health
A mom's Stage IV cancer had no symptoms. An innovative surgery saved her life.
When Amy Piccoli's son brought home a stomach bug in May 2024, she thought she knew what she was in for. The Los Angeles mom of three was used to seasonal illnesses and 24-hour viruses.
TL;DR
- Amy Piccoli was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in May 2024, with no prior symptoms or family history.
- The diagnosis was a shock, as she was diligent about her health and experienced no typical warning signs.
- Treatment initially involved chemotherapy and immunotherapy, leading to tumor shrinkage but not complete removal of liver tumors.
- Piccoli pursued a novel liver transplant procedure, which can dramatically increase five-year survival rates for eligible patients.
- She received a transplant from a living donor in December 2025 at Northwestern Medicine and is now undergoing follow-up scans.
- The procedure is described as transforming 'hospice into hope' for patients with limited options.