TOO YOUNG?

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pia123run
pia123run Member Posts: 33
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone, Well my pa has rectal cancer.I am not sure if colon is better to beat then rectal or visa versa. any thoughts? Anyway i am in my mid 30's and have always had problems with constipation and bleeding hemorrhoids since my late teens early twenties.Now since this has happened to my pa,I can see fear in his eyes with saddness and pain. I am afraid to get checked out. (no news is good news?)

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  • rthornton
    rthornton Member Posts: 346 Member
    #2
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    Hi. I am also in my mid 30s, just turned 36 this past Sunday. My birthday is also the anniversary of my mother's death from colon cancer, and my father has also had colon cancer twice and fully recovered both times. Like you, I always had gastrointestical problems and suspected that one day I would have colon cancer but put off getting tested due to lack of UNUSUAL problems and an overwhelming reluctance to the colonoscopy. But eventually I started having problems that were different from my usual gastrointestical problems and got the colonoscopy and was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer with liver mets.

    So far this reply has all been me, me, me. So, my point is that it is NOT too early to get checked out. Also, the colonoscopy is a breeze. Really, they give you nice drugs and you don't remember a thing, and if you should remember anything the drugs are SO nice that you won't care. Finally, I fully understand not really wanting to know if anything is wrong. It's probably a very human response to the possibility of having cancer. But the sooner you get a diagnosis, IF you get a diagnosis, then the easier it is to treat it. If you catch it early enough, they can remove it during the colonoscopy. If they catch it later, then you are looking at surgery, chemo, radiation, any number of unpleasant possibilities. So, please, think about consulting a gastorenterologist and getting that ball rolling. Seriously, the colonoscopy sounds horrible but it's not bad at all.

    Best of luck to you from a mid 30s patient who waited too long to get checked out. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the process and what follows.

    Rodney
  • bsrules
    bsrules Member Posts: 296
    #3
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    Hello!!!! I am sorry to hear about you Dad!!! I want to tell you that You must get checked!!!! In this case don't put it off!!!! My husband Bob was 59 and had advanced Colon Cancer with 60% liver involvement when we found it. the Dr. said that he had this since his mid 30's. I don't mean to scare you but it is important to know one way or the other. Our kids in their 30's were checked and all thankfully are fine and so was Bob's brother. Bob talked to alot of his friends and said to them if he can do anything for them it was to made them get checked and thankfully one of his friends in his 30's did and they found a precancerous polp which they removed. He called me and thanked me I asked why as he said that Bob's pushing saved his life!!! So as my husband said if anything good comes out of his passing it is that more people get checked out at an earlier age!!!! So PLEASE do!!! It will ease your mind and your pa's. I too was having trouble for a long time and I finally got myself checked out and I got the all clear. My problem was Irritable Bowel Syndrome. So PLEASE get checked out!!!!

    Best Wishes and Prayers!!!!

    Sue
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
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  • chynabear
    chynabear Member Posts: 481 Member
    #5
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    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    I can't stress enough what has already been said... it is never too young to get checked especially with your family history and already having questionable symptoms. The key is to catching this beast as early as possible.

    I was dx the day after my 27th birthday. I had 0 risks, 0 family risks, and my age working against me. I had to go to 3 doctors before one would send me to get a colonoscopy. If I knew then what I know now, I would have insisted on getting a colonoscopy when I first went to the dr back in 2001. Then, instead of Stage III I might have been caught at Stage I or II at the latest.

    At the very least, you can ask the gastro to remove any hemorrhoids and they may figure out the cause for constipation. Also, try increasing fiber in your diet and/or taking a fiber supplement. This should help both the constipation and the hemorrhoids.

    Please, don't put this off any longer. Cancer is very scary. What you need to see is that IF you are dx they have some very effective treatments these days. They are more effective the earlier the cancer is caught. Plus, if you get a clean bill of health, you and your father and your family can rest easy.

    I have made it my goal to get people checked early and often.

    Please keep us updated on your results. Good luck.

    Patricia
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #6
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    I was diagnosed at 32 yrs old after my doctor blew my off for almost a year. I didn't have any risk factors, but I did have rectal bleeding.

    GO TO THE DOCTOR AND INSIST ON GETTING CHECKED. It is probably nothing, but needs to be confirmed. You need a colonscopy. Good luck!! jana
  • neon356
    neon356 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #7
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    Hello. As I understand it, there's no difference between rectal and colon cancer, just a matter of where the cancer is located. There's nothing much more that I can add that's not already been suggested to you- you must get yourself checked out. Too many of us waited far too long before being tested, and wish that we had gone sooner. Do your best not to be included in that group. No news is not good news when it comes to cancer, we're talking about a disease that causes thousands of deaths each year, many of which could have been prevented by early diagnosis. Please, take our advice! Carl
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #8
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    You are never too young. Never.

    My sister was 29 when she was dx'ed and she died 4 years later. She had been misdiagnosed for waaaay too long so by the time they found her tumor it was a mess.

    Fast forward nine years and I get a cancer dx too. I was 39 and tumor was in there upwards of 10 years which....do the math....I was young when it started.

    We had zero family history. Zero.

    NO ONE --not ONE doctor told me to get checked. Duh. My sister dies and it doesn't occur to ME to get checked cuz all the doctors told us her cancer was "rare". And since not a doctor among the many I have seen over the years....for births...for hemorrhoids and fissures....for whatever....did not mention it I didn't think about it.

    Now YOU do not have the luxury of claiming ignorance like I did cuz I am going to tell you point blank-- Get Tested!!!!!

    The colonoscopy is a breeze. Cancer is not.

    Take your pick.

    peace, emily who is not mincing words today.
  • hmsjws
    hmsjws Member Posts: 5
    #9
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    Pain from port resolved
    As I posted about a week ago, my mom has had a terrible time with her ports. The first two were terribly painful. We had a third put in last week, by a radiologist instead of a surgeon. Apparently they use a different method then the surgeons. Well, as soon as they put it in and removed the one implanted by the surgeon her pain disappeared. She had chemo yesterday and for the first time they were able to easily get blood from the port. She also has NO PAIN in her shoulder or neck!! I know many of you have ports with no issues, but this has been a frustrating battle for us. Thank you for listening and tell anyone who has problems with ports to keep pestering their physicians, not everything has to be miserable with this process.
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #10
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    2bhealed said:

    You are never too young. Never.

    My sister was 29 when she was dx'ed and she died 4 years later. She had been misdiagnosed for waaaay too long so by the time they found her tumor it was a mess.

    Fast forward nine years and I get a cancer dx too. I was 39 and tumor was in there upwards of 10 years which....do the math....I was young when it started.

    We had zero family history. Zero.

    NO ONE --not ONE doctor told me to get checked. Duh. My sister dies and it doesn't occur to ME to get checked cuz all the doctors told us her cancer was "rare". And since not a doctor among the many I have seen over the years....for births...for hemorrhoids and fissures....for whatever....did not mention it I didn't think about it.

    Now YOU do not have the luxury of claiming ignorance like I did cuz I am going to tell you point blank-- Get Tested!!!!!

    The colonoscopy is a breeze. Cancer is not.

    Take your pick.

    peace, emily who is not mincing words today.

    Hiya Pia..I had hemorroids dx'd in 97 but it was not until 2003 that the cancer was found. They found it while I was under anaesthetic undergoing the hemorroid op. I was told then that I probably had cancer back in 97...the specialist just did not look far enough back then!
    So I agree with all the posts here. Hemorroids can, and do, often mask the early onset of cancer......GET CHECKED OUT......for your own piece of mind. It may be nothing and I hope for your sake it is nothing. I think Emily put it well.
    Take your pick....knowing you are ok even having to go thru the colonoscopy is better than the alternative!
    love, kanga n Jen
  • BusterBrown
    BusterBrown Member Posts: 221 Member
    #11
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    rthornton said:

    Hi. I am also in my mid 30s, just turned 36 this past Sunday. My birthday is also the anniversary of my mother's death from colon cancer, and my father has also had colon cancer twice and fully recovered both times. Like you, I always had gastrointestical problems and suspected that one day I would have colon cancer but put off getting tested due to lack of UNUSUAL problems and an overwhelming reluctance to the colonoscopy. But eventually I started having problems that were different from my usual gastrointestical problems and got the colonoscopy and was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer with liver mets.

    So far this reply has all been me, me, me. So, my point is that it is NOT too early to get checked out. Also, the colonoscopy is a breeze. Really, they give you nice drugs and you don't remember a thing, and if you should remember anything the drugs are SO nice that you won't care. Finally, I fully understand not really wanting to know if anything is wrong. It's probably a very human response to the possibility of having cancer. But the sooner you get a diagnosis, IF you get a diagnosis, then the easier it is to treat it. If you catch it early enough, they can remove it during the colonoscopy. If they catch it later, then you are looking at surgery, chemo, radiation, any number of unpleasant possibilities. So, please, think about consulting a gastorenterologist and getting that ball rolling. Seriously, the colonoscopy sounds horrible but it's not bad at all.

    Best of luck to you from a mid 30s patient who waited too long to get checked out. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the process and what follows.

    Rodney

    Listen to Rodney:
    Rodney just read a page from my book, although I was 42 when diagnosed w/ crc and liver mets. Both my parents had crc, my mom died from it and my dad survived and eventually passed from old age.
    I started my treatment in Jan 05, and the results have been great. However, I'm not finished yet, if my onc has his way I'm in for another 2 months worth:o(
    Anyways, put away your fears and get checked out, a colonoscopy is a breeze compared to colon resection surgery...
    What's peace of mind worth??? You'll be releaved either way, if it's cancer you'll get it treated, your a young man, if there's no cancer than you can dance a jig:o)
    Buster
  • ramona41
    ramona41 Member Posts: 72
    #12
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    GET TESTED... I was 41 when dx. dont take a chance
  • CAMaura
    CAMaura Member Posts: 719 Member
    #13
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    2bhealed said:

    You are never too young. Never.

    My sister was 29 when she was dx'ed and she died 4 years later. She had been misdiagnosed for waaaay too long so by the time they found her tumor it was a mess.

    Fast forward nine years and I get a cancer dx too. I was 39 and tumor was in there upwards of 10 years which....do the math....I was young when it started.

    We had zero family history. Zero.

    NO ONE --not ONE doctor told me to get checked. Duh. My sister dies and it doesn't occur to ME to get checked cuz all the doctors told us her cancer was "rare". And since not a doctor among the many I have seen over the years....for births...for hemorrhoids and fissures....for whatever....did not mention it I didn't think about it.

    Now YOU do not have the luxury of claiming ignorance like I did cuz I am going to tell you point blank-- Get Tested!!!!!

    The colonoscopy is a breeze. Cancer is not.

    Take your pick.

    peace, emily who is not mincing words today.

    Hi there, Pia,

    How can I say this is in pleasing manner: Get you BUTT in there!
    I know...not too pleasing.
    Ya know, sticking your head in the sand...is just sticking your head in the sand.
    Please go for a test. You are surrounded by honest, grounded and supportive people....listen to what is said.
    .....And be sure to post your results!
    Cheers,
    Maura - whose family members are still in denial about any sort of possible genetic link....

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