38 year old doctor was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer
For Dr Lauren Juyia discovering her own cancer was alarming
As per a report in Good Morning America, Dr Lauren, a gynecologist in Florida, started feeling pelvic pain and fatigue and was later diagnosed with colon cancer, one of the common cancers seen these days, especially in young people.
Colon cancer is the form of cancer that develops in the lower end of the digestive tract.
The experienced gyaenocologist thought it to be the size of a 16 week pregnancy.
She initially suspected it to be ovarian cancer
"I had never seen anything benign, meaning not cancer, grow that fast before. So we kind of knew, deep down, that this was not going to be good. And we suspected ovarian cancer of course, because it was the ovaries being the masses," she told the media.
In September 2022, she underwent surgery to remove the growing mass which by then had spread to her ovaries, uterus, omentum, appendix, and even her abdominal area.
What's the difference between STDs and STIs? Which one can you get easily?
She was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer
"I did have a little bit of fatigue. I was a little tired in the afternoon for about two months previous to this and as a mom with two little kids -- I had been recently nursing them, they were still waking up in the night, I work full time -- I didn't think anything of saying, 'Oh, I think I need a tea in the afternoon.' Whereas maybe someone in their 50s or 60s would be much more tired from stage 4 tumors taking up their energy," the mother of two, told the media.
The common symptoms of colon cancer are abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, change in bowel movements, blood in the stool, diarrhea and constipation.
She urges all to get colon cancer screening if something unusual is seen
Dr Lauren says that may be because younger individuals have resilient bodies they might not feel the impact of the symptoms as severely as older people.
She urges everyone to get screened for colon cancer even when the slightest abnormality is seen.
Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer
As per the data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2020 2 million cases of colon cancer were diagnosed. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death, leading to almost 1 million deaths per year, the WHO report says.
Colon cancer begins as small benign polyps on the inside of the colon. Overtime, these untreated polyps turn into cancerous cells.
It is therefore essential to get the polyps treated and removed before they turn into cancer.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
The feeling of not emptying the bowel completely even after repeated attempts is a common sign of colon cancer.
Fatigue and weight loss due to bleeding in stool is also typical of colon cancer.
Persistent cramps, gas or abdominal pain should not be ignored.
Another classic sign related to colon cancer is a change in the bowel movement.
Start a Conversation
Post comment