Colon Cancer Rising In Millenials

NewHere
NewHere Member Posts: 1,425 Member

Comments

  • nateswife
    nateswife Member Posts: 65
    edited March 2017 #2
    Furthermore, "trends in young

    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.

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    edited March 2017 #3
    I Was Lucky

    Really no symptoms.  Was being monitored for changing PSA for years, then a spike there led to an MRI which pointed -->  (other place ;) ) may need to be looked at as precaution.  A day later incredible pain started and I would have gone to Doctor then.  I am wondering if the contrast triggered something (I was still not diagnosed at that point.)  I had heavy lymph node involvement and one of the spots on my lungs was a met that I had removed a few months ago.

    I am just hoping that the breakthroughs come quicker.  I see all the commercials and specials on breakthroughs in immunotherapy and the rest.  

  • blessed39
    blessed39 Member Posts: 90 Member
    edited March 2017 #4
    "trends in young"

    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

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    edited March 2017 #5
    I had a polyp at 28.  No one

    I had a polyp at 28.  No one took it seriously, including me, because I was told that I was 28 and not to be concerned with colon cancer.  It was pre-internet and a very different time and way of thinking.  If the internet existed back then, I wouldn't have gone through any of this.  I wasn't diagnosed until I had symptoms and even after my first surgery, they were so arrogant.  Oh you don't need to worry.  Until it came back.  There is no room for arrogance in the medical field and young people should be screened and it should be taken seriously.

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    Agreed

    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
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,792 Member

    Agreed

    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.

    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

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    edited March 2017 #8
    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

    Many thanks

    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!

  • IcyMoonstone
    IcyMoonstone Member Posts: 41
    This is me

    I was first dx at 33 with stage 2b and all I had was a little blood.  I ignored it for over a year because, well I was so young and have had a kid and that messes everything up.  Now I regret that decisions as I am now 37 and stage 4. 

    It is a scary fact of how much it has jumped in us younger ones especially as it has such a low survivorship rate. 

  • Bellen
    Bellen Member Posts: 281 Member
    No symptoms - Silent CRC

    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.

  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    So sad that this is on the

    So sad that this is on the rise. I hope that easier screening is something that will be invented. Or better yet, finding a cause and implementing preventative measures would be even better. 

    And finding effective cures are needed as well. 

    Lets go researchers. There's a lot to get done!

  • sherry123
    sherry123 Member Posts: 26
    edited March 2017 #12
    Life style change

    Is this anything related to office work? After graduated from school, young people have to suddenly sitting all day. Jobs are breaks down more and more these days, some only use their finger tips, people are not designed to do this.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,792 Member
    Also

    Its not a nice subject but, some of the sexual practices of the younger generation might be a factor. Working in the medical field, I have heard shocking first hand stories of what objects (other than the penis) are inserted into the rectum of both male and females.  I swear things like that don't come without a price.  

    Just saying!

    TRU

  • Joan M
    Joan M Member Posts: 409 Member
    I believe that sitting at a

    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.  

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,792 Member
    Joan M said:

    I believe that sitting at a

    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.  

    Sitting

    I hadn't thought about that before, Joan. That would make sense for allot of medical issues. 

    TRU

  • Mohamed Nassir
    Mohamed Nassir Member Posts: 1
    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?

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,792 Member

    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?

    Second, third, fourth

    opionions until someone can tell you what is going on. 

  • zx10guy
    zx10guy Member Posts: 273 Member

    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?

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

  • jodad
    jodad Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2017 #19
    Too Young

    My son is 21 and was diagnosed with stage 2b CC last August.  I guess he was lucky (?) in that he became obstructed so that his condition could not be ignored.  On the other hand, obstruction at the time of diagnosis is one of the risk factors and he has three others as well (Poorly differentiated, LVI and PNI being the other 3).  I don't know what is causing the rise in millenials but it is very difficult to deal with and I strongly suggest that anyone with symptoms do whatever it takes to get to the root cause.

     

  • Woodytele
    Woodytele Member Posts: 163

    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?

    Something is up

    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.