Latest news with #ColorectalCancerAlliance
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Influencer Tanner Martin dead at 30 of colon cancer — this was his first symptom
Utah-based influencer Tanner Martin, who died this week of colon cancer at the age of 30, said his five-year battle began with a single symptom. Martin was diagnosed with the disease, which occurs when cells in the colon grow out of control, in 2020 at the age of 25. While colon cancer is traditionally linked to older adults, diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. Oncologists have suggested that the concerning rise in youth cases and deaths could be due to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption and environmental factors such as pollutants in the air, soil and water. The exact causes are still unclear. Martin's first symptom was a mild but persistent stomachache that began in 2020. He said that the pain was not debilitating but made him feel unwell. Gastrointestinal medical oncologist Benny Johnson notes that some 15% of colon cancer patients report abdominal pain, described as an 'intermittent crampy feeling.' Martin then began experiencing severe constipation. Though colon cancer can sometimes be asymptomatic, a change in bowel habits or stool — as well as rectal bleeding or weight loss — are among the classic symptoms. Experts maintain that constipation now and then isn't a cause for concern, but if you're normally regular — and then you're stopped up for weeks or months at a time — that's not normal and could be a sign that cancer is obstructing your bowels. 'If you notice persistent diarrhea, constipation or a change in the shape, size, consistency or frequency of your stool, don't simply brush it off as stress or diet changes,' Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon based in South Carolina and medical adviser to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, previously told The Post. Also, watch for fatigue. A low red blood cell count, known as anemia, is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients and can contribute to feelings of exhaustion. Despite Martin's telltale symptoms, his initial bloodwork was normal, and it took six months for a specialist to recommend him for a colonoscopy. Because of the rise in younger cases, the US Preventive Services Task Force updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for adults at average risk. By the time Martin underwent the procedure, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread from his colon to his liver. He was given a Stage 4 terminal diagnosis. According to the Washington Post, young people like Martin, who are of Native American descent, have the highest rate of colorectal cancer of any racial and ethnic group. Despite his grim prognosis, Martin finished college and found a job, but the fatigue from his treatments and the toll of several surgeries made it impossible for him to work. He began documenting his cancer journey on TikTok and Instagram, where his candor and optimism made him a viral sensation. Martin and his wife, Shay, also started the nonprofit Rebels Against Cancer. Martin, who had always dreamed of being a father, banked his sperm shortly after his diagnosis, as infertility is a common side effect of chemotherapy. In 2024, in light of what appeared to be an effective treatment for Martin, he and Shay decided to start a family. However, by 2025, Martin's condition had taken a turn for the worse, spreading to his lymph nodes, and he was uncertain whether he would live long enough to meet his daughter. He and Shay welcomed AmyLou last month. Martin announced his untimely passing in a prerecorded video shared by Shay on Wednesday. He wanted to record a 'lighthearted' video ahead of his death so Shay could upload it and focus on grieving. Martin, who did not have life insurance, also recorded a separate video in which he shared that his dying wish was for fans to donate to his widow and newborn daughter through a GoFundMe fundraiser, 'to help replace what I would be there for.' 'For less than the price of a hot and spicy McChicken (Tanner's words…LOL), you can give them a future Tanner only wished he could stay to provide,' the page said. The fundraiser has collected over $500,000 so far.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Influencer Tanner Martin dead at 30 of colon cancer — this was his first symptom
Utah-based influencer Tanner Martin, who died this week of colon cancer at the age of 30, said his five-year battle began with a single symptom. Martin was diagnosed with the disease, which occurs when cells in the colon grow out of control, in 2020 at the age of 25. While colon cancer is traditionally linked to older adults, diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. 4 Tanner Martin was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 25. The Washington Post via Getty Images Oncologists have suggested that the concerning rise in youth cases and deaths could be due to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption and environmental factors such as pollutants in the air, soil and water. The exact causes are still unclear. Martin's first symptom was a mild but persistent stomachache that began in 2020. He said that the pain was not debilitating but made him feel unwell. Gastrointestinal medical oncologist Benny Johnson notes that some 15% of colon cancer patients report abdominal pain, described as an 'intermittent crampy feeling.' Martin then began experiencing severe constipation. 4 Though colorectal cancer can sometimes be asymptomatic, a change in bowel habits or caliber of stool — as well as rectal bleeding or weight loss — are among the most common symptoms. M+Isolation+Photo – Though colon cancer can sometimes be asymptomatic, a change in bowel habits or stool — as well as rectal bleeding or weight loss — are among the classic symptoms. Experts maintain that constipation now and then isn't a cause for concern, but if you're normally regular — and then you're stopped up for weeks or months at a time — that's not normal and could be a sign that cancer is obstructing your bowels. 'If you notice persistent diarrhea, constipation or a change in the shape, size, consistency or frequency of your stool, don't simply brush it off as stress or diet changes,' Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon based in South Carolina and medical adviser to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, previously told The Post. Also watch for fatigue. A low red blood cell count, known as anemia, is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients and can contribute to feelings of exhaustion. Despite Martin's telltale symptoms, his initial bloodwork was normal, and it took six months for a specialist to recommend him for a colonoscopy. 4 Despite Martin's telltale symptoms, his bloodwork was normal, and it took six months for a specialist to recommend him for a colonoscopy. Instagram / tannerandshay Because of the rise in younger cases, the US Preventive Services Task Force updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for adults at average risk. By the time Martin underwent the procedure, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread from his colon to his liver. He was given a Stage 4 terminal diagnosis. According to the Washington Post, young people like Martin, who are of Native American descent, have the highest rate of colorectal cancer of any racial and ethnic group. Despite his grim prognosis, Martin finished college and found a job, but the fatigue from his treatments and the toll of five surgeries made it impossible for him to work. He began documenting his cancer journey on TikTok and Instagram, where his candor and optimism made him a viral sensation. 4 In 2024, in light of what appeared to be an effective treatment, Martin and Shay decided to start a family. The Washington Post via Getty Images Martin and his wife, Shay, also started the nonprofit Rebels Against Cancer. Martin, who had always dreamed of being a father, banked his sperm shortly after his diagnosis, as infertility is a common side effect of chemotherapy. In 2024, in light of what appeared to be an effective treatment for Martin, he and Shay decided to start a family. However, by 2025, Martin's condition had taken a turn for the worse, spreading to his lymph nodes, and he was uncertain whether he would live long enough to meet his daughter. He and Shay welcomed Amy Lou on May 15. Martin announced his untimely passing in a prerecorded video shared by Shay on Wednesday. He wanted to record a 'lighthearted' video ahead of his death so Shay could upload it and focus on grieving. Martin, who did not have life insurance, also recorded a separate video in which he shared that his dying wish was for fans to donate to his widow and newborn daughter through a GoFundMe fundraiser, 'to help replace what I would be there for.' 'For less than the price of a hot and spicy McChicken (Tanner's words…LOL), you can give them a future Tanner only wished he could stay to provide,' the page said. The fundraiser has raised over $500,000 so far.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Young people with colon cancer are often misdiagnosed. 2 women share the symptoms their doctors missed.
Rates of colon cancer in people under 50 have grown in recent decades. One study found that 82% of young colon cancer patients were misdiagnosed initially. Two women who had colon cancer in their 30s were told they had hemorrhoids or a parasite. Brooks Bell and Sarah Beran connected online in July 2023 over something unfortunate they had in common: they were both treated for colon cancer in their 30s after doctors misdiagnosed them. Now, they're working together to prevent others from having the same experience. Before Beran was told in 2020 at age 34 that she had colon cancer, she chalked her fatigue up to being a working mom with two young kids. And she presumed the blood that had started appearing in her stools was caused by hemorrhoids. "It was just a crazy time with the kids. They were so young. I was so tired all the time anyway, and I was just so busy," Beran, a stylist in LA, told Business Insider. The most common colon cancer symptoms in people under 50 are abdominal pain, changes to bowel movements such as going more or less frequently, constipation, bloating, and diarrhea, according to a 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open. But other symptoms include blood in feces, unexplained weight loss, anemia, and vomiting for no obvious reason. Many of these symptoms overlap with common digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, which means doctors tread a tightrope when it comes to diagnosing younger, generally healthy patients. In a 2017 survey of 1,535 colon cancer survivors under 50 conducted by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 82% said they were initially misdiagnosed. A 2020 survey by the charity Bowel Cancer UK of 1,073 colorectal cancer patients diagnosed under 50, and 222 people who responded on a patient's behalf, found 42% were told by doctors they were too young to develop the condition. Half of the participants didn't know they could get the disease at their age, and two thirds were initially diagnosed with conditions such as IBS, hemorrhoids, or anaemia. It's a challenge to make sure a symptom is attributed to the correct condition without scaring people while also not overlooking the early signs of colorectal cancer, Joshua Demb, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, who studies early-onset colon cancer, previously told BI. A year into having IBS-like symptoms and needing to use the bathroom a lot more than usual, Beran's doctors sent her to a gastroenterologist who said she might have a parasite, but said it was likely nothing to worry about given her age, active lifestyle, and healthy diet. An at-home stool test for colon cancer detected no abnormalities. What are known as fecal immunochemical tests, or FIT, are about 80% accurate, according to the University of Colorado Cancer Center. When the bleeding got worse, Beran pushed for a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. She said that doctors found a mass on her rectum and "over 100" polyps — small growths that are often harmless but can turn into cancer — on her colon. "It was quite shocking to hear the word 'cancer,'" she said. "Because I was so healthy, it just wasn't something that I thought would happen to me." Growing up, Beran played sports and, before her diagnosis, she exercised almost every day. She ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, too. Over two years, Beran was treated with 12 rounds of chemotherapy, and surgery to remove the cancerous tissues. She was given a temporary ileostomy connecting her small intestine to her abdomen to collect feces while her colon healed. In early 2022, doctors told her the cancer had spread to her lungs, which was treated with more surgery, as well as radiation therapy. She has been "cancer-free" for almost three years, she said. "I feel so silly looking back on it, but who's not tired, you know what I mean?" Beran said. While Beran was struggling with her symptoms in LA in 2019, Bell was seeking her own answers 2,500 miles away in North Carolina, after finding blood in her stool at age 38. The former CEO's doctor told her over the phone that she likely had hemorrhoids. When the bleeding didn't stop after a few weeks, Bell's doctor examined her in person and couldn't find hemorrhoids, but said they were probably higher up in her rectum. Sensing something wasn't right, Bell called a GI doctor without a referral, meaning it wasn't covered by her insurance. A colonoscopy revealed that she had stage 3 colon cancer, and was followed by three months of chemotherapy and surgery to remove 10 inches of her colon. In 2024, Bell hit the five-year cancer-free mark, where the likelihood that a cancer patient will have a recurrence drops. The cancer hasn't returned, but the worry never went away. "The treatment sucks, but the anxiety is so intense and is so persistent," she said, "you can't get away from it. It is barely tolerable." Bell is glad she trusted her instinct, despite being told several times the blood in her stool was nothing to worry about. "There were clues all along. You just needed to have someone who is willing to actually ask about your stool and really think about it, not shy away," she said. Overall, thanks to screening and lifestyle changes, fewer people are developing colon cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It estimates that in 2025, 107,320 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed. But Bell and Beran are among a growing number of younger people to develop the disease. One in five colon cancer cases in 2019 were in people under 54, up from one in 10 in 1995, according to ACS data published in 2023. The cause is unclear, but scientists have pointed to changes in the gut microbiome, antibiotic use, and environmental exposures as possible explanations. Beran reached out to Bell online after she saw her Lead From Behind campaign, which featured Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney getting colonoscopies on camera. In July 2023, they met on Zoom and decided to combine their respective skill sets to create Worldclass, a clothing line intended to reframe colonoscopies as cool. They sell tote bags with the irreverent slogan "colonoscopy enthusiast" printed on, and streetwear-style tracksuits stitched with the the word "ass." In the US, people are advised to get their first colon cancer screening at 45, partly because age is a risk factor for developing polyps. However, if someone younger has more than one symptom of colon cancer, they should consider getting a colonoscopy, Dr. James Cleary, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, previously told BI. During a colonoscopy, patients are either sedated or under general anesthetic while a thin tube with a camera on the end is put in the rectum and colon to check for polyps. They must fast and take a laxative in the days before the procedure. If polyps are found, they can often be removed then and there, meaning the procedure can help prevent colon cancer. "They're actually more like a fast, cleanse, then a nap. It's actually almost like a spa appointment," Bell said of a colonoscopy. "We could be reframing it in positive ways, where it's just a self-care wellness kind of experience." She added: "People do not know that it's this empowering, hopeful thing that can actually protect you from this major threat." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
13-06-2025
- Health
- Business Insider
Young people with colon cancer are often misdiagnosed. 2 women share the symptoms their doctors missed.
Brooks Bell and Sarah Beran connected online in July 2023 over something unfortunate they had in common: they were both treated for colon cancer in their 30s after doctors misdiagnosed them. Now, they're working together to prevent others from having the same experience. Before Beran was told in 2020 at age 34 that she had colon cancer, she chalked her fatigue up to being a working mom with two young kids. And she presumed the blood that had started appearing in her stools was caused by hemorrhoids. "It was just a crazy time with the kids. They were so young. I was so tired all the time anyway, and I was just so busy," Beran, a stylist in LA, told Business Insider. The most common colon cancer symptoms in people under 50 are abdominal pain, changes to bowel movements such as going more or less frequently, constipation, bloating, and diarrhea, according to a 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open. But other symptoms include blood in feces, unexplained weight loss, anemia, and vomiting for no obvious reason. Many of these symptoms overlap with common digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, which means doctors tread a tightrope when it comes to diagnosing younger, generally healthy patients. In a 2017 survey of 1,535 colon cancer survivors under 50 conducted by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 82% said they were initially misdiagnosed. A 2020 survey by the charity Bowel Cancer UK of 1,073 colorectal cancer patients diagnosed under 50, and 222 people who responded on a patient's behalf, found 42% were told by doctors they were too young to develop the condition. Half of the participants didn't know they could get the disease at their age, and two thirds were initially diagnosed with conditions such as IBS, hemorrhoids, or anaemia. It's a challenge to make sure a symptom is attributed to the correct condition without scaring people while also not overlooking the early signs of colorectal cancer, Joshua Demb, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, who studies early-onset colon cancer, previously told BI. A year into having IBS-like symptoms and needing to use the bathroom a lot more than usual, Beran's doctors sent her to a gastroenterologist who said she might have a parasite, but said it was likely nothing to worry about given her age, active lifestyle, and healthy diet. An at-home stool test for colon cancer detected no abnormalities. What are known as fecal immunochemical tests, or FIT, are about 80% accurate, according to the University of Colorado Cancer Center. When the bleeding got worse, Beran pushed for a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. She said that doctors found a mass on her rectum and "over 100" polyps — small growths that are often harmless but can turn into cancer — on her colon. "It was quite shocking to hear the word 'cancer,'" she said. "Because I was so healthy, it just wasn't something that I thought would happen to me." Growing up, Beran played sports and, before her diagnosis, she exercised almost every day. She ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, too. Over two years, Beran was treated with 12 rounds of chemotherapy, and surgery to remove the cancerous tissues. She was given a temporary ileostomy connecting her small intestine to her abdomen to collect feces while her colon healed. In early 2022, doctors told her the cancer had spread to her lungs, which was treated with more surgery, as well as radiation therapy. She has been "cancer-free" for almost three years, she said. "I feel so silly looking back on it, but who's not tired, you know what I mean?" Beran said. Bell's doctor said the blood in her poop was likely caused by hemorrhoids While Beran was struggling with her symptoms in LA in 2019, Bell was seeking her own answers 2,500 miles away in North Carolina, after finding blood in her stool at age 38. The former CEO's doctor told her over the phone that she likely had hemorrhoids. When the bleeding didn't stop after a few weeks, Bell's doctor examined her in person and couldn't find hemorrhoids, but said they were probably higher up in her rectum. Sensing something wasn't right, Bell called a GI doctor without a referral, meaning it wasn't covered by her insurance. A colonoscopy revealed that she had stage 3 colon cancer, and was followed by three months of chemotherapy and surgery to remove 10 inches of her colon. In 2024, Bell hit the five-year cancer-free mark, where the likelihood that a cancer patient will have a recurrence drops. The cancer hasn't returned, but the worry never went away. "The treatment sucks, but the anxiety is so intense and is so persistent," she said, "you can't get away from it. It is barely tolerable." Bell is glad she trusted her instinct, despite being told several times the blood in her stool was nothing to worry about. "There were clues all along. You just needed to have someone who is willing to actually ask about your stool and really think about it, not shy away," she said. More younger people are getting colon cancer Overall, thanks to screening and lifestyle changes, fewer people are developing colon cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It estimates that in 2025, 107,320 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed. But Bell and Beran are among a growing number of younger people to develop the disease. One in five colon cancer cases in 2019 were in people under 54, up from one in 10 in 1995, according to ACS data published in 2023. The cause is unclear, but scientists have pointed to changes in the gut microbiome, antibiotic use, and environmental exposures as possible explanations. Giving colonoscopies a trendy rebrand Beran reached out to Bell online after she saw her Lead From Behind campaign, which featured Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney getting colonoscopies on camera. In July 2023, they met on Zoom and decided to combine their respective skill sets to create Worldclass, a clothing line intended to reframe colonoscopies as cool. They sell tote bags with the irreverent slogan "colonoscopy enthusiast" printed on, and streetwear-style tracksuits stitched with the the word "ass." In the US, people are advised to get their first colon cancer screening at 45, partly because age is a risk factor for developing polyps. However, if someone younger has more than one symptom of colon cancer, they should consider getting a colonoscopy, Dr. James Cleary, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, previously told BI. During a colonoscopy, patients are either sedated or under general anesthetic while a thin tube with a camera on the end is put in the rectum and colon to check for polyps. They must fast and take a laxative in the days before the procedure. If polyps are found, they can often be removed then and there, meaning the procedure can help prevent colon cancer. "They're actually more like a fast, cleanse, then a nap. It's actually almost like a spa appointment," Bell said of a colonoscopy. "We could be reframing it in positive ways, where it's just a self-care wellness kind of experience." She added: "People do not know that it's this empowering, hopeful thing that can actually protect you from this major threat."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gut toxins and 50,000 deaths: The truth behind the rise in colon cancer and the signs to look for
Colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger Americans - the reason behind the jump has become hard for scientists to identify, but the symptoms to watch out are known. Colorectal cancer, which encompasses colon and rectal cancer, is the second leading cause of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Last year saw a slight increase in deaths, with just over 53,000 reported. There were also nearly 153,000 new cases of colorectal cancer, the majority of which were in men. While survival rates have improved among older Americans, the incidence rate for people under the age of 55 continues to rise by between 1 and 2 percent, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. The trend has been reported since the mid-1990s. The mortality rate has also increased by about 1 percentage point each year since the mid-2000s. If current trends continue, colorectal cancer is slated to become the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults in the next five years. Now, a new study has identified a potential link between a toxin in the gut and the sharp rise of disease in younger people. Colibactin, which is produced by harmful species of gut bacteria, can inflict DNA damage on colon cells that can lead to the development of cancer. Researchers say that damage is prominent in people who developed colorectal cancer at a younger age. Previous research had identified the DNA mutations in approximately 10 to 15 percent of all colorectal cancer cases. 'These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease,' UC San Diego professor Ludmil Alexandrov explained in a statement. E. coli — yes, the foodborne illness E. coli — is a vital part of a healthy gut microbiome. However, some strains can produce the toxin called colibactin, which is capable of altering a person's DNA. The toxin has been previously been linked to some cases of colorectal cancers, and 20 percent of people are thought to contain strains that can produce it. But, colibactin-producing microbes are not the only bacteria linked to colorectal cancers. Another gut microbe called F. nucleatum has been implicated in the development of the disease. It may contribute to disease development by enabling the tumor to proliferate and evade the immune system, Alexandrov told NBC News. Colibactin's damaging effects begin early on. Alexandrov and the study's authors found such mutations occur within the first 10 years of life. Furthermore, the study revealed that DNA mutations account for approximately 15 percent of mutations found in the tumor-suppressing APC gene in colorectal cancer, which are some of the earliest genetic changes that can directly promote cancer development. 'If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they're 10 years old,' Alexandrov said, 'they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60.' Although some people could have colon cancer and not know it, others may experience blood in their stool, diarrhea, fatigue, rectal bleeding, constipation, abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits and unexplained weight loss. Colorectal polyps that grow in the colon or rectum can turn into cancer if not removed. If you are experiencing a symptom, it does not mean you have colorectal cancer. But, you should see a doctor. 'If anyone has any change in their bowel habits, if they have any bleeding — even if they think it's a hemorrhoid, and it doesn't go away — just get a colonoscopy,' Yale Medicine colorectal. surgeon Dr. Vikram Reddy advised. Young people are often diagnosed with more advanced cancers due to delays in detection. 'If you're 39 and you're having these symptoms, you're not thinking, 'I have colon cancer,'' Dr. Sonia Ramamoorthy, chief of colorectal surgery at UC San Diego said. 'You're thinking, 'I ate something. I'm working too hard.' If you're tired and you're stressed out, you're thinking, 'It'll go away.' People are presenting later because they're just not attributing their symptoms to something that could be serious.' But, doctors have also singled out other contributing factors, including excess body weight, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, a high intake of red or processed meat, and other environmental factors. A family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, and conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, are also risk factors, according to Yale Medicine. People may reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by limiting their alcohol consumption, keeping a healthy diet and increasing their physical activity. Screenings also play an important role in finding any precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer. Federal health officials say people should get screened starting at age 45, although there are questions about whether it should be lowered to 40. Those with a family history of colorectal cancer may need to get checked even earlier. Although, screening comes with its own risks as some medical machines have been linked to higher cancer rates. There are some disparities to be aware of - Black Americans are 15 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer and 35 percent more likely to die from it than white Americans. But, there's still a lot to learn. 'We don't understand a lot about the causes, the biology, or how to prevent early onset of the disease,' Phil Daschner, a program director in NCI's Division of Cancer Biology said. 'And that's important to learn more about because it may affect [approaches for] the treatment and survivorship of early-onset colon cancer.'
