NEED TO KNOW
- Heather Candrilli, 36, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in May 2024
- Her diagnosis was delayed because she was initially denied a colonoscopy, since the recommended age for screening is 45
- She has since undergone 20 rounds of chemotherapy and is awaiting a liver transplant
A mother of two received a delayed cancer diagnosis after being told she was too young for a colonoscopy.
Heather Candrilli of Staten Island, New York, had been suffering from bloating and abdominal pain for years but attributed her symptoms to her diet or the effects of childbirth.
“The terrible thing about this is when you’re about that age, you’re busy raising a family, and the last thing you’re going to be thinking about is yourself,” her husband Cory Candrilli told SI Live.
The 36-year-old was tested for celiac disease and Crohn’s disease, but she wasn’t able to undergo a colonoscopy right away because she was considered too young; the recommended age for screening is 45. It wasn’t until later — after an ultrasound detected something on her liver — that doctors had Heather undergo a colonoscopy.
During the procedure, doctors discovered a tumor, which had already started spreading through her body.
“As soon as they ordered the colonoscopy, they saw the tumor right there on her colon,” Cory said.
Heather was ultimately diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in May 2024.
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer in the world, after lung and breast cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, the disease is more common as you age — but there has been a steady rise in rates of colorectal cancer among young people.
However, the law in New Jersey, where the couple now lives, follows recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that mandates insurance coverage for preventive colorectal screenings for patients 45 and older.
“You can’t get it; it’s unbelievable,’’ Cory said of the colonoscopy. ”It’s truly unbelievable. These are your teachers, your parents, people raising your children. These are our future.’’
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After receiving her delayed diagnosis, Heather ”hit the ground running’’ with an aggressive treatment plan.
Cory told the outlet that his wife underwent surgery to remove a portion of her colon. In the past year, she’s also had 20 rounds of chemotherapy, which is successfully shrinking her lesions.
“As terrible as it is, the treatments have been truly working,” Cory shared. ”Because it’s working so well, they keep giving it to her. It’s really, truly doing amazing work.”
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Heather’s now working with the transplant team at New York University Langone Health, waiting for a potential donor for a liver transplant. Cory — a disabled U.S. Army combat veteran — said his wife is a natural caretaker and praised her for the positive spirit she’s kept throughout her difficult journey.
“She’s truly amazing,’’ he said of Heather, who’s been dealing with a number of side effects from her treatment. “I don’t understand exactly what she’s going through, but I understand pain. I understand the highs and lows.”
Amid her ongoing recovery, a GoFundMe account was created on Heather’s behalf by her aunt, Mary Rosner. The page has since garnered over $127K, including a donation of $10,000 from Colin Farrell.
“Heather is the strongest person I know, and she is determined to fight and beat this cancer,” Rosner said.
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