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| Visit ccalliance.org or ccalliance.org/nevertooyoung to learn more about your risks, screenings, treatments, cancer facts and how to start the conversation. |
For Me, This Is Personal - My Mom and Colorectal Cancer
My mother suffered from "gut" troubles as long as I can remember. Gut aches would put her in bed and after testing that screened her virtually end to end in the '80's, she cried "enough!" I don't remember exactly which summer it was, but I do remember all the trips to area hospitals and clinics, all the fasting and prep days, all the long waits to see what was making my mom so sick. What we wound up with was a summer gone, huge doctor bills and no idea why she had pain. She was done with all the tests, the preps, the fasting, the chicken broth, yellow or green jellos and the whole shitty lot. (Pardon the pun, but yeah, I just went there.) Fast forward to the spring of 2008, over 20 years with no colon cancer screenings. Ma had slipped, landing roughly in the area of her right kidney. She had pain and thought she bruised something. At the time Ma and Pa were enjoying Pa's recent retirement with gambling trips or trips to the local supper club for fish fries or prime rib. Ma is tough, too tough for her own good sometimes, and so it was Pa who noticed something wasn't right. Ma ate little and sipped less than half of her tapper of light beer. He asked what was wrong, that he knew she didn't feel well because she'd barely touched her food or her beer. Ma said that maybe she'd bruised a kidney when she slipped. Us kids urged her to go see the doctor, maybe it was an infection, and the doctor started her on an antibiotic and sent in tests the next week. When his office called with the results, they told her to stop the antibiotic, it was something else and a CT was scheduled.
By the end of that next weekend, Ma felt worse, barely ate, was vomiting what she did eat. We urged her to go into the ER, she didn't want to go, saying they never did anything on a Sunday but make you wait for Monday. The family won out and Ma agreed to go in, she stayed in. They kept her, said the ultrasound and CT showed something, they wanted a better look. She was kept NPO, and cleaned out for a colonoscopy. It was cancer. She had a baseball sized tumor in her cecum, the place where the large and small intestine meet. Since she was cleaned out, they kept her NPO and surgery was scheduled. The surgeon said he didn't know how anything was getting past that tumor, he could barely get his pinky finger between the wall of her colon and the tumor. She lost 9 inches of her large intestine, 5 inches of her small intestine. The pathology report said the tumor had grown through to the outer layer of her large intestine, one of 7 lymph nodes tested cancerous. She was diagnosed at stage IIIA with colon cancer. Next came chemotherapy.
We were lucky. She had pain that prompted her to seek treatment. She survived, and this summer will mark 7 years of survivorship . However, had she been getting regular screenings it never would have gotten that far.
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| If getting a colonoscopy seems scary, then you are not alone, but honestly, the prep is the worst part. Visit ccalliance.org for tips and tricks to make it easier to stomach, questions you should ask if your doctor recommends you have one, and tips on how to start the conversation. You can even download a family tree to help you determine your risks! |
The Facts
Early screening saves lives. As colon cancer advances, the more deadly it becomes. Once colon cancer becomes metastatic, only 13% will reach their 5 year survivor milestone. While 90% of new cases and 95% of colon cancer deaths occur in those over 50, the incidence of colon cancer in those under age 50 is on the increase. If you have a first degree relative (parent, sibling, child) who had been diagnosed, you have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of developing this cancer.
The good news is, when colon cancer is found early, in its local stage, the 5 year survival rate is 90%! Since the 1980's we've gotten so much better at screening. If the colon cancer is regional, the 5 year survival rate is 70%, and once it spread or metastasizes to the distant stage, survival drops to 12% for that 5 year milestone. So, screening saves lives by finding colon cancer early!
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| The colonoscopy is the best way to detect colon cancer early, and when detected early, colon cancer is the most treatable and preventable of cancers. Don't let your pride or embarrassment keep you from |
The Screening
A colonoscopy is the absolute best way to find this cancer early. Colon cancer is unique in that it is one of the most preventable and most treatable cancers when found early. The colonoscopy frightens you? There are at home stool tests you can do to. The important thing is to discuss your risks with your doctor, and then follow the screening protocol you and your doctor determine is right for you.
The good news is that screenings are up 60% since 2010. The bad news is that pride, ignorance, embarrassment or money issues are still keeping 1 out of 3 adults aged 50-75 are not getting screened. There are options to help you afford screening, several screening methods, so, if you are 50, at risk or symptomatic , talk to your doctor and get screened.
Just like me, renowned actor Terrence Howard has a story of colon cancer in his mother. He has joined CCA as their new national spokesperson. Hear why he is urging YOU to #getscreened4 yourself and those you love!
Not Just an "Old People" Disease
The fact is that colon cancer is diagnosed 10% of the time in people under age 50. Cases in those under 50 are on the rise while in the 50+ crowd, there has been a decline. Young onset cancer is often caught at advanced stages. In 15-50% of young onset cases, treatment is delayed because of misdiagnosis or missed symptoms.
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| Meet Ed Yakacki, colorectal cancer survivor. Diagnosed just days after his 30th birthday, he now shares his long, scary story to raise awareness. Read his story. |
So, What Are The Symptoms of Colon Cancer?
According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms include:
- A change in bowel habits: including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of the stool.
- Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.
- Persistent abdominal discomfort: gas, pain, or cramps.
- Feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely.
- Weakness or fatigue.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Many people do not have symptoms in the early stage of the disease.
Colonoscopy scary? Having a healthy sense of humor about your body may help. Visit ccalliance.org for more tips to make this life saving screening tolerable.
What Can You Do To Decrease Your Colon Cancer Risk?
There are things you can do to decrease your risk. Get screened. Exercise regularly. Know your family history. Eat a balanced, healthy diet. Don't smoke.
Learn More:
Visit the Colon Cancer Alliance website to learn more!
Get Screened "For My Mom". Actor Terrence Howard shares his story
Never Too Young - learn the facts about early onset colorectal cancer.
Visit Mayo Clinic - learn more about symptoms, when to see your doctor, and more.
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