A Mother's Battle: How a Routine Scan Uncovered Stage 4 Colon Cancer

From Expectant Mother to Cancer Patient

Amanda Webb's journey began like any other pregnancy—excited, hopeful, and full of anticipation. But when she went in for a routine prenatal scan at 31 weeks pregnant, something unusual showed up on the ultrasound: an abnormality that raised concerns about her unborn baby's health.

"I remember a high-risk OB nurse taking me to the garden and just holding me while I scream-cried," Webb told Newsweek.

At first, the suspicion was of trisomy 13—a rare genetic condition associated with severe developmental issues. But after further testing, doctors confirmed that her baby was healthy. That revelation led to deeper investigation into Webb's own health.

She had a history of melanoma, and doctors suspected a false positive from the scan could have been caused by cancer cells in her blood. As Webb recalled, "At that point, it became very real [that] something was going on."

The Shocking Diagnosis

The diagnosis that followed was devastating: Stage 4 colon cancer. The five-year relative survival rate for this stage of colon cancer is just 13 percent, making Webb's prognosis particularly grim. But she was also pregnant—a fact that complicated her treatment options.

Webb remembers the moment when her oncologist delivered the news: "I was just shocked." She had been a runner and believed herself to be in excellent health, attributing any symptoms she'd experienced to age or digestive issues. "I really thought [colon cancer] was only something that older people could get," she said.

Despite the fear, Webb chose not to Google her diagnosis, refusing to see herself as a statistic. Instead, she focused on her own journey: "I was healthy, minus the cancer." She started chemotherapy just one week after being diagnosed, with the first three rounds requiring inpatient care so her medical team could closely monitor her baby's health.

Living Through Two Lives

The emotional toll of living through both a pregnancy and a cancer diagnosis was immense. Webb recalls feeling isolated from other expectant mothers, removing pregnancy apps from her phone and avoiding conversations that reminded her of the life she thought she'd be living.

"I was going through something different, and I just didn't feel like I could relate anymore," she said. "It was difficult to have people make comments and say, 'You're bringing this healthy baby into the world.' I thought, I want to be there for it, but I didn't have the confidence that I would be."

Her son, Levi, was born via C-section, and Webb resumed chemotherapy just two weeks later. The combination of postpartum recovery and aggressive treatment meant she needed a strong support network. Friends helped with childcare, while her mother flew in from the Midwest to assist.

Five Years On: No Evidence of Disease

Now 41 years old, Webb is celebrating five years of No Evidence of Disease (NED)—a milestone that was once unimaginable. Her journey through treatment and recovery has been marked by resilience, determination, and a commitment to monitoring her health closely.

She uses Signatera, a personalized blood test that can detect microscopic traces of tumor DNA months before traditional imaging would reveal a recurrence. "It's become part of my routine in surveillance," Webb explained. "It's nice to know that if something comes up in that test ... we can catch it early."

Advocacy and Awareness

Webb hopes her story will encourage others to speak openly about colon cancer, especially since it often goes undetected due to its subtle symptoms. Common signs include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

"No one wants to talk about these symptoms—it's the poop cancer," Webb said. "You need to get yourself a colonoscopy and advocate for that. It's one of the only cancer screenings that can prevent cancer. It's easy in comparison to treatment."

Her message is clear: don't ignore your body's signals, and never assume that certain cancers only affect older adults. For Webb, early detection made all the difference.

The Road Ahead

Webb has found strength in advocacy, sharing her experience to raise awareness about colon cancer in younger demographics. She also finds joy in watching her son grow, especially now as he begins kindergarten—a milestone she once feared she might miss.

Her story stands as a testament to the power of resilience, medical innovation, and support systems during one of life's most challenging journeys. Amanda Webb's path from diagnosis to survivorship reminds us that even in the darkest moments, hope can persist.