Two-Time Cancer Survivor Celebrates Yet Another Victory

After battling stage 3 and stage 4 rectal cancer, Fabian Trebizo is celebrating another victory. The Bakersfield resident recently completed his final radiation treatment and is grateful for the care, support, and encouragement from the team at the Adventist Health AIS Cancer Center that helped him navigate his cancer journey.

Trebizo, who began scheduling regular colonoscopies at age 35 because of a family history of colorectal cancer, was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer after a colonoscopy in October 2023 revealed a mass between his colon and rectum.

One month later, he underwent an ileostomy, which is a surgical procedure that creates an opening in the abdomen to allow stool to exit the body, bypassing the colon and rectum. The tumor was also removed. Shortly after surgery, he began radiation and chemotherapy. Nearly one year after his cancer diagnosis, he was told he was in remission.

“Then, during a follow-up appointment, doctors found nodules in my lungs, which a biopsy showed was the same mutation as the rectal cancer,” said Trebizo. “My diagnosis was upgraded to stage 4 rectal cancer, so now I’m a two-time cancer survivor.”

After additional chemotherapy and an ileostomy reversal to restore normal bowel function, there were no signs of cancer, but Trebizo needed a colostomy ─ a procedure that creates an opening in the abdomen, allowing stool to exit the body through part of the colon.

Trebizo’s final radiation appointment was on May 8, 2026.

“I’ve been blessed with a great care team,” says Trebizo, who received care from hematologist-oncologist Neeraj Agnihotri, MD, and radiation oncologist Luis Mariscal, MD.

“They are amazing and the cancer center’s support group helped tremendously,” he adds. “They’ve provided me with so much inspiration and hope.”

As a certified substance use counselor, Trebizo knows firsthand the value of a strong support system. He says the care team and support group at the AIS Cancer Center made a huge difference.

“Hearing other people’s stories and knowing that I’m not alone gives me so much hope and inspiration,” he says.

When Trebizo learned he had cancer, his first thought was to reach for a drink.

“I thought to myself, I might as well, but I stayed strong,” he says. “Everything I have today is all glory to God. I’ve been surviving my whole life, and I want to leave a legacy for my family.”

Trebizo has been married for 31 years and is the father of four children and grandfather to two granddaughters. Two of his children are young men, and he’s already speaking to them about the importance of regular screenings and early prevention.

Today, Trebizo continues sharing his story with others, encouraging regular screenings, early detection, and perseverance through life’s challenges. He hopes his journey serves as a reminder that cancer does not define a person and that with faith, support, and determination, it is possible to overcome even the toughest of obstacles.