We continue our series for the month for colorectal cancer awareness. Many people do not realize that this type is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US
In 2021, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 150,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
“When he told me we had a tumor and ‘you have cancer,’ I could not even hear the rest of what he said,” Kevin Hays said.
Hays never thought he would get colon cancer at age 28.
“I had some symptoms of colon cancer, it just did not see coming,” he said.
Some of the most common signs are cramps, fatigue and sudden weight loss. And notice irregular bowel movements or blood signs.
Dr. Patrick Boland of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute has seen patients reject their symptoms.
“We know that there is a longer time lag between the onset of the symptoms and when it is actually diagnosed because no one suspects colon or rectal cancer,” he says.
Another two signs are shortness of breath or a diagnosis of anemia, indicating internal bleeding. If you notice dizziness, tiredness or unusual skin bleaching, you should look for anemia and then perform a colon cancer test.
Doctors believe that it is not uncommon for patients to bleed internally for up to six months before something appears in their stool.
You can reduce your risk by as much as 45% by just maintaining a healthy diet, weight and exercise routine!