NEED TO KNOW
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Amy Piccioli was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer after an ER visit for dehydration in 2024.
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A liver transplant from a close family friend helped her achieve “no evidence of disease” after extensive treatment.
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Piccioli is now raising awareness about colorectal cancer and urging patients to explore transplant options if the disease spreads to the liver.
A woman’s life was transformed when a liver from her friend became her lifesaver.
Amy Piccioli, a 41-year-old accountant from Los Angeles, visited the emergency room in May 2024 after experiencing dehydration due to a stomach bug. At 39, she was a seemingly healthy mother of three, so the diagnosis came as a shock: scans showed a mass in her colon alongside multiple lesions on her liver. A biopsy later confirmed stage 4 colorectal cancer.
“I had no signs of colorectal cancer—no pain, no changes in bowel habits, and no family history,” she shared. “Hearing it was stage 4 felt like a death sentence. When I learned a transplant was an option, everything changed.”
Immediately, Piccioli began chemotherapy and later started on immunotherapy. She asked her doctors about the potential of a liver transplant.
Eventually, she was referred to Northwestern Medicine, noted for having one of the few liver transplant programs in the U.S. that cater specifically to colorectal cancer patients with liver involvement.
In September 2025, she went to Chicago to consult with Dr. Zachary Dietch, a surgeon specializing in transplants.
“Amy’s disease was limited to the liver, and she had responded well to treatment,” he noted. “For patients with colorectal liver metastases that can’t be surgically removed, chemotherapy usually results in a 10% five-year survival. However, among carefully chosen patients who receive a liver transplant, that number can jump to 60% to 80%.”
After sharing information about living-donor screenings with her circle, Piccioli was elated to discover that a close family friend, Lauren Prior, was a match.
“It felt like fate,” she expressed. “Lauren and her family offered to host me during recovery, and then she turned out to be my perfect match. At that moment, I felt more fear about the Chicago winter than about the transplant process.”
“Making such a small sacrifice can save someone’s life or enhance their quality of life,” Prior remarked. “The impact is incredible and absolutely worthwhile.”
In December 2025, both women underwent surgeries—doctors took a portion of Prior’s liver to replace Piccioli’s diseased liver.
Three months later, they were both recovering well. A subsequent blood test revealed no residual cancer cells in Piccioli, confirming she has “no evidence of disease.”
Piccioli plans to stay in Chicago for her recovery until the end of the month. With March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, she’s eager to share her story, especially as more younger individuals face this cancer.
“I’m committed to this cause,” she said. “If your cancer has spread to your liver, ask your doctor about transplant options. That info could save a life. I’m so grateful for my donor and the entire transplant team at Northwestern Medicine for saving mine.”
Colorectal cancer stands as the third most common cancer globally, after lung and breast cancers.
While overall colon cancer rates have dropped in the past decade, there has been a 2% annual increase in diagnoses among individuals under 50. Reports from the American Cancer Society indicate that one in five newly diagnosed with colon cancer is now under 55.
They recommend that adults aged 45 and older undergo regular screening, whether through stool tests or colonoscopies. Anyone experiencing symptoms—like changes in bowel movements, rectal bleeding, or unexpected weight loss—should consult a doctor.
Preemptive screenings are vital since symptoms typically only emerge when the cancer has advanced. Early detection and treatment yield better outcomes for those with colon cancer.
