In a Blink: A Journey from Diagnosis to Giving Back

Aneta Fishman didn’t expect her life to change the day she went in for testing. She’d been feeling unusually tired, but as a busy school principal and mother of three, fatigue was nothing new. Still, her husband urged her to check things out — and that insistence proved lifesaving. As she emerged from sedation after her procedure, she caught her husband’s eye and instantly sensed the gravity of the news. Within moments, doctors confirmed a large tumour: stage three colorectal cancer, dangerously close to advancing to stage four.

In a Blink: A Journey from Diagnosis to Giving Back

A Partnership in Care

Referred to Dr. Stotland at North York General (NYG), Aneta discovered not only world-class care but a deeply person-centred team. She began a course of aggressive radiation and oral chemotherapy designed to shrink the tumour. To everyone’s astonishment, it disappeared entirely, leaving only scar tissue — a rare outcome that opened the door to a difficult but hopeful choice.

Traditionally, even when a tumour vanishes after chemoradiation, standard practice is still to surgically remove the affected section of the rectum or colon. But Dr. Stotland was leading a groundbreaking clinical trial at NYG for patients like Aneta who had a complete clinical response. Known as a “watch and wait” approach, the trial allowed carefully selected patients to postpone surgery under strict medical supervision.

A Groundbreaking Path Forward

Participants, including Aneta, were closely monitored with regular MRIs, CT scans, bloodwork, and frequent check-ups. If there was any sign of the disease returning, they would move to surgery immediately. This intensive monitoring gave Aneta the confidence to choose the trial and preserve her quality of life without sacrificing safety.

“Dr. Stotland treated me as a partner in my care,” she says. “He shared research, walked me through every option, and made sure the final decision was mine.” NYG’s nurse navigator reinforced that support, coordinating appointments and providing steady reassurance for Aneta and her family.

From Patient to Advocate

Today, six years later, Aneta is cancer-free, and is grateful to see her eldest son get married in a few weeks. Her experience also helped shape her family’s future: two of her three sons are now screened early, her youngest son, who played in the OHL and currently playing for Waterloo Warriors Men’s hockey team, is an ambassador for Colorectal Cancer Canada, and one has channelled this journey into his career, working on cancer research while pursuing a Master’s in Public Health and applying to medical schools.

This fall, Aneta and her family took part in Rally in the Ravine for the first time. For her, it was more than a fundraiser — it was a celebration of community and a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hospital that stood by her. “Rally is about families, neighbours, and friends coming together,” she says. “It’s my way of showing up for NYG, just as they showed up for me.”