In late 2022, Amber Mike, then 44, underwent routine surgery to remove uterine fibroids after struggling with heavy periods. When she saw blood in the toilet a few months later, she assumed it was related to her procedure.
“I called my gynecologist, and he said, “That’s not how that works, I think you should have a colonoscopy,’” remembered Mike, who was the vice president of branded content and integration for BET Media Group at the time. “I blew it off. I’m a very active person and was living a high-octane life, travelling for work.”
In May 2023, she finally scheduled a colonoscopy. On a work trip leading up to the visit, Mike answered intake questions from the gastroenterologist over the phone, who also expressed concerns about her symptoms.
“He said ‘When you get off the plane, if your bleeding is worse or you are short of breath, I need you to go to the emergency room,” said Mike, who still wasn’t concerned. “I got to the appointment and go under. They wake me up and they told me they found cancer. I barely heard anything else, because as soon as somebody said we found a tumor — I shut down.”
She was immediately referred to City of Hope’s National Cancer Center in Duarte, California.
“There was no question. That's where I was going,” said Mike, who is now thriving after completing treatment for stage 3 colorectal cancer. “Once I finished my colonoscopy and they realized what they saw, that was the only call they made.”
“It Was a Roller Coaster”
Mike’s colonoscopy that found a tumor was on a Saturday and by Tuesday she was meeting with an oncologist at City of Hope.
“It was fast and furious, but from the top, I could tell what I was going through was a priority for everyone,” said Mike, who started six rounds of chemotherapy a month later after an issue with her port were resolved. Unfortunately, she immediately had complications from the medication; after one round, her white blood cell count dropped dramatically.
“We found out I was allergic to the chemo, so they had to slow down my dosage, meaning what should have been two-hour infusions now lasted eight hours,” said Mike, who also dealt with temporary, steroid-induced diabetes from medications administered to tamp down the allergic reaction. “There were some periods where I was really struggling. I lost my sense of taste; I lost 40 pounds. It was a roller coaster.”
After she completed her initial rounds of chemotherapy, Mike had to have surgery to remove five inches of her colon and the remaining tumor. Follow-up testing revealed cancer still in her bloodstream, so she had to endure six more rounds of chemotherapy, which she completed in April 2024.
"Amber is an incredibly resilient woman who was diagnosed at a very young age,” said Krushangi Patel, M.D., Mike’s oncologist at City of Hope. “Like many young patients with cancer, she was diagnosed at a later stage in the disease and had an uphill battle to get control over it.”
Early-onset cancer — defined as cancer diagnosed between ages 18 and 49 — is on the rise for colorectal cancer, according to Dr. Patel, who said it is projected to cause the second-most cancer deaths in 2026 just after lung cancer. As such, Dr. Patel notes it is crucial to know your personal risk and be vigilant about screening as well as getting any new symptoms or changes evaluated by your doctor promptly.
“Amber is doing well now and is being monitored very closely to make sure her cancer does not come back,” Dr. Patel said. “Her strength and vigilance are exactly what we need to address these early-onset cancer diagnoses and treatment.”
The Spirit to Guide
Mike credits some of her strength to the connections she made during her cancer journey and is now hoping to lend that support to others. In fall 2023, after finishing her first round of chemotherapy, a participant in City of Hope’s annual Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) Spirit of Life Gala, invited her to a special dinner. The Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group consists of over 150+ music and entertainment executives who dedicate their efforts and time to fundraise in support of City of Hope.
“A performer at the event asked me to join him the night before the gala,” said Mike, who thought she would just be catching up with a good friend. “I was tired and weak, but when I get there it’s all these music executives and luminaries and artists; my friend set it up because he knew I was a patient at City of Hope. The host had the heart to hear my story and invited me to the gala taking place the next day.”
Two years later, in 2025, Mike shared her story on stage at the Spirit of Life Gala, which honors industry leaders who exemplify the ideals and values that guide City of Hope including compassion, service, integrity, and collaboration.
“It was terrifying talking in front of that crowd of 900 people,” Mike said. “But knowing I can make an impact with my experience is special. The spirit to guide, to be the big sister or the knowledgeable friend, that's always been in me, but now I have an even bigger reason to try and be that person.”
One of the ways she is giving back is by participating in Walk for Hope, a nationwide annual fundraiser for City of Hope that brings together survivors, families, friends, and supporters to help fund research and patient care.
“It is amazing to look around and say, ‘My God, these are people that have gone through what I'm going through,’” said Mike, who hopes her participation is inspiring also. “To be able to encourage other people and even just smile and offer empathy helps me a lot, too.”
She’s dedicated to talking about her experience outside of formal events as well, trying to dispel the myth that colorectal cancer is an older person’s disease and that colonoscopies are a scary procedure.
“One thing that we're learning, especially about colorectal cancer, is that the numbers are increasingly scary for Black women,” Mike emphasized. “I’ve been at dinner parties telling people colonoscopies aren’t that bad, just do it. It's important to have these conversations and for others to see a wide range of people who have experienced colorectal cancer because it makes it more real and more grounded.”
While Mike unfortunately lost her job due to company-wide layoffs last fall, she’s staying connected to the music and entertainment business through her advocacy and believes her path forward will be heavily influenced by her experience with cancer.
“I know somehow, some way, that whatever is happening next in my life, whatever my role is, will be tied to this,” Mike said.
Life After Treatment
As she searches for her next big career or volunteer role, Mike is pushing to get back to a new normal. She’s been traveling more, recently enjoying trips to Amsterdam, Hawaii and Houston and saying yes to opportunities that bring joy.
“I spent the last year celebrating, and so I eat and hang out and have fun and all the good stuff,” she said. “But now I have to also work on putting myself back together the right way.”
Mike is managing some vision and joint damage and working with a trauma-based therapist who specializes in cancer patients. She gets her tumor markers checked every three months and hopes to get her chemo port out soon. Through MFEI, Mike also discovered Future Hope, a committee comprised of rising young entertainment industry professionals dedicated to philanthropic outreach and advocacy. There, she met other survivors who had formed a support group.
“My therapist had told me I needed to find a survivorship group, because this is going to be something that I will deal with for the rest of my life,” Mike said. “In one of our first conversations, Loren [Fishbein], who manages MFEI, said the word survivorship and offered to connect me to the group. There have been so many moments of serendipity along the way; this entire experience has been marked with miracles.”
She said it’s been amazing to meet other young women that have had similar experiences and to be able to share the ups and downs of living after cancer. But outside support hasn’t been Mike’s only source of encouragement. Her friends and family — including her 25-year-old son — have been instrumental in getting her to where she is today.
“I have a really good girlfriend who helped me raise my son,” said Mike, who is a single mom. “She was one of the first people I told. I remember saying to her, ‘Hey, I just need you to take care of Alex, I need you to make sure he's okay,’ and she stopped and said, ‘I need you to start imagining what we're going to do when this is over.’”
The personal touch she found in City of Hope staff, nurses and physicians also helped bring brightness to some of Mike’s darkest days.
“It always felt like me making it, me being okay, me being comforted, me being healthy meant something to them,” said Mike, who stresses that emotional aid is key to getting through illness. “Find some people that you can count on that will ground you, that will love you through it all, and just somehow, some way, get the belief in yourself that this is going to be okay.”
From Survivor to Advocate
Three years after her diagnosis and two years cancer-free, Amber has embraced a new role: helping others navigate their own cancer journeys.
In 2026, she expanded her advocacy efforts through City of Hope's "Ending Cancer Starts with Hope" brand campaign, Walk for Hope and several speaking engagements where she shares her experience as a young colorectal cancer survivor.
"This part of my life is all about survivorship and all the reinvention that comes with it," Amber said.
Along the way, she has also celebrated important personal milestones, traveling to destinations including Amsterdam and Trinidad while reconnecting with the experiences and adventures that cancer once put on hold.
Ending Cancer Starts with Hope
When asked what "Ending Cancer Starts With Hope" means, Amber reflects on the role hope has played throughout her journey.
"Hope has been the power behind and guiding force throughout my cancer journey. It's the point where optimism and planning align."
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at (833) 902-5220.