Stephanie’s Story

Cancer Does Not Discriminate

This is hard for me to share – but I hope it can bring awareness to you all about the importance of getting your annual screenings. This is the story of my childhood best friend – Stephanie Rose Pfancook – told by one of her best friends, Cheryl Ann.  

On April 10, 2023, Stephanie woke up with severe abdominal pain. Stephanie was not one to complain, she had a high tolerance for pain. She delivered her three beautiful daughters naturally, but this was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She was not the type to go to the doctor, she was never an “ill” person, she never smoked, she ate healthy, never had surgery, and she loved being active - playing softball and coaching her daughters in sports. Her husband, Matt, a US Army veteran struggled more than she did, however, like many women, Stephanie did have chronic constipation – so she decided to have Matt take her to the ER. The pain was unbearable. She had multiple tests and imaging studies completed and ultimately, she was found to have a bowel obstruction.

This first ER trip in April required her to have a tube placed to drain her stomach from the obstruction. After many days of not eating anything, her obstruction resolved. At that time, her doctors recommended a colonoscopy since the cause of her bowel obstruction was unknown. Her colonoscopy found a 3 cm x 5 cm colon mass (THE SIZE OF A LIME)! The pathology confirmed Stephanie had colon cancer. CANCER, not a word she expected or was prepared to hear. Her doctors scheduled her for surgery and had her genetically tested. 

Three weeks later, before she could even have surgery, she ended up with a second bowel obstruction. THIS time in the ER, the imaging showed a liver lesion and a lymph node compressing a large vein in her abdomen. Since colon cancer was obstructing her colon lumen, the doctors recommended removal. She had a right hemicolectomy (half of her large colon removed) and lymph node removal. “This type of cancer is very aggressive, she should have chemotherapy as soon as possible,” her surgeon said. Two hours after surgery Stephanie was back to herself, she was doing laps around the hospital and within two nights she was home. Surgery was the easy part. “I’m fighting this. I have no choice. I have Matt, my girls. I’m going to win!” words Stephanie said over and over.

A week later we all found out that this was Stage IV colon cancer and 23 of 31 lymph nodes in her abdomen have cancer. The liver is metastatic colon cancer – it has spread. It is not recommended to google “life expectancy of stage IV colon cancer,” that’s a rabbit hole no one should ever go down.... ever! On top of all the treatment she was receiving from her doctors, Stephanie was exhausting every other option. How about natural treatments for colon cancer? Graviola, mulberry, ivermectin, lakshman phai, everything.... she tried them all. 

It is now June and Stephanie is scheduled for a liver ablation. Easy peasy for her. She’s got this! One day after the ablation, she is living it up at my 40th birthday party but she is being careful – she knows she must. She does a little dancing, some two steps and some finger snaps. 

Four days later, June 14, 2023, Stephanie starts chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was extremely tough. She had so much nausea and vomiting during the chemotherapy and days after. Picture this, the smell alone of the infusion center made Stephanie vomit. She tried every prescription nausea medicine. She even created a homemade clothes pin on her nose to help omit the smell. She needed 12 cycles of chemotherapy, one treatment every other week. Stephanie received chemotherapy at the infusion center on Wednesdays and then the nurse would connect Stephanie to a home machine to infuse chemotherapy at home until Friday. On Friday, she would return to the infusion center for her disconnect. 

June 28, 2023, Stephanie was in for another infusion and planning our Disney Christmas trip! Stephanie loved Disney and she could not wait to go back. She texts me “The lady at chemo told me about the syrup in canned peaches getting rid of the nausea. I’m going to try that.” Two weeks later, she is dreading chemotherapy. She has tried every medicine and hydration to prevent nausea and vomiting, but it’s not helping. “I hate this. How am I going to keep doing this?” Stephanie was anxiously worried, “ugh it’s my chemo week.” She was always calculating the time when she’d feel better after chemotherapy.

On December 5, 2023, a bit past 2 am her husband Matt called me, and I will never ever forget that phone call for as long as I live. “She’s gone.”

Her body may be gone but her memories will live forever. I can close my eyes and see Stephanie, Matt and their 3 kids barreling into my house with smiles on their faces.

Along with Stephanie's husband, they have created a Memorial Fund in Stephanie’s honor called Light and Love. Stephanie loved unconditionally and she was pure light by living a life of positivity. She was the epitome of vibrance and sunshine. The mission and goal are to help others learn through their loss. Listen to your body and if you sense something wrong, seek help. Don’t ignore your symptoms. Get screened! Colonoscopies are recommended for anyone at the age of 45. Early onset colorectal cancer is real. The American Cancer Society projects by that by 2030, colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer related deaths in ages 20 to 49. If love and prayers could cure cancer, Stephanie would have been cured in April. Cancer does not discriminate.