“I’M TOO YOUNG TO GET COLON CANCER… THIS BLOOD IN MY STOOL MUST BE A HEMORRHOID.”
“… MUST BE A HEMORRHOID.” These are dangerous words that get said far too often.
One of the many myths about colorectal cancer is that it doesn’t occur in young people.
The truth is that while 80% of cases DO occur in those at/over the age of 50, that still leaves 20% occuring in individuals who are under age 50… like Erika who was 22 years old when she was diagnosed!
The problem with a healthy 20, 30 or 40 year old who suddenly gets blood in their stool is that they often delay seeking medical attention… and even when they do, sometimes there can be a delay in diagnosis because all involved parties are thinking and hoping the same thing, “must just be a hemorrhoid.”
Blood in the stool can be lots of things - sure, might be a hemorrhoid; might be a tear (anal fissure); might be an infection; might be inflammatory bowel disease, like Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease; and it could be colorectal cancer.
Until the person has had a proper evaluation (i.e. endoscopy), you don’t know which of the above it is!
Early diagnosis is the key…
Learn more about young people, like Erika, affected by colorectal cancer and read their stories of survival at www.colondar.com… (it’s a colon, no it’s a pin-up calendar… no it’s a colondar….)
March 24th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I was only 44 when diagnosed. If you want to know what you go through dealing with colon cancer go to the ColonClub.com. They have an awsome forum where you can read what different people with different staging go through. You will run to get your colonoscopy! I assumed the hemroid thing and it was almost too late…I was lucky that it was found in time for a good prognosis. Others are not so lucky.