Metastatic Colon Cancer Patient Focuses on Helping Others

At the start of 2016, Amy Ennis was poised to take on the world. She was working as a project manager for Massachusetts’ biggest healthcare provider; she and her husband, Rich, had also recently celebrated their daughter Blakely’s first birthday.  

So, when Ennis went to the hospital for stomach pains and intense nausea in March of that year, the last thing she expected to confront was a stage III colorectal cancer diagnosis.

“I just remember thinking, ‘how did this happen?’” she says. “For a while, I kept trying to put the blame on something, anything, that I might have done.”

Ennis’s treatment

Ennis was placed under the care of Nadine J. McCleary MD, MPH, senior physician at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC)’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment Center.

Only 38 years old at the time of her diagnosis, Ennis is one of a growing number of young adults who are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Since 1994, cases of young-onset colorectal cancer (patients who were diagnosed before 50 years old) have increased by 51 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

“There’s been a push to figure out why this is happening and improve both the survival rate and quality of care for this patient population,” McCleary says.

Ennis underwent surgery to remove the cancer before receiving chemotherapy. Initially, this treatment plan seemed to be working — but almost a year after her original diagnosis, Ennis learned that the cancer had metastasized to both of her lungs.

“I remember getting home from the visit and my husband and I immediately cried our eyes out,” Ennis explains. “Thinking about my daughter and possibly not being there for her made everything more difficult.” 

Using her daughter as motivation, Ennis prepared for another round of treatment. She underwent two lung surgeries to remove the cancerous nodules, in addition to chemotherapy. About a year later Ennis required yet another lung surgery to remove more cancerous nodules. Recently, though, Ennis received a clear scan with no growth of lung nodules and no new signs of disease.

Paying it forward

Ennis is also focused on helping other young cancer patients like herself. In 2016, she started a team called Bushy Strong (a play on her maiden name) for the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. The Jimmy Fund Walk supports cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber.

“I have the chance to fund research that could benefit colon cancer patients like me,” says Ennis.

“Ennis is incredibly courageous and has an amazing spirit,” adds McCleary. “Her fundraising efforts have helped to make things better not only for herself but for others, too.”

In order to better serve patients like Ennis, DF/BWCC opened the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center in 2019. Led by Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, director, the state-of-the-art center is among the first in the country dedicated to addressing the unique needs of young patients with colorectal cancer. Research is the centerpiece of the center, which is committed to understanding the growing incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults and developing new ways to prevent, detect, and treat it.

When Ennis is not fundraising, she’s constantly looking for ways to stay healthy and active. She enjoys working out, preparing home cooked meals, a glass of wine with friends, and of course, spending time with her daughter, husband, and black lab. 

“My daughter is the happiest person on earth,” says Ennis. “If I’m having a difficult day, even looking at a picture of her can help. She’s a gentle reminder of why I’m here and why I continue to fight to be here.”