Hello everyone. I was diagnosed with Stage IIIA signet ring cell colon cancer (SRCC) in April 2025. My pathology was...

Welcome - I'm Glad You're Reaching Out

I want to acknowledge how important it is that you're seeking connection with others who've had signet ring cell colorectal cancer (SRCC). This is a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and finding people who truly understand your specific journey can be incredibly valuable. However, I need to be transparent about what I can and cannot help with here.

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Important Clarification About My Role

I'm an educational AI, not a support community platform. I can help you understand your [ID removed] explain test results, and discuss treatment approaches—but I cannot connect you with other SRCC survivors or facilitate peer support groups. That's a different kind of resource that requires real human connection.

Here's what I CAN do for you:

• Explain your pathology findings and what they mean
• Discuss what your negative scans and ctDNA results indicate
• Help you understand SRCC-specific treatment approaches
• Suggest questions to ask your oncology team
• Point you toward actual support communities

Here's what I CANNOT do:

• Connect you with other patients (I'm not a social platform)
• Provide survivor stories or personal experiences
• Predict your individual prognosis

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Where to Find SRCC Survivor Communities

Let me point you toward actual resources where you can connect with other SRCC patients:

1. Colorectal Cancer Alliance

• Website: colorectal-cancer.org
• They have support groups, online communities, and peer mentoring programs
• Specifically ask about signet ring cell colorectal cancer groups

2. American Cancer Society

• Call: 1-[phone removed]
• They can connect you with local and online support groups
• Ask specifically for SRCC or rare colorectal cancer groups

3. CancerCare

• Website: cancercare.org
• Offers free support groups and one-on-one peer support
• Can match you with survivors of similar cancers

4. Stupid Cancer (for younger patients)

• Website: stupidcancer.org
• Strong online community if you're under 40

5. Facebook Support Groups

• Search: "Signet Ring Cell Cancer Support" or "Colorectal Cancer Survivors"
• Many active, moderated groups with real survivors sharing experiences

6. Your Oncology Team

• Ask your cancer center's social worker or patient navigator
• Many hospitals have survivor networks or can refer you to other patients (with permission)

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What I CAN Help You With Right Now

Since you've shared your pathology and treatment details, let me provide some educational context about what your results mean:

Your Pathology Breakdown (pT2N1c, G3, L1, V1, MSS):

What these findings mean:

• pT2N1c: Your tumor invaded into the muscle layer of the colon (T2) and involved 1 regional lymph node (N1c)—this is why you were Stage IIIA
• G3: Grade 3 means high-grade/poorly differentiated cancer—this indicates aggressive behavior, which is typical for SRCC
• L1: Lymphatic invasion present (cancer cells in lymphatic vessels)
• V1: Venous invasion present (cancer cells in blood vessels)
• MSS: Microsatellite stable—this means your tumor does NOT have mismatch repair deficiency, which affects treatment options

Why this matters clinically: According to NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer, the presence of lymph node involvement (N1) and high-grade histology (G3) typically indicates Stage IIIA disease, which warrants adjuvant (post-surgery) chemotherapy—exactly what you received with FOLFOX.

Your Current Status (All Negative):

This is genuinely encouraging:

• Negative CT/MRI scans: No evidence of metastatic disease on imaging
• Negative CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen (a tumor marker) is normal
• Negative Signatera ctDNA: This is particularly important. Signatera detects circulating tumor DNA (tiny fragments of cancer DNA in your bloodstream). Negative results suggest no detectable minimal residual disease

What this means: Your scans and blood tests show no evidence of remaining cancer after surgery and chemotherapy. This is the goal of treatment.

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Questions to Ask Your Oncology Team

Since SRCC is rare, here are specific questions that will help you understand YOUR individual situation:

1. "Based on my specific pathology (pT2N1c, G3, L1, V1, MSS), what is my recurrence risk, and how does that compare to typical Stage IIIA colorectal cancer?"

2. "Given that signet ring cell cancers are more aggressive, are there any additional surveillance strategies or treatments you recommend beyond standard follow-up?"

3. "My Signatera ctDNA is negative. How often should we repeat this test, and what would trigger a change in my surveillance plan?"

4. "Are there any clinical trials specifically for SRCC or for high-risk Stage III colorectal cancer that I should consider?"

5. "What are the signs or symptoms I should watch for that would warrant immediate contact with you?"

6. "How often should I have imaging (CT/MRI) and tumor marker testing (CEA, Signatera)?"

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Important Context About SRCC

I want to be honest about what the medical literature shows:

SRCC is indeed rare and aggressive:

• Signet ring cell colorectal cancer accounts for only 1-3% of colorectal cancers
• It typically presents at more advanced stages than typical adenocarcinoma
• It often has worse outcomes than conventional colorectal cancer

However—and this is important:

• You caught yours at Stage IIIA (not Stage IV/metastatic)
• You had complete surgical resection (total colectomy)
• You completed appropriate chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
• Your current surveillance shows no evidence of disease

These are all favorable prognostic factors that work in your favor.

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What You Should Know About Long-Term Follow-Up

According to NCCN Guidelines, for Stage III colorectal cancer survivors like you:

Surveillance typically includes:

• Physical exams every 3-6 months for 2 years, then annually
• CEA testing every 3-6 months for at least 3 years
• CT chest/abdomen/pelvis at 6-12 months post-treatment, then as clinically indicated
• Colonoscopy at 1 year post-surgery, then every 3-5 years if normal

Your Signatera ctDNA testing is an emerging tool that may provide additional reassurance, though it's not yet standard in all practices.

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Summary: What You Need to Know

✅ I CAN help you:

• Understand your pathology and test results
• Explain treatment approaches for SRCC
• Prepare questions for your oncology team
• Point you toward evidence-based information

❌ I CANNOT provide:

• Peer support or survivor stories
• Personal experiences from other SRCC patients
• Prognosis or survival predictions

For the peer support you're seeking, please reach out to the organizations listed above. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance and CancerCare are particularly strong for connecting patients with similar diagnoses.

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Final Thought

Your instinct to connect with others who've had SRCC is absolutely right. Peer support is powerful, especially with a rare cancer. The fact that you're engaged, asking good questions, and tracking your surveillance results suggests you're taking an active role in your care—that matters.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to your oncology team's social worker or patient navigator. They often have connections to survivor networks that I, as an AI, simply cannot provide.

You've got this. Keep asking questions, stay engaged with your care team, and seek out that human connection with other survivors.

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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.