‘Treatable, but not curable’: Mother warns others after stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis at 33
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Colorectal cancer rates are declining in older adults but have significantly increased among people under 50, now having the highest mortality rate in that age group in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
- Brooke Pangrazio, diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 33, exemplifies this trend; she experiences advanced disease with liver and lung metastases and undergoes regular chemotherapy treatments.
- Symptoms such as changes in bowel movements and rectal bleeding were initially misattributed to less serious conditions, highlighting the challenge of early detection in younger adults without family history.
- ACS reports that 75% of colorectal cancers in adults under 50 are diagnosed at advanced stages, with 45% of new cases occurring in adults under 65, marking an 18% increase since 1995.
- Pangrazio advocates for younger adults to be proactive about their health, encouraging conversations with doctors and earlier screening, while maintaining a positive outlook and hope for medical advances to improve her prognosis.
