Calling an Audible on Cancer

Tackling Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer - Paul Apodaca

When Paul Apodoca's routine colonoscopy turned into a stage four cancer diagnosis, he faced a choice that every cancer patient confronts: accept the standard protocol or become the quarterback of his own treatment plan.

Paul chose to be the quarterback. Two years past his initial "20% survival rate past two years," he's not just surviving - he's thriving and mentoring other men through their cancer journeys. His approach offers a masterclass in how to transform from passive patient to active partner in your care.

The Research Revolution

The turning point in Paul's treatment came through his wife's relentless research. While Paul was processing the shock of his diagnosis, she was diving deep into online cancer communities and connecting with other patients' families.

"She was seeing, on Facebook, on a set of groups, a lot of posts about a couple of doctors that were being a little more aggressive on how to treat cancer and taking surgical approaches," Paul recalls. "What we wanted to do is not be in a place where we were doing chemo for life, but we were gonna do surgery and try to get this outta my body."