same. I think, sometimes, people get labeled stage 4, and they feel there’s no hope.”
Dr. Labow elaborates, saying, “And I think it’s very important to establish if you have all the data. First, get all the data, what the disease state is, how extensive it is. A stage 4 can be one tiny spot on the liver, or can be 100 spots throughout the abdomen.”
“Obviously, those patients are going to be treated differently,” he says. Dr. Labow says that for many patients who visit him, they want to go straight to the operating room; “because they just feel like getting it out is a critical thing,” he says.
However, the doctor explains that “effective chemotherapy and effective surgery are both important for the best possible outcome. And part of the job is to figure out which one to do first.” Dr. Labow emphasizes there are “very diverse options” when it comes to the treatment of state 4 colon cancer.
In fall 2021, Anderson shared that her scans came back showing no evidence of disease. But in early 2022, her stage 4 colon cancer returned.
Stage Four Colon Cancer: "Not All Patients are the Same"
Colon Cancer Treatment Options
Anderson used chemotherapy to treat her cancer. For stage 4 colon cancer, treatment options can include surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments.
In an earlier interview, NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center's Dr. Paul Oberstein explained the goals of treatment for stage 4 colon cancer. He said that reducing the amount of cancer in the body and controlling it is the primary aim of treatment at this stage.
"When someone comes in with cancer that has spread outside the colon, it's called stage 4 colon cancer or metastatic colon cancer," Dr. Oberstein said. "The primary goal of therapy, and we discuss this in great detail with patients and their families, is to manage the cancer, is to try to control the cancer, to turn it into what we call a chronic disease, so to prevent it from growing, spreading, and causing problems."
In a February 2022 interview with PEOPLE magazine, Anderson explained that she intended to “mix Western medicine with an alternative approach,” when treating her cancer. Anderson said she’s found “great success” with her dual approach. She continues taking supplements and natural treatments, while also following a strict diet.
When treating cancer, it’s best to defer to your doctor and medical team in regards to treatment approach. Some “alternative” treatments are not effective and using them in lieu of a traditional treatment approach could negatively impact prognosis. Speak with your doctor about what is right for you.
Treating Stage Four Colon Cancer
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.