Stephanie Gomez
Mother of two, kindergarten teacher beats stage three colorectal cancer.
Four years ago, Stephanie Gomez, 44, an overall healthy mother and Alamo Heights kindergarten teacher, began experiencing unusual stomach problems. Some of her symptoms included bloating, constipation and lack of appetite. As her symptoms worsened, Stephanie requested a colonoscopy for further evaluation. After receiving her results, she was told everything was normal and was only instructed to change her diet. However, Stephanie continued to experience the same issues.
In January 2021, Stephanie tested positive for COVID-19 and had diarrhea for over eight weeks. Stephanie decided to bring this to the attention of her doctor, but she was told it was only a symptom of COVID-19. Ten weeks later, Stephanie found blood in her stool which caused the need for another colonoscopy.
In May of 2021, she underwent her second colposcopy. Unfortunately, results showed she had a tumor at the top of her rectum and cancer was present inside the muscle wall and lymph nodes. The same day, she had an MRI which revealed she had stage three colorectal cancer. Although Stephanie was in utter shock and disbelief, she remained positive and was ready to fight this battle.
Dr. Cannon Lewis, a colorectal surgeon at Methodist Hospital Stone Oak, created a treatment plan that consisted of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Over the course of the summer, Stephanie endured the cancer treatments, and while this took an emotional toll on her, the nurses helped guide her through her most difficult times. According to Stephanie, if it hadn’t been for their positive attitudes, it would have been a much more difficult battle. Following the surgery, the cancer was successfully removed.
Stephanie is relieved with the success of her cancer treatments but is not ready to completely breathe a sigh of relief just yet until her five-year mark shows no cancer in sight. It is then she will ring the victory bell. In the meantime, her family took her on a well-deserved trip to Walt Disney World to celebrate her victorious battle with stage three cancer. Her family of four sported shirts reading “Colon Cancer Awareness” and posing in front of the famous Cinderella Castle.