“I Am Not Cancer”: Crystal’s Story of Strength and Community

Some people face a cancer diagnosis by focusing only on the disease. Crystal chose a different path. After a rectal cancer diagnosis, one that had already spread, she leaned into something bigger than the illness itself... community.

A Sudden and Painful Beginning

Crystal's story started with severe pain that came on quickly. “I couldn't sit down,” she recalls. “I couldn't drive. I couldn't do anything, and I was in excruciating pain.” As a yoga instructor and retired nurse, Crystal noticed something was wrong when she could no longer do her aerial yoga classes. A colonoscopy revealed a tumor. From there, an ambulance ride to Riverside's emergency room led her to Dr. Ahsan Basha at the Riverside Cancer Institute.
Because her pain was so severe, doctors could not initially perform the scans needed to understand the full picture. She received a referral to a surgeon at Northwestern, where imaging done during surgery revealed the cancer had spread to her liver.

Facing the News with Grace

For many patients, hearing that their cancer has spread is devastating. Crystal took it differently. “I kind of expected it,” she shares. Drawing on her nursing background, she found herself able to step back and process the information with a measure of calm. “I put myself in the patient's role. As a nurse, I understood and was compassionate for what I was going through,” she adds.
That did not mean the news was easy. “There was one night when I just kind of cried for a long time,” Crystal remembers. “And then I went, ‘Okay. This is okay. Each day is important to me.’”

Finding the Right Treatment Path

Crystal's first round of chemotherapy was difficult and ultimately not effective. After a candid conversation with her care team, family, and friends, her team adjusted her treatment plan. Since, she has responded well—and today she is able to sit comfortably again, a simple milestone that means everything.

The Power of Community

Throughout her treatment, Crystal has leaned heavily on the people around her. A close friend traveled from Oregon four times to stay by her side. A wall in her bedroom is covered, floor to ceiling, with cards of support and encouragement from friends and neighbors. “I can't imagine going through this alone,” she emphasizes.
Her family has rallied too. Crystal’s husband handles what she affectionately calls her "Driving Miss Daisy" schedule. Her sons check in regularly. Her grandchildren, ranging from age two to 22, remain a central source of joy.
Additionally, she feels profound gratitude for her students who are helping lead Crystal’s yoga classes.

Living Each Day Fully

Crystal approaches each day with intention, staying physically active by walking regularly and finding new joys, like baking, that she never had time for before her diagnosis. She also credits daily devotionals with a small group of friends for helping her process difficult emotions and sleep soundly at night.
Perhaps most powerfully, Crystal refuses to let her diagnosis define her. “I am not cancer,” she reinforces. “I have a disease process that's going on in my body right now, but I don't name it. Because you name it, and it becomes you.”
Her advice to others beginning this journey is simple... Lean on the people around you, stay true to yourself, and take life one moment at a time.