Life After a Metastatic Colon Cancer Diagnosis Still Includes Things That Bring Joy
- Liz Healy, 48, discovered she had stage 4 colon cancer after a ski accident led to scans that revealed not only a broken tailbone but also tumors in her liver and colon.
- She’s undergone multiple treatments—including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and clinical trials—but the cancer has since spread to her lungs, brain, and bones. Despite her diagnosis, she still remains active because to Healy, “Running is the best way I know to fight this disease.”
- Colon cancer is highly treatable and curable when detected early. Screening options include at-home tests like Cologuard, though medical experts recommend a colonoscopy for more effective detection.
- A colonoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to inspect the colon and rectum for polyps. Polyps are small, noncancerous growths that can be removed during the procedure to prevent cancer from developing.
- Colorectal screenings are generally advised starting at age 45, but individuals with higher risk factors, such as a family history of colon cancer, may need earlier testing. Consulting a doctor about screening options is recommended.
- Advancements in colon cancer treatment have become more precise, with targeted therapies that focus on specific genetic mutations fueling cancer growth.
In February 2022, Liz Healy, 48, suffered an unexpected collision on a ski trip, which changed everything. Rammed by another skier, Healy fell hard. What seemed like a painful accident turned out to be the beginning of a much deeper health crisis.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram“I was in incredible pain after falling backward on the ice. I knew something was badly wrong because the small of my back was in agony,” Healy told Business Insider.
When her legs went numb days later, Healy returned to her doctor for further testing. An MRI confirmed a broken tailbone—but also revealed tumors on her liver and colon. Additional scans confirmed the diagnosis: metastatic colon cancer.
At stage 4, the cancer has spread beyond the colon to other organs. Each case of stage 4 colon cancer presents a unique treatment path. According to Dr. Daniel Labow, Chief of the Surgical Oncology Division at Mount Sinai Health System, patients often feel an urgency to act quickly.
“Most patients, when they come in the door—as I am a surgeon as well as an oncologist—want to go right to the operating room, because they just feel getting it out is a critical thing,” Dr. Labow explains.
WATCH: Treating Metastatic Colon Cancer
But Dr. Labow emphasizes that strategy matters more than speed when treating this advanced disease.
“In actuality, effective chemotherapy and effective surgery are both important for the best possible outcome, and part of the job is to figure out which one we should do first. There are very diverse options,” Dr. Labow said.
“Things spiraled,” Healy said, describing the whirlwind that followed. She underwent surgery to remove parts of her colon and liver, launching a grueling treatment journey.
“I have been in and out of cancer treatments for the last three years. They’ve included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation sessions, and participation in clinical trials,” she explained.
While chemotherapy is an effective cancer treatment tactic, it comes with grueling side effects that can range from fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss, among other side effects.
WATCH: Chemotherapy While Treating Colon Cancer
“The overall view of treating metastatic colon cancer is that most of those patients cannot proceed to surgery, and so their cancer can never be removed entirely,” says Dr. Paul Oberstein, a medical oncologist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
In such cases, patients may live with their cancer while undergoing ongoing therapy or participating in clinical trials aimed at controlling the disease and preserving quality of life.
Despite her persistence, the cancer continued to spread.
“Nothing has been effective in the long term. Now, in the fall of 2025, I have cancer in many other places in my body, including my lungs, brain, and bones.”
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Throughout her advanced cancer journey, Healy has leaned on her husband and pre-teen daughter for strength. But she’s also found resilience in returning to the activities that once defined her.
“Running is the best way I know to fight this disease,” she said.
Now, she’s training for the New York City Marathon, where she’ll run alongside fellow cancer survivors—a testament to her determination and spirit. Reflecting on the ski accident that led to her diagnosis, Healy calls it a “blessing in disguise.”
“Had it not been for being knocked down,” she said, “I would have likely ignored any symptoms.”
Expert Resources on Colorectal Cancer
What Treatment Options Exist for Colon Cancer?
“There are a lot of advances being made in colorectal cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
Colon cancer treatment is more targeted, meaning doctors often test for specific changes or genetic mutations that cause cancer growth.
Biomarkers are key to tailoring specific treatments. Biomarkers are molecular patterns becoming more commonly used in colon cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and management. According to the National Cancer Institute, a biomarker is “a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or a condition or disease,” such as cancer.
“In colon cancer, we’re starting to look more and more at people’s biomarkers, so we’re starting to take the cancers, sequence them, understand where the different mutations are to figure out whether or not someone has a normal gene here or an abnormal gene,” Dr. Yeo explained.
“Those are the areas that people want to be able to target a little bit more. We’re getting close to more of what we would call precision medicine, meaning we can start looking at people’s genetic mutations and think about how they might respond to different drugs.”
There are different types of biomarkers, including DNA, proteins, and genetic mutations found in blood, tumor tissue, or other body fluids. The biomarkers most commonly used in colon cancer management are:
Genetic mutations within the tumor, such as MMR/MSI, KRAS, BRAF, and HER2
Bloodstream carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)CEA is a protein produced by most tumor cells (but not all) and can be picked up in the bloodstream. High CEA levels do not establish a colon cancer diagnosis. However, higher CEA levels correlate with a worse prognosis and potential metastasis. Carcinoembryonic antigen is important for post-treatment follow-up to ensure the cancer hasn’t returned. Be sure to check with your doctor before treatment starts to ensure a CEA blood sample has been obtained.
More on Treating Colon Cancer
Surgery and chemotherapy are common approaches to colorectal cancer.
Some examples of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved chemotherapy drug treatments include:
- FOLFOX: leucovorin, 5-FU, and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)
- FOLFIRI: leucovorin, 5-FU, and irinotecan (Camptosar)
- CAPEOX or CAPOX: capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxaliplatin
- FOLFOXIRI: leucovorin, 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan
- Trifluridine and tipiracil (Lonsurf)
WATCH: Understanding Your Options with Metastatic Colon Cancer
Among metastatic colon cancer patients, multiple treatment options exist, including surgical and non-surgical options.
One treatment option includes an oral treatment called Fruquintinib, which is a targeted therapy for adults who have metastatic colorectal cancer and have tried other treatments. Results from a trial published last year showed the drug improved overall survival and progression-free survival, which measures the amount of time before the cancer returns or spreads. It works by blocking the growth of blood vessels, which increases tumor growth.
Once you get to the metastatic setting, many patients “just run out of options,” Jennifer Elliott, head of solid tumors at Takeda, explained to SurvivorNet at the ASCO Annual Meeting. So it was critically important for Takeda to do this deal to in-license fruquintinib. We hope to give patients another option.”
Fruquintinib has been approved in China since 2018 and was originally developed by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company HUTCHMED. Takeda Oncology acquired the exclusive worldwide license for the drug outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau in January 2023.
Colon Cancer Is Treatable and Curable When Caught Early
Colon cancer is very treatable and curable if caught early. Colon cancer screenings can involve at-home tests such as Cologuard, but a colonoscopy is more effective, according to SurvivorNet experts.
The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.
When you have a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist looks for polyps inside your intestine. Although polyps can’t be felt, they can be picked up by screening tests before they cause a problem, such as colon or rectal (colorectal) cancer.
A polyp found during a colonoscopy can be removed, which can prevent the development of cancer. Almost all polyps that are removed are precancerous, meaning that they have not yet progressed to cancer.
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for colorectal screening from 50 to 45. However, experts recommend screening earlier for some people who may be at an increased risk of developing colon cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease.
WATCH: Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.
The most poignant signature of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits. Changes in the size or shape of bowel movements may cause constipation or diarrhea. A change in stool color, particularly black or tarry stools, can indicate bleeding from a tumor deep in the colon.
Other symptoms can be harder to pinpoint, such as abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Finally, some tumors bleed a small amount over a long period of time, resulting in anemia (low red blood cell count) that is picked up on blood work.
A Colonoscopy Explained
A colonoscopy is a procedure doctors use to screen for colon cancer by looking inside the colon.
This procedure requires your colon to be “cleaned out.” To clear out your colon, your doctor will prescribe a “bowel prep,” a liquid you drink the night before the procedure. The prep acts as a laxative that causes you to have multiple loose stools before your procedure.
Once your colon is cleared, the gastroenterologist performing the procedure can have a clear look to evaluate if any polyps or masses are present.
Depending on the size and number of polyps found, it is recommended that patients undergo a repeat colonoscopy within three to five years.
WATCH: What Doctors Look for During Colonoscopies
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously explained the colonoscopy procedure to SurvivorNet.
“When we see a polyp, we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope,” he explained.
“What does that mean? That means we basically put a wire through with a little bit of a flange at the end, and we pull the polyp out. Now, note there is no pain with that. Inside the colon, there are no pain fibers. So there’s no pain,” Dr. Murrell added.
The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on a colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.
- What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
- If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
- What support services are available to me? To my family?
- Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
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