Patient Credits Winter Haven Hospital Team for Life-Saving Rectal Cancer Treatment

In her three years as a nurse navigator at Winter Haven Hospital’s Cassidy Cancer Center, Karen Gonzalez says she’s met hundreds of patients who are just beginning their cancer journeys. She helps patients coordinate appointments, referrals, transportation, food insecurity and side effect management. She is one part of a multidisciplinary team built to provide patient-centered care.  

“I try to empower patients through education and advocacy,” Gonzalez said. She works with physicians, nurses, infusion technicians and others to help patients through diagnosis, surgery, treatment and recovery. All BayCare hospitals offer compassionate cancer care that is tailored for each individual patient. 

When Gonzalez met Debbie Thibeault, whose last name is pronounced "TEE-bo,” she knew there was something special about her. Thibeault had been recently diagnosed with rectal cancer. “Mrs. Thibeault is an exceptional case” Gonzalez said. “She leaned into the love and support that surrounded her. She remained strong in her faith. Her kind spirit continued to radiate.”  

Thibeault, a former New Hampshire resident who now makes her home in Winter Haven, said that it was Gonzalez and her BayCare Medical Group physicians – Hassan Ebrahim, MD, a medical oncologist; and Clinton Hall, MD, a surgeon – who led the way for a successful outcome. 

She shares her story in March during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to help others.  

Two years ago, she and her husband began establishment with a local primary care physician.  When she met with her new doctor, Thibeault mentioned her previous colonoscopy she had seven or eight years ago. Her doctor scheduled a colonoscopy for Jan. 3, 2024. But as she prepared for the procedure, “nothing was coming out,” said Thibeault, 65. “I had to call and cancel the colonoscopy.” 

After becoming constipated and bloated, Thibeault went to the Winter Haven Hospital Emergency Department the following day and was admitted to the hospital. Dr. Hall said a CT scan showed a complete obstruction of her rectum. Surgery was ordered, in which a portion of her rectum was removed along with a 5-centimenter tumor and 14 lymph nodes. A colostomy was also constructed to create an opening for the colon through the abdomen.  

A diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer – a cancer that began in the colon and spread – was confirmed. 

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 154,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer will occur this year in the United States, and that about 53,000 people will die from the disease in 2025. While the rates of diagnosis dropped from 2012 to 2021, that has mostly been because older adults are being screened. Unfortunately, rates increased for those age 50 and younger during the same years. A few years ago, the ACS started recommending that average risk screening for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45; and if there is a family history, screening should begin at 40. 

During her colonoscopy from nearly a decade ago, Thibeault said some polyps had been found. Although she was told to follow up, she didn’t. Thibeault said that sometimes, she’s afraid to go to the doctor.  

“Unfortunately, we do see this,” Dr. Ebrahim said. “We can all be afraid of the unknown but routine screenings are necessary). With early detection, we have a much greater chance of curative outcomes.” 

Following surgery, Thibeault had chemotherapy for about six months. “A lot of people here said that I was an inspiration,” she said. “I never looked sick. The steroids plumped me up a bit because they didn’t want me to lose weight.” 

In late January, Thibeault was back at the hospital to reverse the colostomy. A portion of the rectum remained after the first surgery, Dr. Hall said, which allowed him to have a target to reattach the colon and reverse the colostomy. 

“The standard care plan would be to reverse the colostomy based on favorable treatment response,” Dr. Ebrahim said. “Her recent PET scan shows excellent response, and her testing detected no evidence of disease.”  

Dr. Hall and Dr. Ebrahim said that Thibeault doesn’t require any further treatment at this time. But she will need to have CT scans twice annually for monitoring. 

For now, Thibeault continues to be happy that the hospital team provided her treatment. She is comforted by her husband Keith who “has been a great support system” and the prayer warriors in Winter Haven and New Hampshire.  

Her advice: “I would highly recommend you get your colonoscopy done,” she said. “I ended up having a blockage. I had polyps and one of those could have been cancer forming. If I had done the follow up back then, it could have saved me from going through this.” 

Gonzalez, the nurse navigator, said that Thibeault’s attitude and determination carried her through this chapter in her cancer journey. “Seeing those words “no evidence” of disease was nothing short of extraordinary.,” Gonzalez said. 

With 16 hospitals, more than 20 imaging centers and hundreds of facilities, BayCare offers cancer care where patients need it. From diagnosis to treatment to recovery and beyond, BayCare is there to offer advanced and compassion care. For more information on BayCare’s cancer care, visit BayCareCancer.org.