Two sisters from New Jersey, Eloisa Oquendo and Joyce Melo, are facing the devastating challenge of battling stage 4 colon cancer together. Eloisa, 40, was first diagnosed in February 2021 after experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, which led to emergency surgery where doctors discovered her cancer. After multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free, but her disease returned earlier this year.
In an unexpected turn, her younger sister, Joyce, was diagnosed with the same condition in March 2024 at the age of 37. Joyce’s cancer was discovered after a routine surgery to remove her appendix. Initially thought to be a less severe stage 1 diagnosis, further testing revealed that she too had stage 4 colon cancer.
Both sisters are now undergoing treatment together, a situation they describe as a “nightmare.” The simultaneous diagnoses of such a severe cancer in two siblings are incredibly rare. Stage 4 colon cancer has a grim prognosis, with nearly 90% of patients not surviving beyond five years. However, the sisters are determined to face this battle together, offering mutual support.
This case also highlights the growing concern over the rise of colorectal cancer in younger adults under 50, which has increased significantly over the last two decades.
The news was originally reported by the Daily Mail.