Hi my name is Kasia and I am a stage IV Colon Cancer Survivor. I was diagnosed when I was 40 years old. My kiddos were only 2 and 8 at the time and I was not sure if  I would live to see them grow up.  As a young mother, with no family history, I did not think that the "old man's disease" could happen to me. I did not know it could happen to anyone my age. Everyone used to say, "you are so young, too young for colon cancer". Now I know that this cancer does not discriminate; it affects everyone, regardless of age.  There are way too many young people diagnosed with colorectal cancer and we do not know why.

I was first misdiagnosed by the GI doctors as having gall bladder issues. Afterall, I fit the 3 Fs for gallbladder stones. I was a female, forty years old and fertile (had two kids LOL). Unfortunately, after thinking I was going to the hospital for a gallbladder removal, I was told that I will not have the surgery because my gallbladder was perfectly fine. The pain that I had in my lower right abdomen was colon cancer that had metastasized to my liver and one of the several tumors, was the size of a toilet paper roll (No wonder, it was hurting!!!).   Thankfully, after a rough treatment, all the tumors were shrunk and the surgeons were able to get to remove parts of my colon and all the tumors from my liver out  (removing almost half of my liver). I then completed 6 more rounds of strong chemo and was cancer free for the next year or so. I then had a reoccurrence with a few more tumors, this time, on the other side of my liver. The surgeon, Dr. Conrad Simpferdorfer at Cleveland Clinic Florida, went in again, opened me like a book, and took another part of my  liver to remove the cancer. It has been four years now since my last surgery and I am extremely grateful that I am still here watching my kiddos grow and enjoy life. 

My whole family is climbing this year to try to make a difference. To raise funds for more research and resources; more funding for a cure. Please consider donating to this cause. No amount is too small or too big. 

Hi my name is Kasia and I am a stage IV Colon Cancer Survivor. I was diagnosed when I was 40 years old. My kiddos were only 2 and 6 at the time and I was not sure if  I would live to see them grow up.  As a young mother, with no family history, I did not think that the "old man's disease" could happen to me. I did not know it could happen to anyone my age. Everyone used to say, "you are so young, too young for colon cancer". Now I know that this cancer does not discriminate; it affects everyone, regardless of age.  

I was first misdiagnosed by the GI doctors as having gall bladder issues. Afterall, I fit the 3 Fs for gallbladder stones. I was a female, forty years old and fertile (had two kids LOL). Unfortunately, after thinking I was going to the hospital for a gallbladder removal, I was told that I will not have the surgery because my gallbladder was perfectly fine. The pain that I had in my lower abdomen was colon cancer that had metastasized to my liver and one of the several tumors, was the size of a toilet paper roll (No wonder, it was hurting!!!).   Thankfully, after a rough treatment, all the tumors were shrunk and the surgeons were able to get to remove parts of my colon and all the tumors from my liver out  (removing almost half of my liver). I then completed 6 more rounds of strong chemo and was cancer free for the next year or so. I then had a reoccurrence with a few more tumors, this time, on the other side of my liver. The surgeon, Dr. Conrad Simpferdorfer at Cleveland Clinic Florida, went in again, opened me like a book, and took another part of my  liver to remove the cancer. It has been four years now since my last surgery and I am extremely grateful that I am still here watching my kiddos grow and enjoying life. 

My whole family is climbing this year to try to make a difference. To raise funds for more research and resources; more funding for a cure. Please consider donating to this cause. No amount is too small or too big.