Woman Beats Colon Cancer 4 Times With Humor and Hope

When Jennifer Lava laughed after learning she had colon cancer at 34, it wasn't denial. It was the beginning of a mindset that would carry her through four cancer battles and counting.

The healthy New Jersey native had just moved to Washington, D.C., in 2019 when vague stomach aches started. She blamed coffee and dairy, never imagining that tumors were growing inside her abdomen.

By June, morning nausea and fatigue made her wonder if she was pregnant, but she knew she wasn't. Then came the sharp pain that doubled her over and sent her to the emergency room.

Scans revealed an 8-inch, 4.5-pound tumor on her ovary. But a colonoscopy revealed the real culprit: stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer that had spread throughout her body.

"I always thought Stage 4 was a death sentence," Lava says. But her doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center never made her feel that way.

She underwent surgery to remove both ovaries, her fallopian tubes, 21 lymph nodes, and part of her colon. Eight rounds of chemotherapy followed, and with them, the loss of her fertility and her dreams of having children.

The cancer returned in April 2021, just months before she could be called cancer-free. Then again in October 2023, this time invading her uterine wall and requiring 26 rounds of radiation, another surgery, and a temporary ileostomy.

Earlier this year, doctors found cancer in her lung. She had it removed through ablation.

Now 41, Lava will never be technically cancer-free. The best she can hope for is "NED," no evidence of disease, which is basically remission.

Why This Inspires

Dr. Andrea Cercek, Lava's oncologist, notes that five-year survival rates for stage 4 colon cancer hover around 20%. Lava has nearly doubled that timeline already.

Her secret weapon? Permission to laugh, even when nothing feels funny. That first laugh in the car wasn't denial but rather a refusal to let cancer control her entire emotional landscape.

Lava's story matters beyond her own survival. Colorectal cancer rates are rising among young, healthy adults with no obvious risk factors, making awareness crucial for early detection.

Through four recurrences, countless treatments, and the loss of her fertility, Lava has chosen hope over despair. She continues regular scans every three months, living fully in the space between checkups.

Her journey proves that surviving isn't just about beating cancer but about refusing to let it steal your joy along the way.