{"id":117103,"date":"2023-03-27T23:50:06","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T03:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=117103"},"modified":"2023-03-27T23:52:22","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T03:52:22","slug":"a-cancer-survivors-story-putting-off-colonoscopy-nearly-cost-him-his-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=117103","title":{"rendered":"A Cancer Survivor\u2019s Story: Putting Off Colonoscopy Nearly Cost Him His Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Capital Blue Cross \u2013 \u00a0THINK<\/a>\u00a0(Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and news on the latest health and insurance issues.<\/b><\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer \u2013 one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers \u2013 is expected to afflict more than 153,000 people and claim about 52,550 lives in the U.S. this year alone, according to the American Cancer Society. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, a good time to learn about causes, symptoms and prevention.<\/em><\/div>\n
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Pat Kehoe was 52 years old in 2020 when he noticed a small amount of blood in his stool. Having no family history of colorectal cancer and no other medical issues, he wasn\u2019t overly concerned, but checked in with his doctor just to be safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

His doctor immediately scheduled a colonoscopy, something Kehoe had put off even though it is recommended starting at age 50.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as I wake up from the procedure, my doctor is there and says, \u2018I\u2019m 99 percent sure you have rectal cancer,\u2019\u201d Kehoe recalled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHearing that news, I\u2019m just trying to absorb it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A biopsy confirmed the doctor\u2019s suspicion: Kehoe had stage 3 rectal cancer \u2013 a relatively late stage of cancer that requires more aggressive treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kehoe\u2019s story is, unfortunately, becoming more common.<\/span><\/p>\n

American Cancer Society research<\/span><\/a>\u00a0finds instances of colorectal cancer among adults under 55 increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019. And more cases of advanced colorectal cancer are being seen among younger age groups, with rates of advanced cancer increasing by about 3% annually in people under 50.<\/span><\/p>\n

That troubling trend is one reason the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force \u2013 a panel of nationally recognized experts in prevention, evidence-based medicine, and primary care \u2013 has\u00a0<\/span>lowered the recommended age<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for colorectal cancer screenings from 50 years old to 45. The recommendation applies to those who have no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer and who are at average risk, meaning they have no family history or other conditions that might make colorectal cancer more likely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kehoe sees himself as a cautionary tale for those who might put off getting screened.<\/span><\/p>\n

After his diagnosis, Kehoe endured what he describes as a \u201cvery aggressive treatment\u201d regimen that included three months of chemotherapy, followed by targeted radiation treatments every weekday for roughly two months and concluding with surgery to remove a portion of his rectum and temporarily put in a colostomy bag. It was a brutal process, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was so sick between the radiation and the chemo pills,\u201d he recalled. \u201cThe thing with the radiation is, even after you\u2019re done with the treatment, it\u2019s still affecting your body.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He also notes his treatment required multiple CT scans and colonoscopies \u2013 an ironic twist considering he put off a routine colonoscopy when he turned 50.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI try not to be preachy about it, but I do tell people that if I had gone in two years earlier like I should have, I might not have ended up going through all of this these last couple years,\u201d Kehoe said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Kehoe is cancer free and is making some changes in the hopes of staying that way. He has cut back on red meat and processed foods, and is trying to exercise more and take better care of himself in general. As a preventive measure, he has bloodwork every three months and maintains routine doctor appointments.<\/span><\/p>\n

He has blunt advice for anyone who might be putting off a colonoscopy because they don\u2019t think it\u2019s important: \u201cDon\u2019t mess around and don\u2019t wait \u2026 go get it! If it\u2019s caught earlier, it\u2019s much easier to treat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Some common signs of colorectal cancer:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n