I Was “Too Young” to Have Colon Cancer

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As informed to Shannon Shelton Miller

I used to be thrilled to be pregnant with my first youngster at 29. Every thing went properly for about eight months — till the day I went to the restroom and the bathroom was filled with blood. I instantly known as my OB-GYN as a result of I used to be scared one thing was flawed with my child.

On the appointment, he assured me we each had been fantastic. It was most likely simply
hemorrhoids or my child was beginning to relaxation on my organs as he grew greater, resulting in some bleeding.

However new signs began to indicate up. I used to be dizzy, had unhealthy belly pains and couldn’t sleep at evening. My OB-GYN informed me these had been all regular throughout being pregnant. I had by no means been pregnant earlier than, so I figured that made sense.

2016 (Picture/Michael D Photos)

The bleeding and crushing fatigue didn’t cease after I gave start to my son, Cameron. As soon as once more, I used to be informed this was regular for a brand new mother. At the same time as I continued to have vaginal and rectal bleeding months after giving start, my OB-GYN solely prompt altering my contraception methodology.

When Cameron turned 1, I knew one thing needed to give as a result of the bleeding wasn’t stopping. This time, I went to a major care doctor, who first gave me tablets for
irritable bowel syndrome. Simply in case that didn’t work, he stated, he’d ship a referral to a GI specialist.

Weeks later, I needed to see the specialist for the reason that tablets had completed nothing. “You’re means
too young to be sitting in my workplace,” he stated. “What’s occurring?” I informed him about my signs, and he ordered a colonoscopy.

After I wakened within the working room after that process, the physician and 4 nurses had been there, together with my husband, Derrick. The room appeared too full, and I requested what was taking place.

My physician confirmed me photographs of my colon and informed me I had most cancers.

“No, I do not,” I stated. We had constructed a rapport, so I began to giggle a bit. “Okay, what’s actually occurring?”

He stored a straight face. “I’d by no means joke about one thing like this,” he stated. “You undoubtedly have most cancers.”

A number of weeks later, my mom, my husband and I met with the oncologist. He walked previous us, sat down and stated, “Properly, you will have stage 4 most cancers and …” He continued to go on, however I did not hear something after that. I simply knew it couldn’t be as unhealthy as what I used to be listening to in my head.

It was. He stated I used to be an exceedingly uncommon case due to my age and good well being. Genetic testing confirmed nothing. We had no household historical past of most cancers. I used to be wholesome, I performed sports activities, I didn’t develop up consuming purple meat — I couldn’t perceive it.

I didn’t need to take into consideration therapy at that second. I informed my household I wished to go to the sunflower patch by my home as a result of I’d by no means been. We picked sunflowers and took photographs. It was such a pleasant day. Afterward, we picked up my son from daycare, and I held him the remainder of that day.

The final seven years have been very troublesome. I’ve had a number of rounds of chemotherapy and surgical procedures. After my analysis, they eliminated a foot of my colon, two elements of my liver and my gallbladder. I used to be very weak and couldn’t stroll. My toddler son could not sit on my lap, and I could not choose him up. I could not even maintain him on my own.

The most cancers was already in my liver after I was identified. And, over time, the most cancers unfold to my lungs and my lymph nodes. I developed spots throughout my physique, however one on my heel was noticeably darker, and I requested my oncologist to test it out. It turned out to be precancerous
melanoma. I needed to have surgical procedure to take away it, and it was extremely painful as a result of it was on my heel they usually could not numb it. They took out a bit of my heel and I could not stroll, drive or do something for myself for 4 months. I simply was helpless.

2023 (Jommy Pictures)

There have been some shiny moments throughout that point. I used to be in remission for many of 2021 and 2022, and 2022 was among the best years of my life. I bought again into figuring out, doing Pilates, hanging with my pals and enjoying baseball with my son — it was fantastic. I used to be even in a position to go off therapy. However earlier than that Christmas, most cancers was discovered within the lymph nodes in my chest. My docs wished me to begin therapy earlier than Christmas, and I stated I couldn’t. I needed to have my excellent Christmas first. I’m glad I did, as a result of it was fantastic.

I began therapy once more in January 2023, and I’ve to proceed therapy for the remainder of my life. My routine consists of three days of chemotherapy within the hospital and at house, after which I’m off for 3 weeks. I nonetheless keep busy as a chief administrative officer for a tech-focused startup. I work rather a lot and journey rather a lot — I had life objectives earlier than I bought sick, and I’m decided to do my greatest to satisfy these objectives. I’m 38 now, Cameron is 8, and I attempt to take pleasure in as a lot time with my household as potential.

I began sharing my story after going to a Colorectal Most cancers Alliance occasion in 2019. On the dinner, they had been asking folks within the viewers to face up and share their tales. There have been actors and dancers on stage who would act out no matter you had been saying. It was very cool.

I used to be nervous, however I stood up and shared my story. Individuals had been clapping and coming as much as give me a hug. There wasn’t a dry eye within the room.

To at the present time, nobody is aware of why I developed colon most cancers and why it happened during my pregnancy. Was it the speedy era of cells that came about to develop a brand new human inside my physique? That’s the one hyperlink I can consider, as a result of I am the one particular person in my household to have it. As a result of I had no household historical past or threat components for colon most cancers, I do know my younger age wasn’t useful in getting an early analysis.

That’s why I all the time inform folks to do your greatest to advocate for your self along with your healthcare suppliers as a result of you do not know what you do not know. No physician is aware of all the pieces. Inform your physician that you just aren’t leaving that workplace till they give the impression of being deeper into your concern as a result of it’s your physique, and you already know greatest when one thing is flawed.

This instructional useful resource was created with assist from Daiichi Sankyo and Takeda.

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