Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At 37, Marisa was the picture of health with daily workouts, clean eating, no family history of cancer. A GI map test led to a colonoscopy, and that colonoscopy uncovered a colon cancer diagnosis nobody saw coming.
Genetic testing followed, revealing a BRCA2 mutation that sent her down a path she never expected: a double mastectomy, fallopian tube removal, and years of surgery, recovery, and rebuilding her relationship with her own body. Marisa shares her full story with @thepatientstory about outrunning the odds, learning to trust her instincts, and finding a community on the other side of diagnosis that helped her heal.
Thank you, Marisa, for sharing your story to help others.
#cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #cancertreatment #cancerprevention #cancersymptoms
The Patient Story:
The Patient Story is led by a dedicated team of medical, editorial, and video experts, committed to authentically portraying the cancer patient experience. Sharing your story holds transformative power, culturally and personally. We handle each narrative with utmost care, compassion, and scientific rigor.
Our editorial process adheres to the highest journalistic standards, ensuring medically researched, vetted, and fact-checked content. Backed by experienced medical professionals, we offer insights into the latest medical advancements.
Beyond patient narratives, we provide comprehensive coverage of cancer news and medical resources. From symptoms to clinical trials, insurance, finances, and support groups, we offer guidance in a humanized manner.
Chapters:
00:00 – Healthy at 37: First Symptoms of Colon Cancer Begin
00:47 – Colonoscopy Day: Getting a Colon Cancer Diagnosis at 37
01:55 – No Family History? Uncovering a Hidden Colon Cancer Link
02:44 – Genetic Testing and Genetic Counseling Explained
03:34 – Testing Positive for the BRCA2 Gene Mutation
05:44 – Mammograms, Biopsy & Weighing Surveillance vs. Surgery
08:13 – A Sign From the Universe: Meeting Breast Cancer Survivors
11:41 – Mastectomy Day: Fear, "No Backsies," and the Final Decision
13:38 – Nipple-Sparing Reconstruction: Expanders to Implants
16:37 – Revision Surgery, Fat Grafting & Sharing Her BRCA2 Story
Join Our Community:
Sign up for our FREE website: thepatientstory.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thepatientstory
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatientstory
Twitter: twitter.com/Patient_Story
TikTok: tiktok.com/@patientstory
To watch Marisa's story about symptoms, click here: youtu.be/z_me4DceN_I
At 37, Marisa was the picture of health with daily workouts, clean eating, no family history of cancer. A GI map test led to a colonoscopy, and that colonoscopy uncovered a colon cancer diagnosis nobody saw coming.
Genetic testing followed, revealing a BRCA2 mutation that sent her down a path she never expected: a double mastectomy, fallopian tube removal, and years of surgery, recovery, and rebuilding her relationship with her own body. Marisa shares her full story with @thepatientstory about outrunning the odds, learning to trust her instincts, and finding a community on the other side of diagnosis that helped her heal.
Thank you, Marisa, for sharing your story to help others.
#cancerpatient #cancersurvivor #patientstories #thepatientstory #cancertreatment #cancerprevention #cancersymptoms
The Patient Story:
The Patient Story is led by a dedicated team of medical, editorial, and video experts, committed to authentically portraying the cancer patient experience. Sharing your story holds transformative power, culturally and personally. We handle each narrative with utmost care, compassion, and scientific rigor.
Our editorial process adheres to the highest journalistic standards, ensuring medically researched, vetted, and fact-checked content. Backed by experienced medical professionals, we offer insights into the latest medical advancements.
Beyond patient narratives, we provide comprehensive coverage of cancer news and medical resources. From symptoms to clinical trials, insurance, finances, and support groups, we offer guidance in a humanized manner.
Chapters:
00:00 – Healthy at 37: First Symptoms of Colon Cancer Begin
00:47 – Colonoscopy Day: Getting a Colon Cancer Diagnosis at 37
01:55 – No Family History? Uncovering a Hidden Colon Cancer Link
02:44 – Genetic Testing and Genetic Counseling Explained
03:34 – Testing Positive for the BRCA2 Gene Mutation
05:44 – Mammograms, Biopsy & Weighing Surveillance vs. Surgery
08:13 – A Sign From the Universe: Meeting Breast Cancer Survivors
11:41 – Mastectomy Day: Fear, "No Backsies," and the Final Decision
13:38 – Nipple-Sparing Reconstruction: Expanders to Implants
16:37 – Revision Surgery, Fat Grafting & Sharing Her BRCA2 Story
Join Our Community:
Sign up for our FREE website: thepatientstory.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thepatientstory
Instagram: instagram.com/thepatientstory
Twitter: twitter.com/Patient_Story
TikTok: tiktok.com/@patientstory
To watch Marisa's story about symptoms, click here: youtu.be/z_me4DceN_I
