Survivor Spotlight: Jennifer Gonzalez – Fighting Back with Strength and Awareness
In September 2018, Jennifer Gonzalez, then 34 years old, noticed what she thought might be food-related issues—bloating, discomfort, and bleeding. Thinking she might have a gluten or dairy intolerance, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor. Thankfully, her doctor didn’t stop at diet changes. Instead, they ordered an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy.
That decision saved Jennifer’s life.
Doctors discovered a Stage II, five-centimeter rectal mass. Jennifer and her family named the tumor “Seymour Butts” and braced themselves for what was ahead. Just five days later, she and her husband were supposed to be taking their three-year-old twins to Disney for their first family trip. Instead of being filled with magic, the trip carried the heavy cloud of a cancer diagnosis.
Back home, Jennifer started treatment: eight rounds of chemotherapy, followed by 29 rounds of radiation. She continued working full-time as a speech language pathologist throughout treatment and, one year later, had surgery that declared her NED (No Evidence of Disease).
But the fight wasn’t over.
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2021 – A follow-up colonoscopy revealed a recurrence, leading to a major surgery: a full proctectomy and hysterectomy, resulting in a permanent colostomy. Recovery was long and difficult, but Jennifer persevered.
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2022 – Routine scans showed cancer had spread to her liver, lungs, and pelvis. Eight rounds of chemo paired with immunotherapy cleared these mets, and she began maintenance therapy with minimal side effects.
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Since then, she has faced additional small recurrences, treated with stereotactic radiation, chemo, and immunotherapy. Today, her current treatment plan continues to shrink her most recent pelvic tumor.
Through it all, Jennifer has remained focused on raising awareness and advocating for early detection.
This year, Jennifer and her family joined the Kicking Butt 5K. Her mother-in-law reached out to local businesses for support, while friends and family donated from across the country. Together, their team raised an incredible $2,300 for colon cancer prevention and awareness.
Jennifer’s journey is proof that advocacy and determination matter. “This diagnosis has impacted every part of my life, and bringing awareness to early detection is very important,” she shares.
We’re honored to celebrate survivors like Jennifer, who turn their toughest battles into opportunities to inspire others and fuel change.
💙 Want to make a difference like Jennifer? Learn more about how you can support awareness and prevention through the Kicking Butt 5K and other initiatives- email us at info@kickingbutt.org.
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