Let’s talk about something that no one really wants to talk about—but far too many people are facing: colorectal cancer. In this candid and compassionate episode, I’m sharing my personal journey and walking you through what this diagnosis actually means—from symptoms to testing, treatment, and ultimately, remission.

I was 37 years old, healthy, active, and had no family history of colorectal cancer. What started as something minor—a little bleeding I blamed on postpartum hemorrhoids—turned out to be Stage 3 colorectal cancer. And it turned my entire world upside down.

In this episode, we cover:

• What colorectal cancer is and how it starts
• The early symptoms that you should never ignore
• What the testing process and colonoscopy actually look like
• How treatment plans are formed, including surgery, chemo, and more
• My real story—what I went through, what I learned, and where God showed up
• Biblical encouragement and how scripture carried me through the fire
• Practical advice for staying mentally, emotionally, and physically strong

This episode is for anyone facing a diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or just needing to hear truth and encouragement in a season of unknowns.

Important Statistics You Should Know

• Colorectal cancer rates in people under 50 have increased by nearly 50% since the 1990s
• It is now the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among people under 50 in the U.S.
• About 20% of new colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in individuals under 55
• Younger patients are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages due to delayed detection
• Early detection saves lives—the five-year survival rate is 91% when caught early
• The recommended screening age has been lowered from 50 to 45

The Personal Side of the Journey

I break down everything you might face if you’re walking through colorectal cancer—from what it actually feels like to hear the words “you have cancer” to the awkward realities of testing and procedures. I also talk about how I wore an ostomy bag, endured surgery, and eventually got the news that I was in remission.

None of this was easy. But with my faith and the promises of God as my foundation, I found strength, even in the hardest moments.

Here are a few of the scriptures that held me together:

• Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
• Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”

Steps You Can Take Now

• Advocate for yourself—if something feels off, speak up
• Get screened as soon as you're eligible
• Move your body and nourish it well
• Find a supportive community of people who will walk with you
• Ground yourself in truth through worship, prayer, and scripture
• Remember that it’s okay to laugh and cry in the same breath—this is hard, and you don’t have to pretend it’s not

Final Encouragement

You are not your diagnosis.

You are not defined by your symptoms or your scars.

You are loved, known, and seen by a God who promises to walk with you through every part of your journey.

You don’t have to go through this alone. Whether you are battling cancer, supporting a loved one, or simply feeling overwhelmed by health concerns—this episode was created to encourage you, inform you, and help you feel seen and supported.

Call to...

Welcome Back!

Hey friend, welcome back to Thrive Through the Fire! If you’re new here, I’m Alyssa Kilgore—a mom, nurse, Jesus-lover, and someone who knows firsthand what it’s like when life doesn’t go according to plan.

I don’t know about you, but I love a good plan. I have multiple calendars, a planner (or three), and a color-coded system for keeping my life organized. I love knowing what’s coming next and being in control.

And then, life happens. And God says, "That’s cute, but I have something else in mind."

What happens when life completely derails your plans.

How to surrender to God’s will—even when it doesn’t make sense.

Biblical examples of people who had their plans flipped upside down.

My own story and the moment I realized I wasn’t in control.

Practical steps to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually surrender.

Encouragement to trust that God’s plan is always better than ours.

We’re getting real, honest, a little snarky, and a whole lot of faith-filled—because this is not about sugar-coated Christianity. This is about learning to let go and trust God even when it feels impossible.

I thought I had my life figured out.

I was a busy mom of four, balancing work, family, and a never-ending to-do list. And then, at 38 years old, I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer—out of nowhere.

I went from being the caregiver to the one needing care. From making plans to realizing I wasn’t the one in charge. God was. (Newsflash: He always was.)

That year, my word became “surrender.” And let me tell you—it was both a smack in the face and the most beautiful lesson all at the same time.

Here’s the thing about surrender:

Most of us don’t do it willingly.

No one wakes up and says, "God, I’d love for You to completely turn my world upside down today!"

Usually, we surrender because we have no other choice. And when we think we’re calling the shots, God humbles us real quick.

If you think your life didn’t go as planned, let’s talk about some Bible greats who probably felt the same way.

Mary – The Ultimate "This Wasn’t the Plan" Moment (Luke 1:26-38)

Imagine being a teenage girl, engaged, planning a normal life—and then BAM—an angel shows up and says,

"Oh hey, Mary! You’re going to give birth to the Son of God. Surprise!"

Not exactly part of her wedding vision board.

And yet, her response blows me away:

Luke 1:38 – “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

She didn’t argue. She didn’t bargain. She surrendered.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I did not do that.

I fought. I begged. I cried.

"God, take this away. Please."

And yet Mary’s response? "May your word to me be fulfilled."

That’s a powerful example of surrender.

But if you’re struggling right now, if you’re begging God to take something away, I get it. And God can handle...

Hey friend! Welcome back to Thrive Through the Fire. If this is your first time here, I’m Alyssa Kilgore—a mom, a nurse, a believer, and someone who walked through the fire of a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis.

Today’s episode is all about the things I wish I had known before my diagnosis. My goal? To help you feel prepared, not afraid.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

The emotional rollercoaster and why it’s okay to not be okay.

The things no one tells you about treatment and recovery.

How to prepare for the awkward, embarrassing, and weird parts of this journey.

How to advocate for yourself as a patient.

How faith and fear collide—and how God walks with us through it.

The health prevention and early detection steps I want you to take NOW.

It’s crazy how one moment can change everything.

One minute, I was a busy mom of four, feeling great, working hard, volunteering at school and church. The next? I had a cancer diagnosis and a permanent spot in a chemo chair.

I thought I had more time. I was 37 years old—I thought I had more time before I had to worry about my health. More time before I had to deal with a diagnosis that flipped my entire life upside down.

But cancer doesn’t wait until you’re ready.

One day, I was running errands, answering endless "Mom, can I have a snack?" questions, and making sure everyone else was taken care of. And the next? I was the one who needed taking care of.

I ignored my symptoms. My doctor dismissed them, too. That’s the problem with colorectal cancer in young adults—it’s easy to overlook.

When I finally saw a specialist and went through all the awkward, uncomfortable, and invasive tests (hello, camera up my butt), the truth came out.

Stage 3 colorectal cancer.

And suddenly? I wasn’t the caregiver. I was the patient. I was the one waiting for biopsy results, trying to make sense of scary medical terms, wondering if my body was about to betray me completely.

If you’ve ever had to wait for medical results, you know the anxiety that comes with it.

A funny story (which, by the way, means it’s totally a God thing—because I don’t believe in coincidences):

Before my diagnosis, I had hired a mindset coach for my business. (Either you think that’s super cool or you’re rolling your eyes—pretending you’re not rolling your eyes, thanks!)

She was amazing—and when I got my diagnosis, she asked if I wanted to pause our sessions.

I decided to keep going because I needed a distraction. Turns out? God had placed her in my life for a reason.

She had also had a cancer diagnosis at a young age, and she told me something I’ll never forget:

"Alyssa, the waiting is the worst part. Waiting for diagnoses, test results, second opinions—that's the hardest part. But once you have a plan, you just do the plan. Left foot, right foot, breathe."

Psalm 62:5 – "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him."

I wish I had understood how much fear feeds on uncertainty. Looking back, the moments I had the most peace weren’t when I had all the...

Welcome Back!

Hey friend! Welcome back to Thrive Through the Fire. If life has ever thrown you into the deep end without a floatie, you’re in the right place.

Today’s episode? It might sting a little—because we’re talking about something none of us really want to hear:

God is more concerned with your character than your comfort.

I know, I know. Wouldn’t it be nice if life was just cozy blankets, smooth roads, and never having to wear pants with buttons? But that’s not how God works.

In this episode, we’re diving into:

Why God allows struggles and hardships.

Biblical examples of people who went through chaos—but came out refined.

My own experience with suffering (yes, I questioned God too!).

How to hold onto faith when life is physically, emotionally, or spiritually uncomfortable.

Actionable steps to trust God in the fire.

So if you’ve ever been frustrated with God, or wanted to quit when things got hard—this episode is for you.

No one signs up for pain. No one’s out here saying, “Lord, please, I’d love a season of suffering. Just go ahead and wreck my life.”

But here’s what I’ve learned—God isn’t in the business of making us comfortable. He’s in the business of making us holy.

James 1:2-4 says:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Did you catch that? Not “if” but “when.” Hard times aren’t an accident—they’re an assignment.

1. Joseph – From Favorite Son to Prisoner to Ruler (Genesis 37-50)

Joseph was his dad’s favorite, had big dreams, and a fancy coat. And what happened?

His own brothers threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery.

He ended up in prison for years—for a crime he didn’t commit.

If anyone had the right to ask “God, what are You doing?!”—it was Joseph.

But God wasn’t done. Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt and saved his family from famine. He later told his brothers:

Genesis 50:20 – "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

God wasn’t punishing Joseph—He was positioning him.

2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – The Ultimate Fire Walkers (Daniel 3)

These three guys refused to worship a king’s golden statue—and were thrown into a literal fire.

But when King Nebuchadnezzar looked inside, he saw four people in the fire. Not three.

Jesus was with them.

Daniel 3:25 – "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!"

God didn’t keep them out of the fire, but He walked through it with them. And when they came out? They didn’t even smell like smoke.

When I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer at 38, I was doing everything right:

Eating healthy.

Exercising.

Praying.

And yet, there I was—Googling survival rates, scheduling chemo, and learning how to live with an ostomy

Welcome to the Podcast!

Hey friend! Welcome to the very first episode of Thrive Through the Fire! You know, it’s kind of an unwritten rule that the first episode of a podcast has to start with an introduction—so here we are. Obligatory intro episode. But don’t worry, I promise it won’t be boring!

I’m Alyssa Kilgore—a wife, mom of four, nurse, accidental tech guru, coffee reheater extraordinaire, and stage 3 colorectal cancer survivor. This podcast is for anyone who has ever had life throw them an unexpected curveball—whether it’s a diagnosis, a loss, or just a season that makes you ask, “Seriously, God?”

In this episode, we’re diving into:

My personal journey through a shocking cancer diagnosis.

The fear, uncertainty, and emotions that came with it.

Where I saw God’s presence in my hardest moments.

Scripture, encouragement, and practical advice from a nurse—because let’s be real, there’s a LOT no one tells you.

The awkward, embarrassing, and uncomfortable things we need to talk about.

If you’re going through something hard right now, this episode is for you.

One day, I was just a regular mom—running errands, answering endless “Mom, can I have a snack?” questions, and microwaving my coffee for the third time. The next? I was sitting in a doctor’s office hearing the words, “You have cancer.”

I was 38 years old. I was in the best shape of my life. I felt fine. How could this be happening?

Suddenly, I was drowning in fear of the unknown:

What’s going to happen to me?

How bad is this going to get?

Will I ever feel normal again?

And let me tell you—fear thrives in the unknown.

But here’s what I’ve learned: fear loses its power when you know what to expect. That’s why I created this podcast—to help YOU be prepared, not afraid. Because God didn’t bring me through this just to keep it to myself.

Let’s talk about how this started—because colorectal cancer? Not exactly a glamorous diagnosis.

I was bleeding in my stool (yep, we’re going there). I mentioned it to my doctor multiple times, and each time I was told, “It’s probably just hemorrhoids.” But deep down, I knew something was wrong.

That gut feeling? That’s God. Listen to it.

After a very awkward colorectal exam and a colonoscopy, my doctor still reassured me that everything looked fine. Until I got the results.

I opened my patient portal, expecting to see “benign” or “nothing to worry about.” Instead, my eyes landed on words like "Adenocarcinoma" and "Lymphovascular invasion."

I went from not worried at all to Googling my survival rate and assuming I had three months to live.

Hospital tech teams—PLEASE stop putting biopsy results in patient portals before a doctor can explain them. Thank you.

I wish I could tell you that I immediately turned to faith. That I heard my diagnosis and thought, "Well, God’s got this!"

But no. I was scared. I was angry. I was begging God to take this away. And for a while? It felt like He was silent.

But looking back, I can see His fingerprints all over my story.

God was with me through every surgery, every chemo treatment.

He showed up in devotionals, in worship songs, in people He placed in my life.

He reminded me—over and over

I’m Alyssa Kilgore, and at 38 years old, as a mom of four, I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer out of the blue. One moment, life was normal. The next? Everything changed.

And let’s be real—the hardest part of anything isn’t just the battle itself… it’s the unknown.

Not knowing what to expect.

Not knowing how bad it’s going to get.

Not knowing if you’ll ever feel normal again.

That kind of fear? It can be overwhelming.

That’s why I created Thrive Through the Fire—to share my story and the stories of others who have faced the unimaginable, the uncomfortable, and the awkward, so that you never have to fear the unknown.

Whether it’s cancer, loss, uncertainty, or just one of life’s unexpected curveballs, we’re going to talk about it. Truthfully. Authentically. With a little humor, a lot of faith, and real-life wisdom that will actually help you.

Because even in the fire—there is hope.

During my journey, prayer became my lifeline, and the one scripture I held onto with everything in me was Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Maybe you’ve heard about God before, maybe you haven’t. Maybe you’re not sure what you believe. That’s okay—this space is for you too. My hope is that through this podcast, you’ll see just how good God really is, even in the hardest moments.

Here’s how you can be part of this journey:

Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Share this with someone who needs encouragement.

Join me as we step into the fire together—and thrive.

Thrive Through the Fire—coming soon wherever you get your podcasts.

Head to www.tools2thrive.org if you’re looking for encouragement, faith-building resources for your family, and ways to live intentionally while making a difference.