Mom of Two Faces Stage 4 Colon Cancer After Years of Dismissed Symptoms

Heather Candrilli, 36, had experienced bloating and stomach pain for years. As a busy mom, she blamed it on her diet and having two children. But everything changed in May 2024 when doctors discovered she had stage 4 colon cancer. “As soon as they ordered the colonoscopy, they saw the tumor right there on her colon,” said her husband, Cory.

Despite the odds—just a 13% survival rate—Heather immediately began aggressive treatment. She’s endured 20 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries. “She’s amazing,” Cory, a disabled Army combat veteran, shared. “I understand pain, but I don’t understand what she’s going through.”

The couple never expected such a diagnosis. Heather had been tested for Crohn’s and celiac disease, but no doctor suggested a colonoscopy until an ultrasound revealed something on her liver. Only then was the tumor discovered—after it had already spread.