CHICAGO — Typically considered an older person’s disease, this year, about 20 percent of new colorectal cancer diagnoses will happen in people younger than 50.
When his symptoms began in his early 40s, WGN’s Mike Lowe was not considered eligible for a colonoscopy. Ultimately, he did get a cancer diagnosis.
Mike has shared his story from day one of his treatment with the hope others won’t face the same fate.
“Every morning now I take four pills right after breakfast, and then I have to take the same four pills right after dinner,” he said. “That’s just part of my life now, taking chemotherapy pills. … I’m going try to go into this cancer fight as strong as I can possibly be. I’m trying to do everything I normally do for as long as I can until I physically can’t do this.”
What is Stage 3 Colon Cancer?
Dr Daniel Dammrich is an oncologist with Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.
“That means the cancer has spread from the original organ, colorectal, into the lymph nodes in the surrounding area, but it has not spread distantly in the body to other organs, such as the liver or the lungs or the bones,” he said. “Stage 3 colorectal cancers are still a curable form of cancer. … Unfortunately (it is) becoming more and more common in younger and younger people, which is why we moved the screening age from 50 to 45. But we’re still missing lots of people.”
What are some of the reasons behind more younger people being diagnosed with colorectal cancer? Dammrich said there’s no clear answer.
“We think environmental factors like sedentary lifestyle, diets high in fats and low in fiber, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, these are all risk factors we think are contributing to the rise of incidence in this younger population,” he said.
“I had written messages to my doctor saying I was having constipation and some issues and got pushback always saying, ‘Well you know insurance won’t pay for that until 45,’” Lowe said. “If I were able to have gotten a colonoscopy say four years ago, we might have caught this as a polyp instead of Stage 3 cancer.”
“That’s why it’s important in the 20s, 30s and 40s to really listen to your body.” Dammrich said. “If you are having symptoms — abdominal pain, bloating, changes in bowel habits, constipation or diarrhea, blood in your stool — you’ve got to seek attention with your medical professionals immediately.”
Lowe has had a strong support system by his side.
“It’s always nice to have support from anyone, but for my parents to be there I think you always get a little bit of strength when your parents are with you,” Lowe said. “It’s an extra layer of protection for you.”
Peter Lee is Lowe’s best friend and was working out with him on a recent day when WGN’s Medical Watch team caught up with them.
“I’ve known Mike since freshman year football camp, July 1994. I thought he had a sweet flat top haircut,” he said. “From Day One, Mike was like the ultimate teammate, friend, guy everyone wanted to be around. … He’s given so much to us over the years and every one of us would take every chemo pill or treatment we could to try to get him through this side by side.”
In addition to chemotherapy, Lowe is also undergoing radiation. WGN’s Medical Watch team was with him during his first day.
“Day one is in the books,” he said. “It really wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be, especially the radiation went by in less than 10 minutes and I didn’t even get to see a laser. … One day down and about six weeks left of this, 29 more sessions.”
WGN’s series continues next Thursday as Mike meets one of his sports heroes in treatment. From the poster on his wall as a child to the hospital waiting room, he gets some encouragement from a legendary Cubs player.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
