Any other females under age 50, dx of stage III here?

I was 49 at dx...
Healthy, enthusiastic, works well with others....lol!

Stage III, but wierd...squamous cell carcinoma in the first rectal fold.

Dx'ed 12/2004, treated and finished, 5/2005, dx'ed stage II breast cancer 8/2005, treated and finished 7/2006.

NED (No Evidence of Disease) on either cancer.

Just returned from a driving trip from Holland, thru Belgium, Luxemborg, France, Switzerland, and Germany.

No, you are NOT finished with living!!!

Hugs, Kathi

Me Too!
Hi, I was dx at age 46 with IIIc colon cancer, did chemo 1/08 finished 7/08 and now having a biopsy (monday) for possible
mets to lung. At least I can say I had a year off to prepare for whats in store for me next. I have 3 daughters, 21,16 & 15. I talked to
them recently about the current situation and cannot say it was easy, but we felt they need to be prepared. My husband is really good and took up all the pick ups and drop offs and most meals. I struggled with wanting to clean but in the end said WTH and just lived with it. I did some traveling in my time off from chemo and recently went Vegan and walk everynight. Just getting my body in shape for things to come. Hang in there, think today and not tomorrow, we got to live in the moment.
Donna

27...
I was diagnosed the day after I turned 27 with stage III that developed from a juvenile polyp. I had nearly zero risk factors, really no symptoms to speak of, and was healthy up to that point.

I had surgery to remove the cancer and 6 months of chemo to add insurance.

I will be celebrating my 5 year mark the beginning of October, and have so far been blessed with NED (no evidence of disease).

Unfortunately, there are way too many people, male and female, being diagnosed at advanced stages under the age of 50.

I wish you luck on your cancer journey. I haven't had a chance yet to read your story. Just remember don't give up. As long as you can pull a breath, you have a chance.

Patricia

Welcome to the board!
Hello! You will find all too many of us diagnosed before 50. I was 38, stage IIIc, and had been sick for years before that. I was also a vegetarian for many years, and only had great uncles who were diagnosed later in life. They're not considering them a factor.

Hang in there, and visit us often. If you need to vent, or get questions answered, this is the place. Trust me when i say you can get more information here than the doctors are able to give you, particularly about the ways treatments can effect you, and what it's like to go through this.

Hugs,
Krista

under 40!
Hi Kathryn,

i just posted on your other thread my particulars but I didn't mention I was 39 when I was dx'ed and by the size of my tumor I had it from 5-10 years before dx. I have 5 children and was nursing a toddler at the time. Most of my kids have left the nest and I'm 8 years cancer free! I just keep hanging out on these boards to encourage people to change their diets and alkalize their systems, juice, detox and give them hope for survival.

Yeah, it was an odd feeling that a crunchy granola type like me who didn't drink a drop, smoke, eat refined sugar or fast food, and exercised like a fiend could get what I thought was an old fat stinky man's disease. How wrong I was!

I never was "sick" since I didn't do any chemo so I didn't feel like I should unnecessarily worry them with the stats that I was told (30 % chance of living 5 years) and just did what I could to heal and get healthy again. Cancer is a symptom of a deeper issue and to this day I am still digging to the root. It's a process.

My parents moved up to MN from SC to take care of my family while I healed. I was juicing 3 qts of fresh veggie juice/day and following a loose macrobiotic vegan diet so my mom cooked for my family and I cooked for me, and my kids/hubby did my juicing. It was all hands on deck, but I have to say I had to have a few tantrums to remind them that just b/c I wasn't "sick" didn't mean I wasn't dealing with a potentially life threatening disease. they just didn't "get it" at times what I was going through, and finding this board and the folks on here who "got it" was such comfort. Now they can't get rid of me! HA!

On here you'll find you're not too young at all. We're average age I'd say. That's the sad truth.

Welcome.

peace, emily

I was 36
Two years ago I was 36 - when I was dx with stage 3 colon cancer. My only thought and concern was about my two kids - a two year old and a 8 year old. I was completely healthy (other than the cancer thing), and it rocked our world. I am typing to you - after 12 rounds of crappy crappy chemo - which made it hard to be the kind of mommy that i was proud to be. I was tired mommy and grouchy mommy - and then because my chemo was in patient, I was in-the hospital mommy - for two nights every other wee for 6 months. BUT is seems to have done the trick - that and alot of love and prayers and and one great husband. Anyway - there are many of us young mom's who get colon cancer too - and I was like you - I need to know that - I went through the profiles on this website and searched by woman under 40 so I could see and feel better about others like me that might be out there.
You might also like a web site - called the colon club - it is for younger people- but let me say the people on this web site are and supportive.

Check out this web site : www. childrenstreehousefnd.org - I am currently working with this program to bring it to my city of San Diego - it is for kids whose parents who have cancer - great resourcses on the website.... book suggestions etc., But they have alist of 50 hospitals nationwide who offer the free program and maybe one is in your area???

Hang in there - let your children be there for you - foot rubs are something they can do. Remember they are watching you and seeing how you handle this - and you will do just fine! One day at time is very cliche but when you are faced with cancer and treatment - you really need to do that. Rest when you can - and often - let people help you - you will get through this. I am hear to tell you!

luv3jay said:

I was 39 DX with Stage IV
You're not alone!! I'm also an accountant...and I have 3 children.

42- Stage IV
I was 42yo diagnosed StageIV in October of 2007. I am approaching my 2 year anniversary and NED(no evidence of disease) at this time. I hope and pray to remain that way but am thankful that I am here almost 2 years later and feeling well. I have two children that are now 14 and 13. We were honest and open with them. They handeled it remarkably well and truly believe I have been healed! I wish that I could say my faith is as strong. They are what kept me fighting.

Hang in there! You can do this!!!

Smiles,
Dawn

lisa42 said:

dx'd stage IV at 41
I was diagnosed two years ago at age 41. I was already stage IV, so I probably had the cancer in me for 5-6 years before I was diagnosed, which would have been age 35 or 36.
No family history and no high risk factors put off diagnosis for a while.

I've definitely heard it's becoming more and more common in people under age 50, even under age 40. There's definitely a few on this board who are younger than that even.

Lisa

Diagnosed at 44 as stage llb
I was diagnosed on June 4th as a stage llb....no symptoms prior to surgery....no family history My symptoms presented as diverticulitis, even the colonoscopy did not have anything positive...

Unfortunately more people are being diagnosed with cc between the ages of 40-50....not sure why...and it is effecting men and women equally..

Michelle