Title: North Carolina Woman Shares Powerful Story of Resilience and Advocacy in her Battle with Colorectal Cancer
Subtitle: Sherri Rollins’ Fight with Colorectal Cancer Inspires Others to Be Their Own Advocate
Salisbury, North Carolina – Sherri Rollins, a resilient stay-at-home mom from Salisbury, North Carolina, recently shared her harrowing journey of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer not once, but twice. Rollins, who prefers to be identified as “approaching 50,” opened up about her experiences, symptoms, and how her gut feeling saved her life, in an interview with TODAY.com.
Rollins emphasized her determination to share her story and inspire others to become their own advocates. “I’ve always been a private person, but I said if I get through this and I live, I want to tell people what happened and inspire them to be their own advocate,” she explained.
The first sign that something was wrong appeared in 2017 when Rollins started experiencing intense back pain. After visiting the emergency room, a scan revealed a liver lesion. However, a local gastroenterologist initially dismissed it as a minor concern and recommended a follow-up six months later. Trusting her intuition, Rollins sought a second opinion and insisted on an MRI, which ultimately revealed stage 4 colon cancer that had metastasized to her liver. She received her diagnosis in early 2018.
Having lost her father to colon cancer at an early age, Rollins had neglected to undergo a colonoscopy. Despite considering herself a healthy person who regularly attended check-ups, she hadn’t anticipated this diagnosis. Nevertheless, Rollins maintained a positive mindset, firmly believing that surgery and medication would cure her.
During her first round of treatment, Rollins completed a year’s worth of chemotherapy and underwent surgery. With four years of remission behind her, Rollins felt confident that she had defeated cancer. However, she began experiencing alarming symptoms—weight loss, incomplete bowel movements, and painful gas. Despite regular scans showing no signs of cancer, Rollins trusted her instincts and pushed for further investigation. Her oncologist initially dismissed her concerns, but eventually conceded that a lesion in her rectum had been missed during previous examinations.
Feeling both betrayed and determined, Rollins sought multiple medical opinions regarding her treatment options. One doctor proposed a complete colon removal, while another suggested a permanent colostomy bag. Rollins ultimately chose a gastrointestinal surgeon at UNC Health who offered a more hopeful solution. Her new treatment plan involved the removal of the tumor, followed by intraoperative radiotherapy to eradicate any remaining cancer cells. She also underwent another round of chemotherapy.
After three months, Rollins had her ileostomy reversed, marking the beginning of her recovery. While progress has been slower this time, Rollins maintains her optimistic outlook and is slowly regaining her strength. She urges others facing similar battles to address challenges one step at a time, focusing on individual problems rather than overwhelming themselves with the broader scope. “You just have to face the next step,” Rollins advises.
Grateful for the opportunity to fight against this disease, Rollins hopes that her story will encourage individuals to advocate for themselves and explore additional treatment options. She emphasizes that being an advocate does not equate to being a disgruntled patient. Additionally, Rollins draws strength from her two sons, who serve as her biggest cheerleaders.
As Rollins continues her journey, she remains appreciative of every day she has and the strength it brings. Despite the challenges posed by neuropathy and other side effects of aggressive chemotherapy, she remains determined to face anything that comes her way.
Rollins concludes with an empowering message that resonates with all those fighting against the odds: “Let’s say there’s a 5% chance that people make it out of this in a year. But somebody made it out because it’s not a 0% chance. Somebody beat all the odds. Why not you? Why not me?”
Rollins’ inspiring story serves as a reminder for all individuals to trust their instincts, advocate for their health, and face obstacles with unwavering hope and resilience.
Note: This article was condensed and edited for clarity. It was originally published on TODAY.com.