Living in the Moment, Chika Hopes Her Colon Cancer Story Helps Others

Chika Franck doesn’t wait to celebrate special occasions; not anymore.  

“I give myself permission to live in the moment,” she said. 

She says every moment is a gift, and the time to celebrate is now. 

“It’s called the burn the candle theory,” said Chika. “You bought the fancy candle because you loved it, so light it. Don’t wait for some perfect occasion that may never come. Open the good wine. Use the good dishes. Do it today.”

That wasn’t always her motto, but it is one she now embraces. 

“It’s a lesson I needed to learn,” she said. 

In March, Chika celebrated a birthday she didn’t know if she’d get to see. Surrounded by beautiful blooming flowers, Chika held a cake in her hands, a gold 40 sitting atop the creamy frosting–and she blew out two candles. It’s a milestone she’s incredibly grateful to have reached–and one she doesn’t take for granted.

“I didn’t know if I was going to see another birthday,” said Chika. “I wrote letters to my husband and kids as if I was going to die. I know what it feels like to lose a mom, so I put together a guide for them. It was about how to live without mom. I did what I thought any mom would do. In every moment thinking about them, there was no stronger will to live.”

In 2021, Chika Franck was 36 years old. Cancer wasn’t on her radar. She was healthy, active, a non-smoker, and the mother of two young children, ages 1 and 3 years old. So, when a stomach ache turned out to be something much more insidious, she was blindsided. The unusual symptoms only lasted a few weeks, but she knew she needed to seek help immediately. And that decision may have saved her life. She had stage IV colon cancer. 

The cancer had spread to her distant lymph nodes, and the diagnosis at the time felt bleak. 

Rates of colorectal cancer are on the rise in young people. By 2030, colon cancer is expected to be the number one cause of cancer deaths in adults less than 50 years old. 

“I remember spiraling, desperately searching for any stories of people who had survived stage IV. I found just a few and I clung to them like a lifeline,” she said.

It’s one of the reasons she wants to share her story. 

“I feel called to share my story,” said Chika. “Not because I have all the answers, but because I know how deeply hope matters. If this helps even one person feel less alone in the dark, it’s worth every word.”

Chika sought out a second opinion, and the diagnosis was confirmed. She researched top colorectal surgeons and came across Ravi Moonka, MD, a colon and rectal surgeon at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH). She wanted to hand-pick her integrative care team to get her through what she knew would be a long road ahead. She was scared, but she put her trust in a team of specialists at VMFH. She said as soon as she met with Dr. Moonka, she knew he was the one.

“I’m so grateful for my care team,” she said. “You can have a million problems, but once you have a health problem, you have one problem.”

People who are diagnosed at early stages have over a 90 percent chance of cure and survival. Survival rates significantly drop when colorectal cancer is found in later stages, which is why early detection and prevention are so important. It’s also why the rise in colon cancer rates in younger people like Chika is alarming. 

“Chika’s case highlights a national problem,” said Bruce Lin, MD, a Virginia Mason Franciscan Health oncologist who specializes in colorectal, liver, and other gastrointestinal cancers. “Over the last 10 to 15 years, there’s been a rise in cases of people under 50 being diagnosed with colon cancer. The overall incidence is not going up, but we are seeing more cases of colorectal cancer in younger patients. We used to be taught only older people get colon cancer, and that’s just not the case anymore. It’s why awareness is so important.”

“I felt like I slid under the garage door as it was closing,” she said. “I wonder what would have happened if I would have waited.”

“We have our best people trying to figure out why today’s younger generations are developing colon cancer,” said Dr. Moonka. “We will figure it out and reverse it, but until that time, we as physicians are going to have to change, and take symptoms very seriously that we might previously have dismissed as having simple and benign explanations. I know the absolute numbers are small, but the numbers don’t adequately capture the tragedy of individuals not raising a family or not finishing a promising career or simply not enjoying what can be the best years of their life.”

The multidisciplinary team at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health created an individualized treatment plan just for Chika, which included chemotherapy, cutting-edge surgical techniques and rigorous monitoring. 

The team of digestive health experts and oncology specialists decided, based on the latest research, that undergoing chemotherapy prior to surgery would be the most effective treatment approach for her. Chika initially underwent four rounds of chemotherapy before undergoing surgery to remove the tumor and affected lymph nodes. 

Vlad Simianu, MD, MPH, Medical Director of the colorectal service line for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's Center for Digestive Health, had good news after those initial rounds of chemotherapy. He confirmed the tumor had shrunk by 90 percent–a promising sign. 

“It was the first real breath of hope I’d had in months,” said Chika. “I cried and cried tears of joy.”

In March 2022, Chika went into the operating room to have the tumor and lymph nodes removed. 

“I’ve had illness in my own family, and I know the time interval between being told there’s a serious problem and having a chance to talk it over with a knowledgeable doctor feels like an eternity,” said Dr. Moonka. “So l have a sense of urgency just like the patient does. And I know they want a solution, and for people with cancer, that means they want to be cured. It might mean an operation, or using medications in the best, most proven way, or a clinical trial. Whatever it takes.” 

After a successful surgery, Chika underwent another eight rounds of chemotherapy under the care of Dr. Lin.

Today, Chika has been in complete remission for nearly three years. 

“March is a meaningful month for me...not only is it my birthday, but it also marks the anniversary of my life-saving surgery,” said Chika. “Medically, it’s the month that determines my remission status through follow-up screenings and evaluations. It also happens to be Colon Cancer Awareness Month...a powerful coincidence that makes this time of year feel even more significant.”

Chika hopes to blow out more candles. She said she isn’t done celebrating yet. 

“The next goal is the next five years–and rebuilding after a tough chapter,” she said.

“I still don’t know what the future holds...but none of us do,” she said. “What I do know is this: joy and fear can coexist. Healing is not linear. Survivorship is its own journey. And life, even in all its unpredictability, is a gift. I’m still parenting. Still laughing. Still human. Still learning how to live more gently, and more intentionally. And most of all...deeply grateful.”