I am only 32 years old and thought I was in great health. They do not smoke or drink. I eat healthy diet and exercise every day. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I had colon cancer. It doesn’t run in my family and I have annual checkups with my family doctor.
They warned me to ignore the signs because of my age. I attributed the symptoms to other things, and so did my doctor.
Abdominal pain
I started having abdominal pain, mostly on the left side, and I thought it was most likely a cyst on my ovary, maybe a stomach ache, or even a case of constipation. By the time I noticed the continuous pain, the swelling was well developed. Even after I hinted to my doctor, he believed that constipation was also partly what contributed to the pain. The tumor almost completely blocked my colon and my ability to use the restroom was almost completely gone. I spent eight days in the hospital before I could expel the waste from my body. Now I take four laxatives a day and I am waiting for the surgery.
Gas, Change in Entry Attitude
After exploratory surgery where my ovary was removed and I was treated for an abdominal abscess, I started having excessive gas, bloating, and a severe change in bowel habits. and again I attributed it to something other than colon cancer. I thought my recent surgery was the cause, but these were all symptoms of colon cancer.
Whiplash and Anemia
For the past six months or so I have been very tired very easily and have found myself sleeping more than usual. I talked myself into many excuses like stress, working too much, and trying to be a super mom. Even when I started to fall asleep after work, I never thought of the problem as severe cancer.
After my first surgery, my doctor noticed that I was anemic and he was pretty sure that I was normal and that he would be out of work. Even when I told him that I was tired of walking from the bedroom to the bathroom, he insisted that I would regain my strength. Rather, my fatigue and anemia are getting worse.
A little blood
I also had a small amount of blood in my stool and ignored it. He was by no means severe. and I asked if it was blood. I thought it looked that color because I drank an orange-red fiber drink, or it was pre-absorbed after the surgery, maybe even a small tear inside. It’s amazing how many excuses I had for each sign.
Looking back, there were many warning signs of colon cancer over a period of about six months. It’s easy to make excuses about our health when we’re young. I never thought someone my age would need to know the symptoms of colon cancer.
