Colon Cancer Rising In Millenials

Furthermore, "trends in young people are a bellwether for the future disease burden,” Siegel said. 

Well, damn. Most young people won't get screenings, colonoscopies, etc unless they have symptoms. For me, I had no symptoms until the disease had already reached a life threatening point- pain in my liver from tumors that had metastasized from my colon. The liver was already inoperable when I was diagnosed. That's pretty discouraging. I don't wish this illness on anyone, but am afraid that cancer is going to become a worsening epidemic in the future.

I'm certainly not a millenial, but I wasn't diagnosed until I displayed blood in my stool. Then later

found out it was stage four colon cancer. That happened several years ago and I'm still here and

still kicking. I have been so blessed that I wrote my short story about my bout with the Big "C". If you would like to read my story. Just go to my blog and my story is entitled "How I Beat Stage Four Colon Cancer" is there. God bless you on your journey.  blessed39

As I commented a few months ago, as I marked my 5 years NED, my son-in-law was dx'ed with stage 4 rectal cancer.  He is 29!  Currently had 4 mon chemo, liver ablation, radiation, oral chemo, now waiting on surgey date.  His cea is and remains very low.

They were married 6 months at time of dx.

Trubrit said:

Son

I've thought of him over the months. I hope the treatment gets rid of it. He's so very young, and presumably healthy. If old folks like us can kick it, he should have an even better chance. 

Thinking of him.

TRU

Tru,

Many thanks, needless to say this was a shock.  I was just approaching my 5 year NED and then this.  He is doing well but has the surgery ahead of him.  Most likely in April.  It is almost to hard to comprehend, just 5 minutes ago I was planning my daughter's bridal shower, picking out her wedding dress, dancing at her wedding, and now I am thinking about him getting a major surgery.  More major than mine (I had cc he has rectal cancer). I have learned they are much different.  I stopped crying because their are no tears left and crying is useless - I learned that through my own experience. 

Just not fair!

Hi Group - I had a colonoscopy in 2014 - all clear.  I even wrote on the form - 7-10 years for next one after appt.  Here it was June 2016 and I have an ultrasound - showed spots in my liver. Had CT scan showed "numerous" spots in liver.  Biopsy of liver lesion confirmed cancer, and follow-up colonoscopy confirmed primary in colon.  Metastatic CRC with liver mets - inoperable.  Unbelievable!  No symptoms, except one annoying backache while on car trip in June.  Ulrasound was just part of routine physical.  

This cancer can be very silent unfortunately, and so sad that it hits many at such a young age.  Also, it seems like a lot of the chemo treatment options go back a bit, and wonder what new options have been found helpful in past 10 yrs, if and/or when folfox or folfiri run their course - do they get ineffective when someone is on it for life?  Also, it's sad to see that cancer research has not been able to better help those who have terrible reactions and severe side effects of chemos like vectibix.  All of those side effects just add to the burden of having this cancer.  I feel the same way with the loss of my hair - is now just strings of frizz - look like an old woman when I look at myself, so I stick a hat on most of the day - only look more like myself when l wear my wig.  Everytime I look in the mirror without it, just reminds me of my cancer.  Sorry for the "rant" but hate that I have lost my hair, and how the hair loss changes my looks - does affect my well-being.

I believe that sitting at a desk for hours on end has affected the increased rate of colon cancer, and that has been reported on some sites.  I sat behind a desk sometimes 5-6 hours without standing up for anything for years prior to my diagnosis.  It is recommended that people take at least a 5-10 minute break every hour.  Some employers might allow 5 minutes, but not 10.

TRU, I had the same question as you, but of course, not many would talk about that on an open forum.  I believe there is some evidence that it has affected the increased rates of some cancer types.  I wish the medical field would warn about it if it is truly affecting health in such a serious manner.  They have warned about oral sex increasing rates of oral cancer, and we now know that cervical cancer can be minimized with gaurdasil vacinations (they recommend vacines for adolescents).  

Apparently there are different types of colorectal cancer (KRAS, BRAF, wild type, mutant, etc) not all have the same origin or treatment.   Researchers are probably working on the same questions.  

Dear Members

I had pain in lower part of my stomach and at the left side of the colon.  For three semi-surgical testings, doctrs found no indication for colon cancer.  My CEA level was 60 and after 15 months it becomes 89. Please advice me what to do?

Mohamed Nassir said:

High CEA and no indication for colon cancer

Dear Members

I had pain in lower part of my stomach and at the left side of the colon.  For three semi-surgical testings, doctrs found no indication for colon cancer.  My CEA level was 60 and after 15 months it becomes 89. Please advice me what to do?

What other testing was done?  CT with contrast?  PET/CT?

Mohamed Nassir said:

High CEA and no indication for colon cancer

Dear Members

I had pain in lower part of my stomach and at the left side of the colon.  For three semi-surgical testings, doctrs found no indication for colon cancer.  My CEA level was 60 and after 15 months it becomes 89. Please advice me what to do?

if your Cea is that high, something is up. A healthy CEA is 2. Definitely get to the Dr. immediately to prevent it from climbing higher. My CEA was 1600 ! Now it's 200.