A Los Angeles mother says an uncommon surgical procedure has left her free of cancer after she was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer.
Amy Piccioli sought medical guidance last year after coming down with a stomach bug. Although she was worried, she assumed dehydration could be to blame, and says cancer never crossed her mind.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Amy said: “I had no symptoms. I’m one of those people who’s very diligent about my health and very cognizant about changes in my body. So for this to have happened without any signs or symptoms was just shocking to me.”
The 39-year-old said she felt “numb” when doctors explained how far the disease had progressed. “Immediately, you have those feelings of panic and fear,” she added.
She continued: “The cancer was all over my liver. In cases where the cancer is confined to one side of the liver, they can basically cut that portion out … but in my case, a resection was not a possibility because the cancer was everywhere.”
Amy said chemotherapy did help, but added that “the chances of eradicating the cancer entirely from my liver with chemo alone was very slim.”
With surgery to remove part of the liver not an option, she was told a liver transplant offered the clearest path to a potential full recovery.
While the approach is still relatively rare in the US, Amy learned that Northwestern Medicine in Chicago is able to consider transplant options for certain cancer patients.
Satish Nadig, a transplant surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, told Fox News that there are key requirements patients must meet before they can be approved.
“Response to chemotherapy is a critical gatekeeper for liver transplantation in colorectal liver metastases,” the healthcare professional said.
Amy had the transplant in December 2025, after a friend from childhood volunteered to become a living donor.
Although the surgery took place only three months ago, Amy says she’s already close to feeling like herself again.
“The first week or two were difficult, but by week four, I was up and around, getting back to doing normal life things,” she added to Fox News Digital.
“About two months out, I started working out again. I’m now three months out and feel completely normal. It’s amazing what the body can do.”
More recently, Amy said a blood test showed “no evidence of disease.” She is expected to remain under observation in Chicago through the end of the month before heading back home to Los Angeles.