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I Thought I Had Hemorrhoids But It Turned Out To Be Stage 4 Colon CANCER... Here's How To Tell The Difference
I thought I had hemorrhoids but it turned out to be stage 4 colon CANCER... Here's how to tell the differenceA New Yorker went to the doctor with what he thought were hemorrhoids only to be told he had late-stage cancer.
Joshua Sanchez, now 38, from Harlem, first became concerned when he noticed blood appearing in his stool in 2021.
But after visiting doctors at Mount Sinai, scans revealed he had stage four colon cancer that had also spread to his liver — where it is deadly.
Doctors warn hemorrhoids — or lumps or vein swelling in the anus— and colon cancer can trigger similar symptoms, making the latter difficult to catch early on.
He is now raising awareness about the cancer so that others don't have to go through the same ordeal.
Joshua Sanchez, 38, from East Harlem in New York City, went to see doctors after blood kept cropping up in his stool. He thought it was hemorrhoids, but the freelance artist found out he was actually suffering from stage four colon cancer. (Pictured above with his mother)
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habits, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstruction. Some people also suffer from weight loss as a result of these symptoms
Colon cancer triggers other warning signs, however, distinct from hemorrhoids including diarrhea, frequent cramps and unexplained weight loss.
About 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year and there are some 56,000 deaths annually.
The American Cancer Society is warning that rates of the disease are surging in younger age groups, with the number of under-55s diagnosed with the disease doubling over the last 25 years. The age group is now behind one-in-five cases.
Alarmed by the trend, US health officials are now recommending Americans start getting cancer screenings at age 45 years, down from the previously recommended age 50.
The disease is the third most deadly cancer in the United States, with about 63 percent of patients surviving beyond five years from diagnosis.
The problem is how hard it is to detect in its earliest stages. It can grow without causing symptoms and among those who do get symptoms, they are often so general they are dismissed as other things.
Mr Sanchez, who is also deaf, told Today via an interpreter: 'At first, I thought I had a hemorrhoid.
'[But] I felt like something still wasn't great because I had noticed some blood.'
He has opened up about his story to urge others, especially people who are deaf, to get checked if they have a health problem.
Mr Sanchez went to doctors in 2021 after he became concerned, and had an endoscopy and colonoscopy, which detected two masses in his colon and liver.
Biopsies were taken which confirmed that he had stage four colon cancer.
The patient had surgery to remove the tumors and was then put on a three-week course of chemotherapy.
But during a procedure to administer the treatment to his liver, his arms became numb and difficult to move.
Mr Sanchez, who relies on sign language to talk to others, said: 'I couldn't communicate at all. I was having a really tough time in the hospital.'
He was discharged but returned in 2022, however, after multiple lesions were detected on his liver that raised cancer concerns.
Doctors treated this using radiation and gave him instructions via a virtual-reality headset which showed someone communicating what he needed to do in sign language.
Mr Sanchez is still yet to be declared cancer free.
He is currently receiving radiation to treat lesions on his pelvis. After that, doctors will perform more tests to find out whether his cancer has stopped growing.
He added: 'We're Latino so we don't really focus on our health and we don't talk about that and we don't discuss vulnerabilities very often. So it's a serious thing that needs to be communicated more.'
Hemorrhoids affect about half of Americans at some point in their lives.
They are typically caused by added pressure to the anus, likely from straining during bowel movements, constipation, heavy lifting, prolonged periods of standing and aging. They can also be caused by pregnancy.
For comparison, colon cancer — or bowel cancer in the UK — is typically seen as an 'old man's disease' not normally striking until someone is over 55 years old.
Rates of colon cancer have risen among adults aged 20 to 49. Scientists say more than 40 percent of diagnoses are among those aged 45 to 49 years old
Dr Ryan Williams, an oncologist at Bayfront Health in New Jersey, previously explained the warning signs for hemorrhoids.
'A bowel movement that has blood, small lumps at the anal opening or pain could be serious,' he said.
'In most cases, the problem traces back to a benign condition called hemorrhoids.
'But sometimes those same symptoms can indicate the onset of colorectal cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer deaths.'
Here are the early warning signs of colon cancer: Blood in stoolThe most common early warning sign of colon cancer is blood in a person's stool.
The blood can also be caused by damage to the rectum or hemorrhoids. But doctors recommend that if someone frequently finds red in the toilet they should get checked out.
Colon cancer usually starts in the mucosa or the innermost lining of the intestine.
But as the tumor forms it can damage blood vessels lining the colon, leading to bleeding. As stool passes through the colon it can then mix with the blood, causing blood to appear in the toilet bowel.
Tears can also appear on the tumor itself, which can also result in bleeding that then mixes with stool.
In some cases, blood in the stool can also cause it to turn a very dark color instead of red. Doctors say this should not be overlooked.
Change in bowel habitsShifts in how often someone needs to use the bathroom could also be a warning sign of colon cancer.
People with the disease may suddenly begin to go to the bathroom less often.
They can also start to experience constipation or diarrhea for long periods or have 'pencil-shaped' feces.
These shifts occur because the tumor is narrowing a person's rectum, making it harder to go to the bathroom more regularly and disrupting digestion.
Cold hands and feetSuddenly suffering from cold hands and feet could also be a warning sign of the cancer, doctors say.
People with the cancer often face anemia, a condition where not enough oxygen-rich blood cells are traveling in the body.
This happens because they are often bleeding in the rectum, depleting the blood supply in the body.
The reduction leads to the body conserving blood for the internal organs and sending less to the extremities — the hands and feet — causing a drop in temperature.
Abdominal painDoctors say that people with colon cancer may also face dull and constant pain in their abdomen.
This happens because as the tumor grows it starts to push against a person's organs, bones, nerves and other tissues.
Abdominal pain is one of the most obvious signs of cancer and doctors will immediately warn patients facing it to get checked.
Unexplained weight lossAnother sign of the cancer is losing weight without expecting to, doctors say.
As the tumor grows, it can begin to disrupt how the body processes food and lead to them extracting fewer calories from food. This means they burn more calories per day, leading to weight loss.
The cancer can also speed up someone's metabolism by turbo-charging the immune system to start fighting the cancer, further driving weight loss.
Problems with digestion can also lead to someone eating less food than normal.
COLON CANCER: WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS?Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.
Such tumors usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps.
Symptoms include:
Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they:
Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy.
More than nine out of ten people with stage 1 bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis.
Unfortunately, only around a third of all colorectal cancers are diagnosed at this early stage.
The majority of people come to the doctor when the disease has spread beyond the wall of the colon or rectum or to distant parts of the body, which decreasing the chance of being successfully cured of colon cancer.
According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.
It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Last Stage Of Eye Cancer: Outlook, Spread, Symptoms, And More
Stage 4 eye cancer refers to a more advanced stage of the disease, where the cancer has spread beyond the eye to other parts of the body.
While treatment is often successful in the early stages, once it progresses to stage 4, the last stage, it can be difficult to manage, and the prognosis is typically unfavorable.
This article covers the outlook, spread, symptoms, and treatment options for the last stage of eye cancer, or uveal melanoma. It will also explain the staging systems for uveal melanoma and intraocular lymphoma.
The outlook and survival rates for stage 4 eye cancer depend on several factors, including the type of eye cancer, its location, and how much it has spread. The treatment plan and response to treatment also influence the outlook.
According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for the last stage of eye melanoma is 16%. However, a person needs to consider that survival rates derive from statistics and can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances and treatment improvements.
Factors that can affect the outlook for stage 4 eye cancer include:
The speed at which stage 4 eye cancer can spread depends on various factors, including the location, cancer type, and a person's immune system function.
Stage 4 eye cancer cells can spread to nearby and distant tissues and organs rapidly and aggressively. The spread of the disease to other parts of the body is known as metastasis. Stage 4 uveal melanoma nearly always involves liver metastasis.
In the last stage, the cancer has spread beyond the eye to regional lymph nodes and distant areas, including the bone, liver, and lungs. The spread of cancer to distant areas is distant metastasis, and doctors consider the cancer metastatic at this point.
Sometimes, doctors can determine a person's risk of eye cancer spreading by performing genetic testing.
Stage 4 eye cancer can cause various symptoms affecting vision and overall health.
Symptoms of this disease include:
Learn more common symptoms of eye tumors.
Treatment options for stage 4 eye cancer can manage symptoms but do not offer a cure. Meeting with a healthcare professional is essential to discuss the options, risks and benefits, and preferences for treatments.
Treatment methods for stage 4 uveal melanoma include:
Learn about palliative care vs. Hospice care.
The basic staging system for most types of eye cancer, including uveal melanoma, uses the TNM system, which stands for tumor, node, and metastasis.
This system describes:
This standardized system helps doctors describe how far the cancer has grown and spread, determine appropriate treatment options, and predict an individual's prognosis. The categories can signify the tumor size, location, and whether the disease has spread to other areas.
The process of stage grouping involves combining the T, N, and M categories to determine the overall stage of the cancer.
For stage 4 uveal melanoma, the cancer is either:
or:
Symptoms of the last stage of eye cancer may include vision changes, eye pain, and redness. Stage 4 indicates cancer has already spread to other areas, such as the liver or lungs.
Although a cure is not likely, treatment approaches, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, may help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Palliative care is also a choice to alleviate pain and additional symptoms. A healthcare professional can offer personalized recommendations and determine the best plan.
What Are The Causes Of Bladder Cancer?
If healthy cells in your urinary bladder grow out of control and form a tumor or abnormal mass of tissue, you may develop bladder cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 18,000 women and 57,000 men are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year in the United States.
While anyone can get bladder cancer, certain risk factors, like older age and being assigned male at birth, may increase the likelihood of developing this type of cancer.
This article provides an overview of the causes and risk factors of bladder cancer, including what leads to the progression to the advanced stage.
Bladder cancer affects the healthy tissues of the bladder. Most often, these cells begin to grow out of control and develop into a tumor.
In some cases, the abnormal growth stays in the bladder. But it can also spread to other parts of the body.
The most common type of bladder is urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma), which starts in the urothelial cells that line the bladder, according to the American Cancer Society.
While not as common, other cancers that can start in the bladder include:
Bladder cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States, but it ranks eighth in terms of types of cancer that lead to death.
Signs and symptoms can alert you to a possible problem. Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Bladder cancer is considered advanced when it progresses or spreads to other parts of the body.
According to the American Cancer Society, you may experience additional symptoms such as being unable to urinate, low back pain specific to one side, feeling tired or weak, loss of appetite and weight loss, and bone pain.
While the exact causes aren't fully understood, experts agree several factors may increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Some causes are out of your control. But others, like smoking, are lifestyle factors you can change to decrease the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Understanding the causes of bladder cancer may help you identify risk factors and alert you to early warning signs.
SmokingTobacco use is a significant risk factor for developing bladder cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
In fact, it's the leading preventable cause of bladder cancer, with cigarette smoking being the highest tobacco risk. About half of all bladder cancers have smoking as the leading risk factor, per the American Cancer Society.
Tobacco smoke is full of chemicals that can damage the lining of the bladder. Over time, this exposure can lead to the development of cancerous cells.
Advanced ageYou can develop bladder cancer at any age, but it's more common when you're older. The American Cancer Society says that the majority of people with bladder cancer are over age 55, with the average age of diagnosis being 73.
Being assigned male at birthThe CDC estimates that about 12,000 men die from the disease each year, compared to 4,700 women. Moreover, the American Cancer Society estimates that men have about a 1 in 28 chance of developing bladder cancer, while women have a 1 in 91 chance.
Family history of bladder cancerIf you have a family member with bladder cancer, you may be at an increased risk of developing the disease. This may be caused by exposure to similar cancer-causing chemicals like those found in tobacco or an industrial setting.
You may also share the same changes in genes that make it difficult to break down certain toxins, according to the American Cancer Society. Although, unlike other cancers, bladder cancer doesn't often run in families.
Exposure to certain chemicalsFrequent exposure to certain cancer-causing chemicals, including dyes, rubber, leather, textiles, paint, and printing material can increase your risk of developing bladder cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, exposure is most common in the workplace, especially in industrial settings that use certain organic chemicals.
Beyond the risk factors above, there are others to be aware of, including:
Like other cancers, some people diagnosed with bladder cancer have no identifiable risk factors. On the other hand, some people considered high risk may never develop the disease.
That's why it's important to maintain good overall health and seek medical attention if you experience symptoms such as blood in the urine or frequent urination.
When diagnosed and treated early, bladder cancer has a favorable survival rate.
That said, if the disease is untreated, resistant to treatments, or spreads, it may progress to an advanced stage. This typically happens when the cancer cells grow and invade the deeper layers of the bladder wall or spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs.
Your doctor will likely assign a stage at the time of diagnosis. Bladder cancer stages include stages 1, 2, 3, and 4. Stage 4 is the most advanced form and is often referred to as metastatic bladder cancer.
At stage 4, the cells travel through the lymphatic system and form tumors in other areas of the body. While it's not one of the deadliest forms of cancer, it can still lead to death.
Several factors contribute to advanced-stage bladder cancer. But some contribute to the progression and increase the risk of mortality more than others. They include:
Several risk factors like smoking, age, gender, and exposure to certain chemicals can raise your chances of developing bladder cancer. While some are preventable, others you can't change. That's why it's critical to maintain a healthy lifestyle and see your doctor for regular screenings.
Early detection and treatment of bladder cancer can help prevent its progression to an advanced stage.
Emotional Moment As Princess Diana's Butler Paul Burrell, 64 ...
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