What happens when your doctor dismisses your symptoms, only for you to discover you have advanced cancer? In this powerful episode of Before Our Visit Ends, our guest Lee shares their deeply personal stage four colon cancer diagnosis story, a journey that began with vague symptoms in their 40s being brushed off as "general constipation" and led to a life-altering moment of waking up from a colonoscopy to the words, "You have cancer." This is a story about navigating shock, fear, and a medical system that doesn't always listen, ultimately finding the strength to become your own best advocate.

Lee walks us through the entire whirlwind experience, from the initial misdiagnosis and the critical decision to get a second opinion, to the colonoscopy diagnosis shock and being thrust onto a "roller coaster" of rapid scans, tests, and major surgery just weeks after diagnosis. This episode provides an invaluable look at the realities of a modern cancer battle. Lee details the crucial cancer support systems that made all the difference, from a life-saving nurse navigator who provided a list of questions to ask oncologists, to invaluable peer groups like COLONTOWN. We dive deep into the specific challenges of treatment, including a comprehensive breakdown of the FOLFOX chemotherapy side effects like chemo-induced neuropathy and debilitating nausea. Most importantly, Lee shares a vital message on the power of colon cancer patient advocacy, recounting how they went from feeling like they would rather die than face another chemo round to completely transforming their quality of life by pushing past dismissive doctors to find a palliative care specialist who truly listened. This is a must-watch for anyone facing a health crisis, their loved ones, and medical professionals alike, offering a raw and honest look into a stage four colon cancer diagnosis story filled with resilience, hope, and actionable advice.

About Our Guest:

Lee is a 45-year-old Director of Operations who was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer. Throughout their treatment, they discovered the critical importance of self-advocacy and the power of community.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:07) "It's Just Constipation": When a Doctor Ignores Colon Cancer Symptoms

(04:21) The Shock of a Stage Four Colon Cancer Colonoscopy Diagnosis

(07:38) The Post-Diagnosis Roller Coaster: From Scans to Surgery in 3 Weeks

(10:44) Why I Stopped Googling My Cancer Diagnosis

(12:01) The Nurse Navigator and the Questions That Changed Everything

(15:15) Building Your Support System: COLONTOWN, Support Groups & More

(17:39) How to Actually Support a Loved One With Cancer

(20:58) A Detailed Look at the FOLFOX Chemotherapy Regimen & Side Effects

(29:31) Be Your Own Best Advocate: The Most Important Lesson from Cancer

Episode Resources:

• Explore the COLONTOWN community for colorectal cancer patients
• Create a support network with the Lotsa Helping Hands app

In this episode of Before Our Visit Ends, we sit down with yoga teacher and mom Emily, who shares her incredible story of facing a Hodgkin's lymphoma recurrence seven years after being declared in remission. Emily’s journey sheds light on the unique challenges of a young adult cancer diagnosis, the difficult decisions that come with aggressive treatment, and the profound power of self-advocacy. How do you find the strength to fight cancer a second time, and how does it reshape your entire outlook on life, family, and what it means to be healthy?

Emily's story is a powerful testament to resilience. Initially diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at just 18 years old, she went through treatment and embraced life, believing cancer was in her past. Seven years later, living in Hawaii and newly engaged, subtle but persistent symptoms led her to suspect something was wrong. This episode details the critical moments of advocating for yourself as a cancer patient, as Emily had to push for the scans that would ultimately confirm a "bulky disease" Hodgkin's lymphoma recurrence. We explore the emotional and physical toll of a more aggressive treatment plan, including 12 rounds of ABVD chemotherapy and radiation, and discuss the long-term side effects of cancer treatment that she still monitors today. A central theme of our conversation is the crucial decision-making around fertility after chemotherapy, a concern that is top-of-mind for many young patients. Through it all, Emily provides an honest look at life after cancer, sharing how her experiences have influenced her approach to health, motherhood, and her career as a movement specialist.

About Our Guest:
Emily Peretti is a yoga teacher, movement specialist, and mother of two. Her personal health journey deeply informs her work, where she specializes in prenatal, postnatal, and aerial yoga. After facing a young adult cancer diagnosis and a later recurrence, Emily has become a passionate advocate for knowing your body and living a conscious, low-toxin lifestyle. She shares her knowledge and life experiences to help others move their bodies correctly and find happiness and health in every stage of life.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Emily's Story
(01:39) Meet Emily: Yoga Teacher, Movement Specialist, and Mom
(06:32) An Unexpected Young Adult Cancer Diagnosis at Age 18
(11:06) A Surprising Hodgkin's Lymphoma Recurrence Seven Years Later
(13:31) Recognizing Relapse Symptoms & Advocating for a Diagnosis
(16:12) Navigating Aggressive Treatment and Long-Term Side Effects
(17:41) The Caregiver’s Journey: Supporting a Loved One Through Cancer
(21:34) Making Critical Decisions: Fertility Preservation Before Chemotherapy
(22:58) Finding Support: Resources, Communities, and Cancer Camps
(27:12) Life After Cancer: A New Perspective on Health and Happiness
(30:03) Emily's Final Advice: “Know Your Body and Be Your Own Advocate”

Learn More From Our Guest / Episode Resources:

• Follow Emily on Instagram
• Our Badass Lymphomy Family (Facebook Support Group)
• Camp Mak-A-Dream (Free camp for young adult cancer survivors)
• First Descents (Free adventure travel for young adults with cancer)

At 37 years old, after exhausting multiple standard treatments for stage four lung cancer, Natalie was faced with a life-altering decision. This episode shares her incredible true story of undergoing a double lung transplant for lung cancer—a rare and radical procedure that offered a glimmer of hope. But what happens when the fight isn't over? Natalie joins us to discuss her entire journey, from a persistent cough that led to a shocking diagnosis to the unbelievable challenges and surprising turns she faced after her transplant.

In this powerful and honest conversation, Natalie details the full spectrum of stage four lung cancer treatment options she endured. Her journey began with a persistent cough and fatigue, initially dismissed as asthma, before a biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma. With no targetable mutations found during biomarker testing, she started on a grueling regimen of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. When those treatments eventually stopped working and several clinical trials failed, her medical team presented a final, high-stakes option: a double lung transplant for lung cancer. Natalie bravely relocated to Chicago for the procedure, navigating the immense physical, emotional, and financial challenges of the surgery and recovery process. In a devastating turn of events, she later experienced a cancer recurrence after transplant, with the disease appearing in her new lungs and spine.

Despite these immense setbacks, Natalie's spirit remains unbreakable. She has transformed her experience into a powerful mission of lung cancer patient advocacy, determined to educate the public that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. She speaks candidly about the importance of a support system, the pain of "cancer ghosting," and offers practical advice on how to support someone with cancer in meaningful ways—from sending a gift card to simply being present. This episode is a raw look at the realities of living with advanced cancer, the difficult decisions patients face, and the resilience required to find hope and purpose in the face of uncertainty.

About Our Guest:
Natalie is a courageous lung cancer warrior and passionate advocate. After being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer at 33, she underwent a life-changing double lung transplant. Now, she uses her powerful story to educate others about the risks of lung cancer, advocate for patient care, and share the realities of cancer recurrence and survivorship.

Timestamps / Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(05:59) The Unrelenting Cough: Path to a Stage Four Lung Cancer Diagnosis
(12:20) Navigating Early Treatments: Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Clinical Trials
(19:29) The Life-Changing Decision: Pursuing a Double Lung Transplant
(23:15) Building a Village: The Power of Support and "Cancer Ghosting"
(31:13) Inside the Operating Room: The Reality of Double Lung Transplant Surgery
(33:41) A Shocking Setback: Facing Cancer Recurrence After Transplant
(37:45) Life Today: Navigating Ongoing Chemo and Radiation
(42:43) From Patient to Advocate: Why Natalie Shares Her Lung Cancer Story
(50:59) Lessons in Strength and Self-Advocacy: Natalie’s Advice for the Cancer Journey

Episode Resources:

• Find support and information from LUNGevity Foundation
• Follow Before Our Visit Ends on Instagram
• Follow Before Our Visit Ends on YouTube