For years, Dawn Eicher was told by doctors, despite obvious symptoms, that she was too young to have colon cancer. While pregnant with her 2nd child, as her symptoms worsened. Her doctors told her it was pregnancy related, gave her suppositories, and sent her home. It took 10 more months before she finally received a colonoscopy at which time she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with metastases to her liver. Dawn was only 36 years old.
Faced with a very difficult treatment plan including multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and a temporary ileostomy, Dawn forged ahead. It has been close to a year since she completed her treatment and Dawn is NED – No Evidence of Disease. She is now fighting hard to let people know “You’re Never Too Young” for colon cancer. She has started a petition through Change.org to force insurance companies to make colon cancer screening more accessible to younger people.
There are other tests besides a colonoscopy, but I believe a scope of the best diagnostic test if you have any symptoms. The issue is some people don’t have symptoms, so they are missed until it’s far too late. There is a take home kit called Cologuard and its a fecal blood test that checks for cancer DNA. I believe it’s 92% accurate, so not bad! Also insurance is just starting to cover it regardless of the age…
If you and your doc thinks you don’t need a full colonoscopy, you can ask for at minimum a rectal exam and/or a tiny scope (that doesn’t hurt at all) to take a look around. That would only catch rectal cancer, but that is where 70% of all young onset cases at located.
What I Learned From Dawn Eicher * Be your own advocate! * Nobody knows your body better than you do. If something isn’t right, tell your doctor. If your doctor won’t listen, find one who will. * One person can affect change. * In less than 90 days, Dawn was able to get over 70,000 signatures on her petition she’s sending to congress. *I also learned that Attitude is everything! * Many people would be angry and bitter after experiencing what Dawn went through. She chooses to be positive and channel her energy for change.
How you can help make a difference: Please support the efforts of my friend Dawn Eicher to make it possible to save your life and many others. We have a ” Health Care” business system that relies on statistical analyses to determine approved insurance expenditures. Decisions must be based on EACH individual patient, regardless of age. In the toxic world we live in, children can be at risk as well.