We MUST be 'more than 1%' by now!!!!!!

KathiM
KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I remember going to a conference a year ago where I was politely but firmly told that because of my age, and my sex (hummm, wasn't...oh! TMI), that I fell in the "less than 1%" of all colorectal cancer patients!!!!

With my sister, and other women I know in the 45-55 age range 'aquiring' this rare rectal cancer, even with no family history....well, I'm on a mission!!!!!

I WILL once again pick up my placard...and hit somebody with it if they don't listen!!!!

OK, thanks for listening...lol

Hugs, Kathi
«1

Comments

  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #2
    Luckily their silly stats were wrong about my life expectancy too!!!!!!!!

    Lisa P.
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #3
    Hmmmm....I'm in the same category as you! Female...55 You hit for me, too, with your place card. Ha!
    claudia
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    #4
    I'm in the same category - 48 and Female.

    Debbie
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #5
    I'm in the less than 1% group. I was diagnosed at 32 years old. Female, and not one single risk factor! Hmph.

    Yep, we need new info. Kathi, do some hitting for me too. jana
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #6
    Hey, Kathi -

    Go for it. I'm at the top end of the 1% as I was "just" 55 when diagnosed. (Is it possible to be "just" 55?)

    Betsy
  • goldfinch
    goldfinch Member Posts: 735
    #7
    Age 46 at diagnosis of stage 3 rectal cancer (4 years to the day today).
    Healthy weight, worked out 5 days per week for 2o something years, very little beef in last 20 years or so (1/month would be an over estimation). Good vegie intake for 10 years or so. Only family relative with colon ca an uncle on my mom's side.
    Only risk factor was alcohol intake 1-2, 5-6 days per week.
    Gotta be more than 1 %.
    Mary
  • cindybob
    cindybob Member Posts: 61
    #8
    I agree, it's gotta be way more than 1%. Although last week my onc P.A. did say that I was the youngest (And I'm female) that their office had ever worked with. I was 36. (I'm 4 years out.)
    Cindy Bob
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
    yes, female, 48, colon cancer
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #10
    Clearly shows that statistics are quite unreliable...by the time they are published they are old and outdated. Just like survival rates, thank goodness.

    I had a similar experience at an oncology conference last year. I sat in a room of fellow colorectal cancer patients, all of whom had at least 15 years seniority on me (I was dx at 42), and I asked if it is a good time to consider lowering the age for baseline colonoscopies. The doctor gave me a patronizing look and told me that people dx under age 50 is less than 10%. Kathi, you are beyond unique with the type of cancer you had.

    If you are going to lobby for reducing the age from 50 to 40, or younger, for baseline colonoscopies...I'll hold 'em down until they listen or until you are forced to wield your placard!
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #11
    Kathi,

    I was diagnosed at the age of 51, but the doctor said I probably had the beginnings of cancer at the age of 40 and that my children should be checked (colonoscopy) by the age of 30.

    What can we do to get this across to the insurance companies and the doctors that many times by the age of 50 is too late?? I'm on that band wagon with you......let's talk.


    Kerry
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #12
    diagnosed with rectal cancer at age 46. I was told that my children should have a colonoscopy at age 30 which means my oldest needs one next year. Her physician has already told her he won't refer her because she is too young. Of course, her insurance requires a referal so she will have to change doctors. Most of them still don't seem to have a clue!
    Jamie
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #13
    Me too. Diagnosed age 44. Female. Zero risk factors, healthy. My kids will have to be diagnosed 30-ish. I was told I cd have had the tumour for 10 years, so I'll be pushing for even earlier. They cd nip a polyp, then monitor.
    Tara
  • rthornton
    rthornton Member Posts: 346 Member
    #14
    What is the percent group for a male diagnosed at age 35 with stage IV disease?
  • tkd3g
    tkd3g Member Posts: 767
    #15
    Hi Kathi.

    The medical world is going to have to change it's guidelines.

    I was 42 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal CA.

    My medical history:
    healthy, NEVER smoked, NEVER drank, NO drugs, NOT overweight,was probably in the best shape of my life.

    Weird thing is that I had just had a colonoscopy 1 year prior to this exam and everything was clean as a whistle. ( my father did have colon cancer - think it was stage 1 when he was 62?)

    I went in for what I thought were hemorrhoids. SURPRISE! Either he missed it the first time, which I doubt, or it was very fast growing.

    Anyway, my daughters are going to have to be checked early. I would like to see them go in as early as 20 -25.

    Maybe we can have everyone chime in on this thread then everyone take it to their colorectal doctors and gp's. ( as well as the oncologists )

    Barb
  • hoagiemom
    hoagiemom Member Posts: 87 Member
    #16
    tkd3g said:

    Hi Kathi.

    The medical world is going to have to change it's guidelines.

    I was 42 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal CA.

    My medical history:
    healthy, NEVER smoked, NEVER drank, NO drugs, NOT overweight,was probably in the best shape of my life.

    Weird thing is that I had just had a colonoscopy 1 year prior to this exam and everything was clean as a whistle. ( my father did have colon cancer - think it was stage 1 when he was 62?)

    I went in for what I thought were hemorrhoids. SURPRISE! Either he missed it the first time, which I doubt, or it was very fast growing.

    Anyway, my daughters are going to have to be checked early. I would like to see them go in as early as 20 -25.

    Maybe we can have everyone chime in on this thread then everyone take it to their colorectal doctors and gp's. ( as well as the oncologists )

    Barb

    stage 3 and 42 years old. My dr told me he should've seen me when I was 40. Grandmother had it at 70. If I didn't have any bleeding it could've been worse. So I'm in the 1%.


    Michelle
  • catherine58
    catherine58 Member Posts: 92
    #17
    I was diagnosed at 48 with colon cancer. By the time they took it out the tumour was the size of a "small football" so it had probably been there for ages. I had no risk factors whatsoever: no family history, not overweight, didn't smoke, hadn't eaten red meat for years, took lots of exercise ...

    Catherine
  • ccarr
    ccarr Member Posts: 3
    #18
    Stage II @ 44......By the looks of this thread...definitely more than 1%
  • rmap59
    rmap59 Member Posts: 266
    #19
    I am still another Female 47 dx with stage 3 rectal cancer. The surgeon said it had been there for a while! No immediate family but a cousin. Anyway I'm with you, baseline at least 40.
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #20
    Check this out:

    http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #21
    Age 42 female dx stage IV hit them for me and hit them HARD!

Discussion Boards