STEVE DELUCA

Stage III Colon Cancer
Age at Diagnosis: 33

Steve DeLuca is a perfect example of how random and unpredictable colorectal cancer can be.

Steve had almost no symptoms. His doctor noticed rectal bleeding during a routine exam and sent him directly to a gastroenterologist, who ordered a colonoscopy. Steve had two tumors in his colon and was sent for surgery before starting chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer. He ran out of sick days during treatment, but his co-workers at the firehouse picked up the slack.

Steve has been cancer-free for over a year. He believes that if his doctor hadn’t been paying attention, he probably would not be here today.