colon cancer at the age of 32

[DAVAN]

HELLO,
I AM WRITING THIS HOPING THAT SOMEONE COULD HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND MORE REGARDINGS MY HUSBAND'S COLON CANCER.
LAST WEEK ON HIS 32 BRITHDAY, MY HUSBAND FOUND OUT THAT HE HAS COLON CANCER. WITHIN ONE WEEK OF MANY TRIPS TO ALL THE SPECIALISTS AND TESTS, IT SHOWS THAT HE HAS AN EARLY STAGE OF CANCER BUT THE TUMOR IS LARGE. IT IS COMFIRMED THAT HE NEEDS TO HAVE RADIATHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY FOR ABOUT 6-8 WEEKS THEN SURGERY. BEFORE I FOUND THIS SITE I THOUGHT THAT IT IS UNCOMMON FOR THIS YOUNG OF AN AGE TO HAVE THIS CANCER. NOW I FEEL A LITTLE BIT CLEAR THAT IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE TREATMENT AND ALSO WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THE CANCER WILL COME BACK?

[mtsko]

Hello Davan,
Colon cancer used to be an old man's disease, but my surgeon told me hse's seeing more and more younger pts w/ this cancer.
I am a 39 yr old female, was dx at age 38 w/ Stage IV CC that mets to my ovaries and cervix.
By reading these messages on this board, I'm learning that there are quite a few cc survivors living now because of all the breaktroughs w/ the new cancer drugs.
Good luck to your husband in this new strange journey. Keep suppporting him and keep both of yourselves smiling and laughing at least once a day.

[christy217]

Hi there, I was recently diagnosed in February of this year, a week after my 29th bday. My mom passed of this dreadful disease 8 years ago, her father, and two siblings also passed from it. I have genetic colon cancer, there are two types, mine is HNPCC, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

I would suggest that you check into a few books, one is the cancer survival guide, and the other is a book by Dr. Mark Pochapin(sp) I think, it's everything your doctor won't tell you about colorectal cancer. He is the doc that treated Katie Couric's husband, there is a website for the Jay Monohan Center of Gastrointestinal health I think if you google it. Also, this site of course has a lot of info-thanks MOLLY!

It's good that they found it in an early stage. Mine was Stage IIA, meaning it had not spread beyond the colon wall, but it did extend to the 4th layer of the colon wall, it was not in any of the lymph nodes or nearby organs that they could tell. Because my cancer was from genetics, I had a total colectomy, where they removed the entire colon, but I don't have a colostomy bag because my surgeon was awesome .

I emplore you and your husband to start keeping a chart, with a copy of all of his medical records, everytime a blood test is ordered, or anything, request a copy, it is your right, even if it has yet to be reviewed by a doc, it is still your right to have a copy-HIPPA allows us this. Also, it is good to have a copy for yourself in general. I would strongly suggest a colon rectal surgeon too, patients that have a surgeon that specializes in this area have a surgical options that they might not have with a general surgeon, for example, had I not traveled two hours to DC to have my surgery, I would have had to have a colostomy bag.

You can find a surgeon through www.fascrs.org in your area, that's the board of colon rectal surgeon's website.

Also-like the other poster stated, everyone thinks or used to, that this is an old-man's disease, and even a man's disease, I've had people shocked when I told them what kind of cancer I had, they always assume it's breast. What irks me the most is the fact that screenings aren't suggested until age 50+, when 165000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year, and 7 % of them are under the age of 50, but somehow it seems they don't think 16500 lives are worth the extra screen. Project March is trying to change that-it's a march each March in DC, March is colorectal cancer awareness month.

Okay, I'm going to end my novel and stop going off on a rant, I hope this info helps you.

Good luck with your husband, keep us posted, and let him know he isn't alone in this fight, and neither are you, this is a great board.

Take care,

[Covey'sCrazyColon]

I was only 29 when diagnosed with Colon Cancer stage IIIc at the end of April this year. I was rushed to the emergency room with severe cramping and vomiting. I had no symptoms prior. The cancer went through my colon wall and attached itself to my omentum. My surgean removed the part of the omentum that was infected. In addition, they found cancer in five of my lymph nodes and they were also removed.

I had my first round of FULFOX this week and feel great. The only side effect I felt was a sensitivity to cold things. Don't let him drink a Frappacino!!! I even made it shopping, to dinner and a concert while still connected to the chemo.

I also read the book by Dr. Mark Pochapin and found it to be very informative and easy to understand.

I've been told the chances that cancer return for Stage III are high. When I was first diagnosed, I wanted to know every statistic possible but since then, I've realized these numbers can be very scary and it's sometimes better to focus on the good stuff.

[Edward]

I was diagnosed with Stage IIa at age 36 due to a large tumor, but they didn't have to shrink it before surgery. I was on 5FU and leaukavorin for six months. I am 40 now and all my tests have been good. Statistics only tell a story of what happened at a beginning and ending point in time. They do not tell the story or future medicines and treatments.

[northern lights]

I was diagnosed in Jan with Stage III cancer and I am 34.

Even though it has been 6 months, it is only now that the truth of this is sinking in. I take advantage of good days, and I am really good to myself on the bad days.

Chemo is exhausting for me. I am not very sick, only slight nausea that I can control with meds, but for the 2 days that I am FOLFOX and for 3 days after, I am bone dead tired. Then things go back to normal until the next treatment.

Ask your husband what kind of support he wants, don't assume it. I like to be left alone on bad days, but certainly enjoy a social life on the good days.

I agree with the comment above about keeping a diary. I have been involved with at least 10 doctors and often hear contraditory advice. There is so much to know, that it is impossible to keep it all straight. I always bring someone with me to medical appointments, so that I can listen to the doctor and someone else can keep notes.

It is very confusing to have cancer. The mind feels fine and energetic and the body is temporarily disabled. It is frustrating if you are used to being active.

Keep away from stats!!! FOLFOX has dramitically changed outcomes and everyone is different on how they will respond to Chemo.

Sharon.