Coral Springs cancer survivor travels to Washington with young advocates to push for increased colorectal cancer awareness and federal funding
Coral Springs, Florida – A Coral Springs mother and cancer survivor is turning her personal battle into a nationwide mission, bringing a new generation of young advocates to Washington, D.C., to push for increased awareness and federal funding for colorectal cancer research. Kasia Orzechowska, a Stage 4 young-onset colorectal cancer survivor, traveled to the nation’s capital in March with her family and local students as part of the national advocacy organization Fight Colorectal Cancer’s annual Call-on-Congress event. The trip offered firsthand experience in civic engagement and public health advocacy, highlighting the urgent need for resources to combat a disease that has increasingly affected younger adults.
Orzechowska’s advocacy stems from a deeply personal journey. She was first diagnosed in November 2017 after an initial misdiagnosis of gallbladder stones. At 40 years old, she was a mother of two young children, ages 2 and 8, and had little reason to expect colorectal cancer, which was far less common among people under 50 at the time. During what she believed would be routine gallbladder surgery, doctors instead discovered that the cancer had already metastasized to her liver.
“I was inoperable at first, and the statistics were not very good,” Orzechowska said. Following her diagnosis, her care was coordinated through Cleveland Clinic Florida, where she underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy. The treatments successfully reduced the tumors, enabling surgeons to perform both colon and liver resections. After additional chemotherapy, she was declared to have no evidence of disease. However, about a year later, the cancer returned on the other side of her liver, requiring a second liver resection. Orzechowska has now been cancer-free for six years.
“I am one of the lucky ones,” she said. “Only about 16 percent of people with a similar diagnosis live beyond five years.”
Now, she channels her experience into advocacy. “I made advocacy a personal mission after my diagnosis to save lives, and this year we brought a whole new generation of advocates with us,” she said. This year’s delegation included her 16-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, as well as several of their peers from Renaissance Charter School in Coral Springs. Altogether, eight young advocates joined the trip, engaging directly with lawmakers and learning the intricacies of policy advocacy.
During their visit, the group met with congressional offices representing South Florida, including those of U.S. Reps. Jared Moskowitz and Frederica Wilson, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. The students and their mentors urged lawmakers to support funding for colorectal cancer research, screening programs, and early detection initiatives. For Orzechowska, watching her children and their peers speak with confidence about such serious issues was especially moving.
“It was such an honor to watch these youngsters speak about funding and awareness. It gave me so much hope for the future,” she said.
The advocacy effort comes amid alarming statistics. According to the Cancer Research Institute, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths among people under 50 and the second deadliest overall, with cases rising 1.1% annually in younger populations. Despite its impact, it remains the only top cancer killer without dedicated federal research funding, underscoring the need for focused advocacy and public engagement.
Beyond Washington, Orzechowska and her son have spearheaded local efforts to raise awareness. They successfully requested proclamations recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in 18 Broward County municipalities, including Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate, Coconut Creek, and Deerfield Beach. The initiative demonstrates how advocacy can extend from the halls of Congress to local communities, creating a broader culture of awareness and prevention.
“We are trying to raise awareness, fight for more resources to save lives, and make sure families like ours don’t go through what we went through,” Orzechowska said. Her work illustrates how personal experiences can become a catalyst for social change, inspiring others to take action and prioritize health initiatives.
Through her advocacy, Orzechowska hopes to ensure that young people, families, and communities across the nation have access to life-saving information, early detection programs, and vital research funding. Her mission is clear: to transform her own survival into an opportunity to protect others, and to empower a new generation of advocates who can continue the fight against colorectal cancer.
As the campaign gains momentum, Orzechowska’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can have, turning personal hardship into a national call for awareness, funding, and hope. With her children and local youth by her side, she is building a legacy of advocacy that extends far beyond Coral Springs, leaving a lasting mark on the fight against colorectal cancer.
