GREENCASTLE – Alicia DeAngelis describes her colon cancer diagnosis last summer as a “very short story.”
Not so with her journey to restored health. That’s why DeAngelis said she takes time to stop, breathe and look for something that brings her joy. “And I can always find it.” A kindergarten teacher for 17 years, DeAngelis of Greencastle is on medical leave from her job as a first-grade teacher at Fairview Elementary School in Waynesboro.
The idea for her new book, “Penny’s Power of Perspective,” was born during “lots of sleepless nights because there were a lot of physical things happening. I would come up with rhymes and write them down.” The theme is that “you can change your mood if you look around and find two things that bring you joy or make you smile. It’s all about perspective.”
The children’s book that DeAngelis said everyone can enjoy was inspired by her friend Penny, who is “the most positive person. Everything about her is contagious, and I thought, ‘Let’s live like Penny and thrive off each other.’”
The book, which will feature watercolor illustrations by Waynesboro artist Seth Holmes, will be available from Amazon. “I am hoping it will be out in late spring. Plans for a second book are in the works. “It is about how Penny learns to use positive self-talk. The books will be part of a social and emotional learning series.
“When they told me I had cancer, I thought, ‘something good is going to come of this,” DeAngelis reflected. “I didn’t know what it was, but I realized no one’s going to knock on my door. I had to take some initiative.’”
The story for DeAngelis, 40, began when she felt a lump in her stomach in July 2025. “I turned 40 in March and was in the best shape of my life. At first I thought it was a hernia, because I lift weights. I also broke a blood vessel in my eye and learned I was anemic – you can become anemic when you have cancer because you are losing blood.”
A doctor ordered blood work and a CT (computed tomography) scan, which detected diverticulitis and prescribed antibiotics and steroids.
“After 10 days, the pain on my right side and back had increased, and I started another round of antibiotics. It was only a few days later that the pain was so excruciating I knew something was really wrong.” A colonoscopy revealed a cancerous tumor that was causing a stricture and surgery was ordered.
“The doctor said ‘your colon is like a garden hose. We’ll take that part out and put it back together.’ When I woke up, the doctor and nurses were very upset and said they couldn’t do it because the tumor was attached to my pancreas. I still had the tumor and an ileostomy bag. I was devastated, but I knew I had to move forward and live right now and care for myself.”
Now under the care of an oncologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, DeAngelis is undergoing chemotherapy “to shrink the tumor and loosen it so that it becomes unstuck to my pancreas.”
DeAngelis is feeling confident about the surgery, which she hopes will take place in late March or early April. “It is scheduled four to six weeks after chemo because you need time to strengthen your body and get ready for surgery.” Doctors have prepared DeAngelis for the possibility that a more complicated surgery, the whipple procedure, may be necessary. “They would take out part of my colon, pancreas and duodenum – the first part of your small intestine. In that case, they would have another operating room complete with a whipple surgeon team, one of the best in the country, ready.
“I am handling all of it very well. I am doing everything in my control to help myself. I am part of a Pilates studio, where there is Pilates, yoga and meditation. I lift weights, run, walk, do journaling and saw a therapist until she released me. I read tons of books and we got a sauna. That was a game changer. It’s amazing.” DeAngelis also said she suffers from neurotherapy. “The week I get chemo I have a stinging tingling in my hands induced by coldness. I also get quite nauseous. It’s (treatment) a lot of trial and error. Working with an oncologist is huge.”
During her hospitalization, DeAngelis said she will rest easy knowing care for her family – husband Eric, and children Aubrey, 11, and Jaxon, 8 – will be covered. “They say it takes a village … We’re surrounded by a village of absolutely incredible family, friends and colleagues. It’s amazing.
“The number one thing I appreciate is cards and notes. I read them when I need them. I made a board in the kitchen and will keep them forever. I never realized … I can’t explain how wonderful that feels – that has meant the most. This has taught my children there is so much kindness in the world. The lessons my kids are learning … No one wants them to go through this.”
