Common pregnancy symptoms reveal Stage 3 colon cancer

Geraldine Levano, pictured celebrating three years cancer free (Photo by Geraldine Levano)

In 2022, Geraldine Levano, who was 26 at the time, was pregnant with her second child and looking forward to becoming a mother of two when she began to experience severe acid reflux. 

She initially brushed it off as a common symptom of pregnancy since she experienced the same symptoms when she was pregnant with her first son. 

But over time, her acid reflux began to worsen. “It was really bad to the point where I had to have my husband lift my stomach up because the pain was unbearable,” Geraldine said. 

Her symptoms led her to an emergency room three different times. The doctors had all come to the same conclusion: she showed no signs of abnormalities. 

Each time she went in, her baby was cleared and marked healthy. However, the emergency room did not run other tests on Geraldine that might have otherwise shown cause for concern. 

Looking back, she knew there was a deeper issue at hand.

“Throughout my pregnancy, I kept on saying, ‘Somethings wrong, I dont feel good,’” Geraldine said.

In March of 2022, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Mateo, and the family breathed a sigh of relief, believing the worst of Geraldine’s suffering was over. 

Yet only days after being discharged from the hospital, Geraldine was once again experiencing the same painful acid reflux she had during her pregnancy. 

A fourth visit to the emergency room confirmed her suspicion after doctors found a large mass near her stomach and colon.

Additional testing at a local hospital confirmed that the mass in her colon was the size of a grapefruit and had extended toward her stomach, touching part of her pancreas. What she had been told were common pregnancy symptoms turned out to be Stage 3 colon cancer.  

She was referred to Amit Agarwal, MD, an associate professor with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and a colorectal surgeon at UT Physicians and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center for the procedure.

“If the cancer wasn’t identified, her symptoms could have worsened and progressed to Stage 4 colon cancer. Aside from acid reflux, she could have also developed significant anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath, and changes in bowel habits,” Agarwal said.

Prior to the surgery, Agarwal explained to Geraldine that due to the size of the cancer, there was a 50% chance she would wake up with a colostomy bag. “I didn't have time to say no. Everything happened so fast,” she said. 

Once inside the operating room, Agarwal discovered the mass was causing an obstruction and was forced to remove a portion of the colon and stomach. 

“Due to the size of the tumor causing partial obstruction, the size of the colon, the need to take a portion of the stomach, and potential need for chemotherapy after surgery, these factors all led me to the safest thing–giving her a temporary colostomy,” Agarwal said.

The months that followed were filled with numerous doctor visits as Geraldine lived with the colostomy bag and simultaneously underwent chemotherapy. Her treatment became a balancing act between her health and responsibilities as a mother.

“I had moments where I didnt want to do it anymore. It was very, very hard, all while trying to be a mother. It was difficult for me because I couldn’t even carry my 5-pound baby. He was so tiny, and even then, I couldn’t hold him because the pain was unbearable,” Geraldine said.

Approximately six months after her initial surgery, the colostomy was reversed.

The reversal marked another significant step in Geraldine’s recovery. After months of adjusting to life with a colostomy bag, she was able to move forward with her cancer treatment while continuing to work toward regaining a sense of normalcy. 

Through her journey, Geraldine learned she has Lynch Syndrome, an inherited genetic condition that raises the risk of getting colorectal, uterine, and other cancers, often before age 50. The condition most likely contributed to her cancer diagnosis at 26 years old.

Geraldine continues to see Agarwal for annual colonoscopies and endoscopies to limit the possibility of further complications. 

Today, Geraldine is three years cancer free and shares her story to encourage other women to trust their instincts and speak up about changes in their health, even when symptoms are dismissed as something normal. 

With her health intact, Geraldine works as a medical assistant at a local clinic in the Houston area. Her experience as a patient has shaped the way she approaches her work in health care, giving her a very personal understanding of the importance of listening to patients and taking their concerns seriously. 

Geraldine credits Mateo and pregnancy with her health today, “I feel like if it wasn't for him, I probably would have never even suspected something was wrong,” Geraldine said. “I always tell everybody, if you feel like somethings off—even if you have to go to two different doctors, three different doctors—always get your point across because at the end of the day, you never know when your health could change in an instant.”