Jamie Comer, a San Francisco mother, has fought stage 4 colon cancer with unwavering strength for nearly a decade. After undergoing 180 rounds of chemotherapy and seven surgeries, she is now in hospice care, sharing her story to raise awareness about early cancer screenings.

Comer was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2016 when she was 47. By the time doctors discovered the disease, it had already metastasized to her liver, with 45 tumors on her right side and 12 on her left. Given only three to six months to live, she refused to give up.

“I challenge them, I don’t just take the first no,” Comer told ABC7 News, explaining how she worked with her medical team to explore every possible treatment. She underwent grueling chemotherapy sessions—up to 11 hours at a time, three times a week—totaling 180 treatments.

Despite her relentless fight, Comer, now 55, has made the difficult decision to enter hospice care. “It’s not really a difficult decision. There were no treatment options that were working, and the chemotherapy was making me sicker so I couldn’t recover,” she said.

Comer’s diagnosis came before the recommended age for colon cancer screenings was lowered to 45. She believes that an earlier screening could have changed her fate.

“I would have been inconvenienced for maybe 18 months, but it wouldn’t have been a death sentence,” she said. Now, she urges others to get screened as soon as they are eligible. “I keep saying the same thing over and over: Screen early.”

Colon cancer rates in people under 50 have been rising by 2.4% each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Mortality rates have also increased by 1% per year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regular screenings for adults aged 45 to 75, with tests ranging from stool samples to colonoscopies.

This year alone, an estimated 107,320 people will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and 46,950 with rectal cancer. The disease is expected to cause over 52,000 deaths in the U.S.

Through her battle, Comer has remained focused on her family—her daughter, Olivia, and her husband, who continue to be her source of strength. “Who would ever want to leave this beautiful world?” she reflected.

As she enters this final chapter, Comer’s message remains clear: early screening can save lives. Her story is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the importance of proactive healthcare.