From Mild Cramps to Stage 3: Discovery During Routine Screening

A 45-year-old woman with few symptoms undergoes a colonoscopy after screening age was lowered, discovers a tumor, and is later staged at 3B with lymph node involvement. She undergoes sigmoid resection followed by 12 rounds of chemotherapy, facing delays due to COVID and severe side effects like neuropathy and hair loss, but is now cancer-free with ongoing six-month surveillance. The experience also reshaped her family life (she is now separated) and spurred advocacy and continued therapy.