Bianca Harvey Opens Up About Her Colon Cancer Journey
Bianca Harvey is bravely sharing her story to raise awareness and inspire others. Alongside heartfelt family photos, she recounted how her health began to decline — starting with mild stomach pain in early 2023, which she thought was part of her recovery after fibroid surgery.
Despite multiple ER visits and inconclusive tests, her pain worsened. As a sixth-grade science teacher in Colonial Heights, Virginia, she often had to retreat to her car to cry. One day, unable to stand while teaching, she finally confided in her principal, admitting she was in constant pain and barely managing day to day.
Bianca had always been active — a track athlete, personal trainer, and kickboxing coach. But by mid-2023, she’d lost her appetite, was dropping weight, and told her clients she needed to take a break.
A CT scan in June 2023 revealed a tumor in her stomach. A colonoscopy confirmed it: colon cancer. She was just 33. The news devastated her, especially knowing her daughter Keilani, then seven, depended on her. Though shocked, Bianca stressed the importance of early screening, especially as more young people are being diagnosed.
Her family rallied around her. Her parents drove hours to be by her side, and a former coach of her father recommended treatment at Duke Health. There, she learned the cancer was stage 4 and had spread to her pancreas, making surgery impossible.
She began intense chemotherapy and immunotherapy under Dr. Nicholas DeVito’s care. Her previously strong health made the diagnosis even more surprising. Dr. DeVito noted, “This can really happen to anybody.”
Cancer had already touched Bianca’s family — her father beat the disease in 2019. But her experience turned out much harder. She often needed help with basic tasks. Her daughter’s father stepped in, and her mother moved in to help care for Keilani.
During the toughest times, Bianca shielded her daughter from the worst of it, telling her gently, “Mommy is very sick.” Though the routine changes were difficult, Bianca made sure Keilani felt loved and secure.
Now 9, Keilani remains her reason to fight. “I don’t want her to grow up without a mom,” Bianca said. Her faith anchors her. In a September 2024 Instagram post, she wrote, “I’m doing more praying and less worrying, walking by faith and not by sight.”
Determined to turn pain into purpose, Bianca spoke at the Crush Colorectal Cancer 5K in March 2025 and continues to share her journey on TikTok. Although she can no longer work, she urges others to listen to their bodies and advocate for screenings, especially with family history.
Community support — through prayers, messages, and donations — keeps her going. Bianca remains hopeful, praying every day for healing. “I kept fighting,” she says. And she still is.
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