A routine colonoscopy turned into a shocking and difficult ordeal for John, 68, when he was diagnosed with locally advanced colorectal cancer. This occurs when a tumor in the rectum or colon spreads to nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
Following a hospital stay for infective endocarditis and sepsis—two potentially fatal illnesses that are not uncommon in patients with advanced colorectal cance—John’s colorectal surgeon referred him to Maqsood Amjad, MD, at Astera Cancer Care for further treatment.
Treatment for locally advanced colorectal cancer varies depending on the exact location of the tumor, but typically involves chemotherapy, radiation, chemoradiation, or surgery.
Under the care of Dr. Amjad, John began chemotherapy at Astera Cancer Care in July 2022. Though cancer treatment can be an extremely challenging time, John found endless inspiration in his granddaughter and was supported by his wife, who was by his side at every appointment.
Overall, John’s treatment journey was positive. The cancer was gone, he was fortunate to experience minimal chemotherapy side effects, his care team treated him like family, and nurse practitioner Lauren Kiley went above and beyond to support his care and keep him comfortable. After completing his chemotherapy regimen, John was so satisfied with the experience that the ending felt a touch bittersweet.
But his treatment journey wasn’t quite over. Following chemotherapy, Dr. Amjad raised the idea of surgery, acknowledging that this could help ensure John’s cancer would not return. With his typical strong will and determination, John decided to go ahead with the surgery. And the results were as good as could be expected—he was able to overcome his cancer. With his cancer now a thing of the past, John is focused on staying healthy and cherishing time with his family, which includes watching lots of sports games.