Cancer Forced a Slow-down and Forged New Priorities

In late 2013, Josh was in his early 30s and had recently moved from the Midwest to Boston for work. He was full of energy, exercising five or six days a week, eating healthy, and was dating a nice young woman. He didn’t expect to slow down any time soon—especially not for cancer.  

Josh first noticed something was wrong when he saw dark blood in his stool. In the beginning, he brushed it off, assuming it was nothing serious. When it kept happening, he mentioned it to his girlfriend. She urged him to go to the doctor. Thanks to a family friend who was a gastroenterologist (doctor who specializes in stomach and intestine disorders), Josh quickly found himself making an appointment. 

At the appointment, the doctor gave Josh three options: he could do nothing, get a sigmoidoscopy, or go straight for a colonoscopy. Josh opted for a colonoscopy. A sigmoidoscopy looks only at the rectum and lower part of the colon, while a colonoscopy looks at the entire colon. It seemed like the smart thing to do—just to be safe. 

Josh was on a business trip in New York when his doctor called him with the results. The procedure found polyps that had become cancerous. He drove home immediately to report to his doctor’s office to discuss the next steps. 

A Familiar Diagnosis  

Josh was familiar with this diagnosis. His dad had a colonoscopy when he was in his 50s which found colon cancer that, like most colorectal cancers, had started with polyps. “It was a non-event—at least from my perspective,” recalls Josh. “I was maybe 13 at that time, and he just had surgery—no chemo or anything, and we all moved on.” 

Josh had surgery to remove the polyps and part of his colon, and to determine if the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. Several days after surgery, Josh was informed that cancer was found in his lymph nodes, and he received a stage IIIA colon cancer diagnosis. At that time, the standard treatment for Josh’s cancer meant chemotherapy (chemo) and a longer treatment plan than he expected. 

“Chemo changes who you are as a person,” said Josh. “You go in for treatment, and it just wrecks you. And right when you start feeling a little better, it’s time to do it again.” 

For six months, every two weeks, he went in for chemo. The treatments healed his body, but were also stealing his energy, dulling his senses, and making food taste metallic. He lost weight and muscle he had spent years building. His fingertips and feet went numb, a side effect of the treatment known as peripheral neuropathy.  

Finding a New Way Forward 

Josh kept working through his treatment. His employer had been supportive, allowing him to contribute as much as he could without pushing himself beyond his limits, which he was grateful for. “I could have taken disability,” he said. “But, it was all or nothing—keep working and do what I could when I could or do nothing all day but think about my situation. I was fortunate that my employer was understanding and was flexible with what I could do during treatment.” 

Josh’s girlfriend, Amber, was a constant support for him during his treatment. Though they had only been together for a few months when he was diagnosed, she became his caregiver. Amber drove him to appointments, sat with him through treatments, and endured his worst days. “I appreciate everything she did for me,” said Josh. “She didn’t have to put her life on hold to take care of me, but she did.”

During Josh’s treatment, Amber began working for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. Her direct experience as a caregiver grew into a passion for work aimed at improving the lives of people affected by cancer. “I always joke that I was my wife’s resume builder,” Josh said. “She learned so much about cancer, about caregiving. Now she works for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, advocating for people who are going through what we did. It’s pretty amazing.” 

After his tenth of a total of 12 chemo sessions, Josh and Amber took a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. Standing atop Cadillac Mountain, he proposed marriage – and she said “yes.” In the midst of pain, they had found love.

When Josh finished his chemo treatments, he barely recognized himself in the mirror. The fit, energetic man he once was had been replaced by someone thinner, slower, and more tired. But he was alive. And when his first post-chemo scans came back clean, it felt like a miracle. 

For five years, he underwent yearly CT scans and had a follow-up colonoscopy every three years. Each test result was clear but brought cautious relief. His doctors did not say Josh was "cancer-free" until the five-year mark. When that day finally came, he exhaled a breath he had not realized he had been holding.

Advocating for Early Detection 

Since then, life has moved forward. Josh and Amber now have two children, both healthy and full of life. He still deals with lingering effects of chemo—neuropathy and fatigue—but he is here. He is present. And for him, that is enough.

Reflecting on his journey, Josh knew one thing for certain: he was lucky. 

Luck should not determine our health, though. Today, Josh is an advocate for knowing the symptoms of colon cancer and speaking up right away—especially if you have family history.

“You have to take the time to stop and know the symptoms,” Josh said. “People don’t want to slow down. They don’t want to go to the doctor. But if you don’t, you might not have the time later.”

Now, he has made it his mission to tell people—especially young people—that cancer doesn’t always come with pain, and that symptoms may not always be obvious. “A colonoscopy might be unpleasant, but it is nothing compared to chemo,” Josh said.

Inspired by Amber’s work, Josh also became involved with the American Cancer Society. He shares his story whenever he can, speaking at events and volunteering to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection. He also participated in efforts to make biomarker testing more accessible and covered by insurance. 

“I actually did a story with CNN about the importance of screening,” Josh explained. "It’s such an important tool for catching cancer earlier and ensuring we get the best treatment options.”

Eleven years after his diagnosis, Josh still carries the lessons cancer taught him. He does not take life for granted. He does not let fear hold him back. The little things—like public speaking or minor inconveniences—no longer scare him. 

He has faced something far worse, and he overcame.