Like you I was treated for urinary problems for 2 years until I had a CT scan that showed a massive ovarian tumor with lymph nodes all over and tumors in my liver and lungs. I am an RN so when the results showed up on my computer I knew this was stage 4 cancer. My gyn oncologist told me the ovarian tumor had been growing for years and this is typical. After many chemos and an 11 hour surgery, an episode of sepsis, and other problems I am now in remission. I thank God, my family and friends for my recovery.
The one thing all of these people have in common is that they were ignored, dismissed, told they were "too young", told that they had anxiety, told they were hypochondriacs, and the list goes on... This UA-cam channel is proof that you REALLY HAVE to advocate for yourself!
I had similar issues with my back issues told for years there was nothing wrong but it turned out after being ignored for 10 years I saw an osteopath and he suggested an mri as he could feel damage so I paid £250 for a private MRI and £250 for a private consultation and they found that my spine had crumbled away and one disk was bulging but by the time it was found it had done permanent damage and now I’m permanently disabled it’s discusting that I had to pay £500 to get a diagnosis when my GP was just ignoring me but at the same time I’m glad I could afford to get the help lots can’t
My friend's 3rd bout of appendix cancer, her oncologist LITERALLY told her her pain was in her head. She finally agreed to go to a different doctor after that. But it was too late. She was gone within a month. He spent 9 months gaslighting her. The new doc saw the cancer on the scans from the beginning of this bout. I'm still angry.
I was told for 20 years that I had a virus (and also,totally not listened to)when I had practically no leg muscles and no reflexes,and was mostly bedbound.When they finally did a muscle biopsy,after only doing blood tests for 20 years they found out I had a myopathy!
I have Stage IV colon cancer. I'm learning that the symptoms are very much ignored until they're so extreme that you end up in the ER. Originally, they sent me home and told me it was my gallbladder, to take Ibuprofen and see my primary. I got five minutes away and they called me back to the ER, because they'd gotten my CT results and I had a blockage/tumor. They hadn't even waited for the results of the CT before they discharged me. I've learned a LOT about self advocating for my medical care since then.
My friend Robin started having the same problem and she blood for 11 years before she got her diagnosis because the tumor was hidden on the inside and wasn’t presenting itself but when it did, she got diagnosed with stage three she had a year of remission and then stage four She was gone less than a year after that it makes me cry because she knew something was wrong
I'm so sorry. I lost one of my best friends three years ago after several years of hell. Many medical mistakes were made and it's difficult not to be bitter. Big hugs to you.
My sister tried for 10 years with symptoms to get a colonoscopy. She had blood etc and because there was a history in our family we told her to push hard and exaggerate symptoms. After 10 years her dr “reluctantly” did it. Make hand stage 4 and it had been growing for all of those 10 years. She fought to stay for her 17 year old dd but sadly passed away after a 3 year battle. Miss her so bad! So happy you had some connections. Women are much more overlooked with screening for this as they chalk it up to IBS in r women’s issues!
I’m sorry for your loss.and I’m sorry for this too W T Hell??? A history of colon cancer and never went to another doctor 10 yrs??!!! I’m sorry … I just can’t….
So happy you are healthy and cancer free! my daughter in law was 27 years old a year ago 2023 and her symptoms were dismissed as she had just had a baby. Her cancer was very aggressive. She was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and passed away a month later. Please advocate for yourself.
What's crazy is when, in our lifetime, have we known anyone in their 20s getting aggressive colon cancer... I'm not a conspiracy person - but something is very very wrong with this, and I do have to wonder what's behind this. I'm so sorry for your family's loss... heartbreaking.
@@JHall-jo9rm It's s absolutely horrific and there has been an uptick recently but aggressive CAs in younger adults has been perplexing scientists for several decades now. That being said, there are published studies citing elevated i g g 4 following several doses...this increases CA risk as well as CVD, ADs, etc. Sorry for all the medical abbreviations but attempting to avoid triggering the algorithm.
My condolences for the loss of your daughter-in-law, Diana. 💔 Patient advocacy can be difficult even for medical professionals. There should be training available to learn the necessary skills to initiate better diagnostic care for ourselves and family. Clinicians often forget we're the experts when it comes to our bodies.
Sweet mama, i had the same cancer, same stage, almost exact same treatment. 5 years later, still cancer free and no longer even worry. It will happen for you too❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
It's sick and sad they dismissed people all the time who know something is wrong, but to dismiss a person who works in the medical field is crazy. I am so so sorry this happened to you😢
in these series all i hear is these doctors who dont give a f about people. in every video. I wonder why they work with people if they dont even care for them or listen. i dont get it at what point these doctors lose their humanity or compassion. Doctors act like cancer cannot happen to any age person,aither they are lazy or just dont give a f. you cannot trust these doctors anymore. I hope these patients make a complaines about these doctors who dismissed them, because otherwise this situation will never change.
I'm the same right now not being listened to at all. I have severe swelling all on one side of my body (left side) foot, ankle, leg, arm, ear, face. I'm so sick of not being heard and I know there's something not right
@@karenmclaughlan9128 I'm so sorry🥺 And I know people will say "make them listen". I also know it isn't that simple and it is heartbreaking to know something is definitely wrong and not be able to get help 😔
@@karenmclaughlan9128 Is there pain? This may be related to a possible obstruction. Diagnostic imaging should be useful as well as an ER visit. What you've described sounds so stressful. If your symptoms don't seem to warrant a trip to the ER, seek another opinion until the provider listens and runs the appropriate tests. Or ask for a referral to see a specialist. Also, if you know which labs and imaging you need tell the physician to document your requests and his/her refusal in your chart. 🙏
My name is Andrea I turned 50 this year and a month later got diagnosed with colorectal cancer a month later. I passed out in Thailand at the end of my trip. I was told that trip and me passing out saved my life. I have 2 more doses before I get scanned again. I have two sons and I’m fighting my tail off. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
God please bless this precious mother to totally recover, bless Andrea to experience the joy of watching her children grow into adulthood and beyond. In Jesus name
Sending prayers for your healing. Jesus please heal this lady of cancer and remove every cancer cell in her body Lord.. give her strength, peace, and comfort as she fights this battle Lord.. in Jesus Name, Amen.🙏🏻💜
There are incompetent people in every field. Unfortunately, more and more critical primary care physicians are being replaced by nurse practitioners who have very little nursing experience and no supervision. A first year primary care attending has 10,000 hours of training compared to the 500 hours of nurse practitioner training. The clinical time of NP training is shadowing, rather than supervised practice. I write all this to help people understand that they may be seeing a midlevel provider who doesn't know what they don't know.
Not dismissing Drs, but its the Insurance Company Driving this… they are given a max # of mins per patient. And to be fair, I believe that there are Drs who care very much for their Patients but also don’t want them to lose their Insurance… so in many Cases the Drs hands are tied and have no recourse. Also they fear being sued… their Insurance premiums are astronomical due and its due to Frivolous lawsuits, just as our Car insurance is raised and costly due to those who DONT follow the law and have No car insurance.
@@VintageRed411, absolutely! This is exactly what happened to me. I was seeing a nurse practitioner for my primary care physician who took sometimes 2 months or more to get an appointment with. His practice encourages patients to see the NPs who work for him. This can be a deadly mistake if you have cancer or another serious health condition. My bloodwork had been off very slightly for a couple of years or more. I now know it was my ovarian cancer that the nurse practitioner completely missed. It never even entered her brain it could be cancer. She kept telling me the reason I felt the urge to pee all the time… and then felt I couldn’t empty my bladder completely was due to a condition women around perimenopause & menopause experienced… not realizing (due to lack of education & experience) that was a number one symptom of ovarian cancer! It went right over her head! Who knows if the primary care doctor would have caught it either. The reason I felt I needed to pee all the time was because I had a malignant 17.5 cm tumor on my right ovary putting pressure on my bladder. Finally this NP applied pressure around my abdomen and actually felt the tumor. Her eyes got wide as saucers! There it was. The thing she had missed for months & months. So upsetting…. then I had that horrible gyn oncologist who allowed my cancer to spread and a tumor grow right out of me! There’s simply no excuse for such negligence & incompetence.
Right?!?!? How do they keep saying patients are too young! Not only should we address the healthcare professionals, but also insurance companies that set the guidelines on what doctors can treat/explore? Insurance companies dictate Healthcare for patients based on what they will pay. Good luck to you all...
Yeah and the worst part is doctors will ride your butt about getting something done like a blood draw or seeing a specialist, I mean straight up lecture you about the importance of getting certain tests they've ordered so if something is wrong we can catch it early but if the urgency comes from you the patient it seems like they take even longer.
I had a colonoscopy last month and thank God I don’t have any cancer. I am doing research for my sister who has had colon cancer. She’s a survivor. I pray for those who have any type of cancer especially children. I pray for Andrea and family 🙏
🐒marimarxuach Don't bring in your religious believes and pretend you're a better person because you "pray" If praying does work, HOW? Because in all those cases people have very very painful experiences and didn't make it your "god" sucks só much for saying: 'nope, I didn't got enough prayers!!!!' 🤮 If you're fighting a battle for life, don't go to doctors. Just pray. Your choice. Do you say to your sister: Don't go to a specialist, I'm praying!? 🤦🏽♀️
This is the best interview I've seen here. I am a 7 yr cancer Survivor of Stage 4 , Two rare oral cancers, Hard Palate Cancer and Bone Marrow Cancer of Maxilla , were diagnosed at the same time. I applaud her honesty about getting Dr.'s attention, and if you need to shake your rattles n stomp your feet. Also, her discussion about pain, not normal pain, the kind that takes you out of your body for survival. She is one amazing warrior, and I am truly grateful to hear the down n dirty parts of her journey. I'm now in my early 60s but to see the young generations getting Colon cancers is horrid. I never smoked and I had no interest alcohol made me sick out the gate. Let's just acknowledge that Cancer can attach it's cells to meat eaters, vegans, sugar freaks n clean eaters. It doesn't discriminate. Noone in my family smoked. I do know that I had lots of stress, childhood , like many , abuses , tough marriage , two parents working to just make it Motherhood, the best, ,, wife, sometimes the best. Worked in the hospital Lab , 12hr shifts Trying to keep all the plates of life spinning. Stress is toxic. Thank you for sharing your battle !
I so agree with advocating for yourself on everything. My 32-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer when her daughter (my granddaughter) was 2 years old. She passed away on 01/08/2022 after fighting for four years. If there is cancer on both sides of your mother's and father's side, I would demand a colonoscopy just for your own piece of mind. My daughter was featured on King 5 news out of Seattle, WA telling her story and raising awareness. If anyone ever tells me they are having symptoms, I automatically tell them to get checked and don't take no for an answer. My daughter told me about a 14-year-old boy in her support group who was dealing with colon cancer. You are never too young!
As a critical RN for 40+ yrs.. this makes me so ANGRY! I'm recovering from a near life ending emergency because my sx's were marked up to "getting older"! Grrrr!!... I work prn in ER in retirement ... the day I woke up & couldn't walk I FINALLY got to see a Dr by way of the "back door"..a Tx to higher care... my spinal cord was almost pinched in half at C1-C2! Thank God I knew to lay on the couch doing NOTHING trying to see a neuro surgeon! Please in your practice LISTEN to your pts! ... it was subtle sx's.. dropping everything, I had no neck pain! Fatigue, walking funny when tired, loosing grip... numbness in fingers! I couldn't connect iv tubing.. it was blamed on the locks?.. I understand your fear of the future! Lean on your faith!! It has saved me in those dark times! ❤️👍🏻🙏
@@kamhart I’ve had severe back pain since Christmas that intensifies @night. The 1st ER doc kept saying calm down I’m having a panic attack. No way my spine’s causing these muscle tremors. I was adamant it’s my spine. He was such a jerk & said it’s impossible so I left to another ER. They did CT’s & sent me to a neurosurgeon. I was diagnosed w/ cervical myelopathy bc of spinal stenosis from 2 old herniated discs & a bone spur. Neurosurgeon sent me for an injection but The pain doc wouldn’t do it. He said I need surgery asap to prevent permanent damage. I’m a fender bender away from paralysis & sent me back to the neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon said he’s not operating w/ all the signs & symptoms I have. My cervical nodes & neck swelled 1 @ a time 13mo’s ago & the signs & symptoms been progressing. I keep feeling like I’m gonna have seizures. The whole back of my head /necks swollen. I have tinnitus. My sight & hearings cutting in & out. I developed cranial neuralgia. Theres growing lumps & knots inside my mouth, cheeks, jaws, palate, R. shoulder, R. breast & my collarbone thickened. My white counts always high & I have protein in my urine. I’m losing weight on steroids & been nauseous for months. I’ve been to numerous docs! Bc i Had a biopsy of my parotid gland, which was negative, no one cares to do anything else. They blame inflammation & say I’m fine. I think there’s a possibility the node was just negative or pathology didn’t test for the right thing. My body’s shutting down im so deathly ill I wrote my 4boys letters in case something happens b4 this’s diagnosed. The ent who did the biopsy put me on antidepressants bc I went back begging for another biopsy & more tests. There should be laws protecting patients from negligence & neglect. Docs take an oath & don’t practice by it !
@@shielapetty1334thanks & sorry I had to vent. I’m still fighting for help. My spleen swelled recently. I’ve been so so sick! I just tested positive for Lyme but I’m not quite convinced lymes causing all my symptoms. Im terrified for my boys. they don’t deserve this! I won’t give up til I have all the answers. If it takes 100 docs I’ll keep advocating. ❤️🩹
Husband has stage 4 CC..was stage 3 but moved to his lungs. The cancer is growing steadily because there is nothing they can do for the lungs. Resection isn't an option. He's on his 3rd stage cancer treatment-Lonsurf and it's not doing anything. Glad you are in remission. Wish it was so for my husband.
I’ve had colorectal cancer when I turned 50 . Was diagnosed when I had my colonoscopy went through a entire month of chemo and radiation then waited 2-3 months and had surgery and had my rectum removed had the ileostomy bag for six months then removed and there are times I wish it weren’t removed because when I eat there has to be a bathroom close by because I immediately go . It’s been almost 6 years but started to see issues again so now it’s colonoscopy and endoscopy next month too see what’s happening. I listen too a lot of peoples story’s and how similar they are to mine .God bless .
Im 37. I am a wife and mom of 4. I was diagnosed with stage 3b colon cancer just 2 months ago. I had to insist on getting a colonoscopy. Ridiculous!!! God is good though… He is opening so many doors for me!
On Valentine's Day 2013 my wife woke me up in the middle of the night and said she had excruciating pain in her abdomen. We went to our local hospital emergency room where they did a CT scan and found a mass in her pelvis. They transferred her to another hospital for the surgery and by the end of that day they removed part of her cecum and ilium as the tumor was at the ileocecal valve, and did what they called a double shotgun resection. Diagnosed as stage 3B, she underwent hyper CVAD chemo for 6 months, stopping the platinum drug the last 2 months because of worsening neuropathy in her toes and starting in her fingers. She had no symptoms at all prior to the pain on Valentine's Day. No bleeding, cramping, or otherwise. Her last CT scan was years ago and she has no longer had to have them. The neuropathy in her toes remains however.
Yeah and get their noses out of that damn laptop and look at the patient, and assure them you are paying attention to them. I feel since documenting has gone electronically, the patient/ Dr rapport has faltered.
I lost my sister because it was months getting the oncologist who was an hour away (there are no gynological oncologists where we live) took forever getting her in. The different doctors didn't communicate. Everything took ages took get set up due to insurance etc. It was awful, she was stage 4 uterine cancer. On top of that she had Cerebral Palsy and couldnt be cared for at because we couldnt even get home health workers to show up.Thank goodness for her excellent Palliative Care, they were wonderful. I am still really sad about it. It haunts me that I couldn't get her better care or do more to get her healed.
That happened to me too! My first diagnosis! The radiologist the oncologist sent me to was on vacation at the time.I didn’t know she was on vacation at the time,I was already to go with the chemo and the radiation treatment. I was diagnosed at stage 3 ,the GI doc who diagnosed told me time was now to start treatment!! I didn’t know anything then.I thought it was normal to take that long! But it wasn’t !The oncologist should of referred me to someone else!There were O other doctor’s in that office,that could of started radiation! I found out later that doctor was
Hi! I’m Cathy and I have stage 4 ovarian cancer. Because I had bladder pain syndrome for many years when the discomfort became severe pain, I was evaluated with an in office cystoscope. My bladder tissue was very healthy. It was the CT that picked up the very large ovarian mass. Seeing the gyn oncologist I learned the tumor had been growing for many years. After chemo and several surgeries I am now in remission. Rarely is ovarian cancer caught early. No screening tool. Vague symptoms.
I just turned 72. I had Breast cancer at 49. I have been having bleeding, excessive bowel movements, sometimes 12-20 times a day. It wakes me in the night. I have many accidents. It has been going on and off from constipation to diarrhea for over a year. And these symptoms with bleeding and diarrhea have been getting worse since Dec 2023. I takes months to go through the system. It took a month to see PCA. Weeks to get CT and blood work, another month for specialist, another to wait for colonoscopy. And still waiting!! I feel as if I have a demon growing inside me. I know I am much older than many but the fear is real.
72 is not old nowadays. I'm over 70. Go to ER cause I've found a lot of doctors and PA's brush u off. You definitely have a serious need to get testing.
Hard journey. You pushed so hard and be proud of yourself. Feeling sorry for yourself is completely normal. It’s miserable to hurt. You inspire me. God bless
Thank goodness you are a Nurse Practitioner. My sister is a Physician Assistant in Florida. She said MANY doctors are very dismissive of women's symptoms. For example, many doctors will say "it's probably anxiety" or "this is all in your head." Doctors need to be retrained to LISTEN, and NOT assume that what we are telling them is NOT NORMAL. We know our bodies better than doctors. By the time women are diagnosed with cancer -- the cancer is at Stage 4 -- rarely is cancer caught at Stage 1. WTF is wrong with these doctors!
I'm 65, and developed a severe case of anemia to the point I had to rush to the hospital for blood transfusions. Up to now, it was truly my only symptom that something was wrong. Next was a colonoscopy, and sure enough, they found a tumor on my right side. I was shocked! Tomorrow, I will be having surgery to remove the right side of my colon, and of course, I'm a nervous wreck. But my doctors are moving fast on this, and I'm pleased about that! All of this has just been in about 6 weeks time from start to tomorrow. After, I will see an oncologist to determine if I should have chemo. Thanks for your story! You are young to have gone through so much! But I think you will and have this beat! Bless ya!
Ive had to get iron infusions for my iron dr have no idea why. Im bleeding from my bum and ive had a colonscopy nothing was found . My iron is still low
In 2013, I had nearly the identical diagnosis and treatment plan as this young lady. Including the ileostomy and the reversal surgeries! 2024 marks ten years cancer free. 🙏
Hope you had a conversation with your original doctor. They need to know how deadly it is to be dismissive. Good on you for being brave enough to persist. Those who aren't in the medical profession may be too timid to second guess physicians. Good work!
I imagine that was the moment when you wanted go back with the doctor and yelled at him for treating you like you were crazy and exaggerating your symptoms.😢
Why does ANYONE have to go through awful things? I've visited Pity City for all my medical awfulness and I've finally stopped asking, "Why me?!" Why not me? Why not you? Why not anyone. It sucks!! Anyway, I hope you get better. I lost my dad when I was eight years old (massive heart attack) and then my mom, four years after that (lung cancer that metastisized to her brain). I've been ill most of my life. 😢
Thank you for sharing your experience. It angers me to no end that someone is dismissed due to the opinion of a healthcare professional without any evidence to support such a conclusion. Good for you and your husband for advocating for a solution to your cancer diagnosis. Your husband’s doctor sounds like he’s a gold standard professional. My experience with stage 2a was the treatment that you received by very competent G I doc. I hope that you have a full recovery and a bright future in front of you. 🙏🏻☮️
It’s so refreshing to hear someone in the medical field say to advocate louder for ourselves and really push for tests. Thank you. I hope she remains cancers free ❤
I’m soooo sorry you had to go through that!! 😢 That’s awful how those doctors dismissed you! I almost know every thing you went through. Physically, emotionally, the pain you were describing. I’ll be honest it was hard to hear , it was triggering. I completely understand the feeling of wanting to give up! When I had my ileostomy before my reversal was the hardest. 1 am visit from the home nurse to help me with my ostomy bag , bags literally exploding! 😮 However after everything, I wouldn’t change a thing! I was blessed with an amazing team of doctors and I have my life. I was 23/24 years old when i went through all that and I’m 52 today. Thank you for sharing your story! Your not alone! I can say that You’re meant to be here for reason! You’re amazing!!
I am in healthcare and kept going back to dr for a year because I was losing weight. Was told I look good; and don’t worry. Finally I found lump in breast myself; stage 2 bilateral breast cancer. (And I have history of that in family.) I was also finishing up MPH. Next was fighting them about late effects from chemo. Now it is dismissed for the long term health issues. It is ridiculous; be thankful you are in healthcare. At least you understand and can better how to advocate for yourself.
You are so brave. My aunt died from colon cancer, and now that I feel any symptoms, I feel so scared. I am happy you are doing better. You are young, strong and have a beautiful family.
I recommend getting a colonoscopy even in your mid-thirties if you have any relative that has CRC. More and more young people are getting colon cancer and a colonoscopy is not a big deal. You're in and out in an hour and it's like the best sleep you've ever had. Why people make such a big deal out of it when you can't even feel any pain is ridiculous because it creates a false narrative.
As a GI nurse this infuriates me. I don’t give a damn what one doc says. You shout at the rooftops and don’t let no ever get in the way. I get it, we are in healthcare and we know a lot. I am so sorry that you weren’t listened to. Medical field is really horrible nowadays and it won’t get any better unfortunately.
It's so strange that ppl have a difficult time getting colonoscopies. I've been offered several, and by offered, I mean backed into a corner, despite not having symptoms that would merit that. I know a gastroenterologist who was offered a job, but they had a quota of colonoscopies they'd need to prescribe per month. They didn't take the job. It's like you can't get it if you need it, and if you don't, they try to force it on you. I think the trick is, whatever you think is wrong, don't say that, say something different or don't offer what you think it might be. If you say you're depressed, they'll say it's bipolar. If you say you have a cough, they'll say it's anxiety. It goes on and on.
The medical industry in America is making me very angry with all the dismissing and gaslighting! By the time people get diagnosed here it will be too late for many or has greatly spread! I have lived here not yet two years and have been going through the same since here with what I fear is cancer where as when I lived in Australia they ran tests within days of any concerns I had without guilt or gaslighting or drama. I am now starting to get a lot of pain in my brain area and ribs so I hope what may possibly has not yet been diagnosed hasnt spread. I am getting my large fixed lymph nodes finally checked in two weeks after having to push a few times plus so many other symptoms that I have been complaining about a year and a half from night sweats, rashes that lasted months, ongoing cough and pain, losing many pounds for no reason in short time frame and enlarged fixed lymph nodes and chest pain and extreme fatigue. I have 4 kids and am not trying to die and not taken seriously! sorry you had to go through this
@@cpg8000 in case you're being sincere what don't you understand, healthcare is intentionally sabotaging the USA and Americans while stealing taxes shamelessly, pretty simple, and people with autoimmune with limited finances led to many becoming homeless in the past example Skid Row California, even Canada
So proud of you just to let you know my dad had stage four and he lived another eight months before he passed away and they had reversed and did radiation and everything and just didn’t work so I’m so glad that you’re still there with your husband and your childrenlots of love to you and your family
Why me? I’ve asked that question for the last 14 years. My husband died of a brain aneurysm 14 years ago. He was my soulmate my best friend. And after a week by his beside I watched him die. I almost wish it had been cancer so I could talk to him and comfort him. You are very brave. And lucky. Be well.
Thank you for posting this very dry and sharing your experience. May you remain cancer free forever while raising your beautiful kids and helping others. Remain forever kind because life is short. 🙏🙏🌼🌼🌺🌺
I have stage 4 grade 3 metastatic breast cancer & I feel the same way about the medical professionals not taking things seriously 🙃 much ❤🙏💪 to you from a survivor in Boston
I bow to you for your strength and perseverance. I nominate you for poster mom based on your level of determination to giving cancer a swift kick you know where! Best wishes for bright life ahead.
Absolutely maddening and frightening how long it took for the medical community to respond to her and her symptoms and how MRIs are withheld/delayed from patients.
I so understand the mind set thing. I was dx’d with breast cancer in June of ‘22. It was stage 1 grade 1A. I had a double mastectomy because there was a 2nd spot found in the same breast. After my last visit, I was moved to every 6 month visits. It’s so scary! I don’t get any scans, like you do, which also causes anxiety. People say to me all the time that I’m so lucky it was caught early and that I had the mastectomy, etc. So many do mot realize that a mastectomy does not mean you can’t still get BC again. Also, women with early caught, low grade BC have a 30-40% chance of reoccurrence within 10 years and it is often metastatic at that point. It’s a lot mentally to deal with. Yes, I know I am lucky compared to many women with BC but I still have to be very aware of my body and pay attention to any pain that may not go away, etc. Just after my dx I found out my bio father has colon cancer. So I still need to get in and get my colonoscopy done, too. I’m so glad you are doing well and I pray you continue to be healthy and cancer free for many years to come.
Yes! I completely understand how horrible this experience was for you. I was diagnosed with stage 3 high grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma arising in endometriosis. A more rare subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer. My doctor removed a 17.5 cm tumor from my right ovary as well as doing a radical hysterectomy to try and prevent the cancer from spreading. I started chemo 8 weeks later. I couldn’t find anyone to drive me to have my port placed so that delayed things. Finally I just began chemo through my veins. During that time… who knows what happened!… scans were done without contrast. 😱😱😱 When I completed chemo I was told I was cancer free by my gyn oncologist. He even fist bumped me as it was during Covid so no hand shaking or hugs. Around that time… thinking I was cancer free… I noticed a little tender golf ball sized bump below the skin right next to my incision line. I brought it to my doctor’s attention twice. He told me we would just watch it as he thought it might be a hernia. I expressed my concern. In the weeks to follow I pleaded with his nurse via message by the patient portal. It was becoming more red and tender and growing in size. I was just kind of dismissed. Finally I showed the chemo nurse practitioner (head of the infusion department) and she didn’t like the looks of it one bit! She ** immediately** sent me for a biopsy. It came back positive for cancer. So my gyn oncologist (a well recognized women’s cancer specialist) let my cancer spread. They found 2 new tumors. My cancer had metastasized more. The tumors were inoperable. One of those tumors grew through my colon and lower intestine. I was told I would need a permanent ostomy. You can imagine my heartbreak and devastation… and sheer terror. My second opinion gyn oncologist told me my options were to try more chemotherapy (the chemo hadn’t worked at all so far)…. a clinical trial… or hospice. I felt like he didn’t have much hope for me. Meanwhile the clock was ticking and the tumors were growing and the cancer was spreading. I had no time to waste. I immediately went to MD Anderson in Houston, TX where they started me on radiation therapy immediately. It was successful. Both tumors were destroyed by the radiation… but not before the golf ball sized tumor got so big it literally grew right out of me. Literally. It looked like a big fluffy mushroom when it came through me. On the last radiation session… right after… it fell over and shriveled up. The tumor was finally dead. It was like a sci fi or horror movie. The darkest time of my life. It’s called a “fungated tumor.” It’s fairly rare and the prognosis is not good. Most oncologists might see one or two cases (if that) their entire career. I was only given about 6 months to live with that thing growing inside me so close to the skin’s surface. I am still so soooooo angry that my oncologist didn’t take me seriously and kept saying we will just keep an eye on it. Meanwhile cancer was spreading through my body. This was not the first awful experience I had with my cancer journey. Another medical professional (a male physician’s assistant) made light of my foot and ankle swelling and told me I was overreacting to the fluid that was accumulating in my body (a sign of ovarian cancer) when I pleaded for a diuretic. I was literally full of cancer and my feet & ankle swelling was a medical emergency. My tummy soon grew so big one nurse at the ER thought I was about 8-9 months pregnant. Another major sign of ovarian cancer. By the time I was taken into surgery for frontline debulking my first tumor (on my right ovary) weighed 15 lbs and I had 25 lbs of ascites (fluid ovarian cancer makes that is full of cancer cells). Because of my decision to go to MD Anderson and my wonderful doctor, Dr Shannon Westin, I have been cancer free for 20 months. God is good. I will keep you in my prayers… 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Stay strong, warrior!!!!!! God bless… 🩵
So happy that you are doing better! It makes me so mad when doctors dismiss patients like that. I am going through something a bit similar right now, with swollen lymph nodes for months that keep growing and no explanation, but apparently they are not "big enough yet" to warrant a biopsy. So frustrating.
I was diagnosed with stage 3C rectal sigmoid cancer. It was in 9 lymph nodes but hadn’t spread anywhere else. I had a neoadjuvant treatment plan somewhat like yours, but the order flipped. I had 4 months of FOLFOX chemo, then 6 weeks of recovery, then 28 days of chemo and radiation, 6 weeks of recovery. 0: 0:15 Then a low anterior resection of the tumor with a temporary ileostomy for 9 months. Then an ileostomy reversal. I’ve been cancer free for almost 4 years. From the chemo I have permanent chemo induced neuropathy in my feet and some in my fingers. From the surgery, on a daily basis, I’m challenged with multiple daily bowel movements (6-8 per day) as well as urgency challenges which makes it difficult to be away from a bathroom during certain times of the day. How did you do post ostomy reversal? Are your bowel habits fairly normal? I had a very good response to the chemo and radiation. The tumor had pretty much just turned into scar tissue. I wasn’t offered watch and wait as an option, possibly because that option was pretty new a few years ago. I wish I had been offered it knowing now the daily challenges I experience. But ultimately I’ve done very well with my treatments. I’ve followed a few cancer patients on you tube and a good number of them haven’t survived. So I feel fortunate. I think most cancer patients always have a fear of recurrence, even many years after treatment. I think it’s virtually impossible to eliminate that thought, even when it’s buried deep in your mind. I’m glad you’ve had a good response to your treatment. It’s always beneficial when clinical people experience a significant health event. It’s too easy as a clinical person to loose appreciation for the patient experience.
@@TUPELO_HUNNY symptoms were: Frequent bowel movements Stools became narrow in shape due to constrictions in the colon caused by the tumor Anemia due to blood loss from the tumor Blood in the stool Shortness of breath when exercising due to anemia. Which I attributed to asthma.
@@TUPELO_HUNNY those were my symptoms. Other colon cancer patients have other symptoms such as back pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea. Colon cancer is frequently misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, or Chron’s. So don’t ignore symptoms. Get your first colonoscopy at 45. Colon cancer is one of the easier cancers to prevent if you get your screening colonoscopy on time.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry that your symptoms were dismissed for so long. Being so open about your journey and your symptoms will help so many others
I’m so sorry darling, this is happening way too much. I am a nurse too and dedicated over 20 years of my life to my profession. I am very sorry that you were not listened too, that you felt that frustrated and ignored. You have been through so much you poor wee thing. What a horrible experience, especially with two little ones. I thank you for sharing your story, you really are such an inspiration dear! My thoughts are with you darling. Hang in there and continue being you, your a beautful soul. ❤I was in an accident a few years back and as you know, we may not be doctors, but we are not stupid and we know a lot about human biology and disease. We also know our own bodies, and I have gone to specialists time after time and been dismissed so many times, I expressed that my pain was not improving and my spinal fusion had failed, I said this for 4 years, a surgeon finally listened and a PET/CT showed my spine had collapsed and my screws were in my intercostal ligaments. I now have 90 degree hyperkyphosis. My condition has worsened over time and my pain is unbearable.
I had 2 years of appendicitis symptoms until I almost passed out while driving and finqlly a new locum women doc ❤took another blood test and it showed my inflammation markers were veryhigh so I went straight in for an op . It was a very scary journey that didn't have to happen as bad as it did through sheer ignorance from m egotistical doc .so glad ur OK now.
I've noticed that gastroenterologists and colon doctors in the United States can be very dismissive of symptoms. This has been my own experience, and it's frustrating. Trust me, I am in healthcare as well, I'm a medical assistant and pre med. It's absurd; most people don't like to go to the doctor, but when we do go, it's because we need to. It seems like they don't understand that.
I don’t know if you have tried this already, but I think they have a little at home test now. You can research to be sure. You can take the test, but even if you don’t take the test they don’t know that, I would go in tell them that the test was abnormal and I want a colonoscopy to verify it. I pray that you get good news in the end, the one thing I’m learning from my own friends and family is that we really have to be our own advocate because no matter how many of these stories happen they are still dismissing us . 🫶🏽
It’s really troubling to me that people are being blown off even worse now than a decade ago. I also had stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2013 and my primary was dismissing my symptoms. I started bleeding but thank God I was able to pick a gastroenterologist and get an appointment within a week. I did it all myself with no help from the primary physician. I wouldn’t want to go through this in 2024, because I’m not so sure I would’ve made it.
It’s sad how doctors assume it’s nothing major. I had the same problem but with the stones in my gallbladder. Doctors always told me it wasn’t my stones that was causing me pain. 3 years ago I took a trip to Mexico to visit some of my husbands family, and my husband told me why don’t you have the doctors here take a look. I thought what a great idea. The doctors in Mexico see what you have and send you to a specialist that specializes in the area of the problem right away. For surgery you don’t have to wait either(for what I had). I meet with my specialist and he told me these are the symptoms you have right? I said yes I do and he said yes it’s your gallstones that is the problem and he ran 3 different test. The next day I went for my results and He told me it is your gallstones and it’s best you get them removed as soon as possible. Then I asked when can we get the surgery and he said tomorrow(in my mind I thought it was too soon). It was a Thursday and I told him how about we schedule the surgery for this coming Monday and they did. That hospital was the best hospital in the area so I wasn’t worried and I like that I got to meet the specialist and he was so nice to me and I like how he was the one that did the surgery and told me not to worry that I was in good hands. After the surgery they showed me my gallstone and wow 😯 there was a big gallstone and a lot of small ones; I’m guessing the big one was giving me the problem that was causing so much pain; but I was glad to see they were all out. I payed $2,000 US dollars for the surgery which included my own room and food for a night. I couldn’t thank the specialist enough. Fast forward to today all pain gone and I’ve only have had 3 headaches, I’m so happy my body is finally resting after 10 years of on and off episodes, and doctors in the US telling me it’s all in my head and that I’m doing it to myself. I now know where to go and get checked for accuracy with affordability. I never imagined my first trip ever to Mexico would be the place I would get surgery. I’ll forever be thankful 🥲🙏🏼
I lost a Friend due to canser on Monday 13th Of may . My Prayer is that it would come a Cure that can hjelp. You are a sutch a strong woman and i am so touched by you’re story.
You are correct about being your own advocate! My sister was told it was most likely hemorrhoids it was stage three cancer. Follow through is key to possibly saving your life.
We literally almost have the same exact story except I was 39 with 3 yr old twins. But I went through the same treatment plan and the two surgeries. It has been a wild ride and I agree the reversal surgery was so much more painful than the resection. I am still recovering from the reversal. Many prayers to you!!! I wish you were my nurse practitioner because no one really understands this journey unless you have traveled it.
You are absolutely correct about advocating for yourself and also for family. My cousin was in her early 40's and they kept brushing her off and she had a baseball size tumor stage 4 by the time they listened. She chose not to do chemo after having one round. She unfortunately did not make it for very long.
Thank you so much for sharing your story… you are so brave and strong. I know your story will save alot of lives. Its so critical to stay on drs even when they brush you off- they are human and make Mistakes but no-one knows your body better than you! Your story shows how true that is! Your advice is invaluable to all of us! Thank you!!!
Thank you for sharing this. It is very sad that the medical field does not realize that younger people are suseptible to colon cancer. You are a very strong beautiful person. Just manifest that you are free. Do not think it will come back. Think it is gone. xoxox
Good bless you sweetheart and I hope and pray that all your cancer has been removed and that it never comes back. Thank god that finally someone heard you and you got all the help you needed. God bless your husband to and giving you all the help you needed. Thank you for telling your story. 🙏🙏
Recently, I got another PCP. During my initial visit I asked him a question and he answered, he didn't know. Immediately, I thanked him and told him that he would be my new PCP. Why? Because he was honest enough to say he didn't know instead of doing as most doctors do, play down the seriousness or make you believe it's all in your mind.
Me, too! I respect a doctor who admits they don’t know something! My husband’s doctor found his cancer when it had been missed by previous doctor who did not do even basic testing.
It took my gynecologist 3 years to diagnose my endometrial cancer, it was stage 3c2 by the time I was diagnosed and it’s a slow growing cancer. I was almost 38 when the symptoms started and she kept saying it’s probably early menopause, all my Pap smears were normal, she finally did a biopsy after almost 3 years and she said it’s not going to come back positive it’s just precautionary. Well it was positive
I am very moved by your story and want to thank you so much for living on and help many more people who will definitely benefit greatly from your strength and compassion. 🙏🏻 Nam-Myoho-Renge-kyo 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for making this video. Listening to it has opened my eyes about some things I have going on. Now I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to talk to my Dr about it. With my insurance I don’t have to have a referral to see a specialist so knowing that even if my Dr doesn’t think I need it I will call and get one myself. I hope you are still doing great and you’ll be in my prayers always. Again thank you so much for telling your story. I know this wasn’t easy for you to do. God bless you & your beautiful family.
I’m 63 with stage 4b uterine cancer. I know that sounds old compared to you but my kids still live at home and need me (21,25) and my husband of 30 years has been amazing. It’s been horrible. I had great care and they caught it as soon as I had symptoms but the surgery and chemo were hell. Finished it 3 months ago and I’m tired. Everyone is so happy my first scans were clear but the chances of remission are very high so I can’t be happy and that drives my support system nuts so I’ve stopped telling no most people except the few that let me feel that way. ❤
Thank you for making that comment about GI being overwhelmed. We truly are. I can guarantee you if we could scope everyone we would. I always tell my patients and their family members guidelines mean nothing. The age for colonoscopy was moved from 50 to 45. If you have a first degree relative with a cancer your imaging starts 10 years before their diagnosis age. My youngest patient died at 28 from colon CA. Her daughter will start being scoped at 18. Guidelines mean nothing to me. Living in Memphis, I kindly remind my patients and their family members that St. Jude is downtown. What’s the age guideline for pediatric cancers.
I was ignored and lost my left ear and part of my skull. I’m now deaf, with my ear filled with flesh to keep it closed. I’m lucky to be alive. Blood pouring out of my ear is not normal. I put my foot down and demanded CT etc and I was in surgery the next day for a huge operation.
I had foot surgery in early Aug this year by early September I was complaining to podiatrist about feeling weak and tired i was brushed off. A week later I was in septic shock my foot rotted from inside out and had to have emergency surgery stayed in the hospital all September. Im 20 have a bone infection, mrsa, c.diff and so many other medical conditions and a picc line in my arm from a foot surgery. If you feel there is something wrong then there probably is it’s your intuition.
Like you I was treated for urinary problems for 2 years until I had a CT scan that showed a massive ovarian tumor with lymph nodes all over and tumors in my liver and lungs. I am an RN so when the results showed up on my computer I knew this was stage 4 cancer. My gyn oncologist told me the ovarian tumor had been growing for years and this is typical. After many chemos and an 11 hour surgery, an episode of sepsis, and other problems I am now in remission. I thank God, my family and friends for my recovery.
I love your story , thanks for sharing. I am going to say a prayer of healing and restoration for you. God Bless you
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The one thing all of these people have in common is that they were ignored, dismissed, told they were "too young", told that they had anxiety, told they were hypochondriacs, and the list goes on... This UA-cam channel is proof that you REALLY HAVE to advocate for yourself!
I had similar issues with my back issues told for years there was nothing wrong but it turned out after being ignored for 10 years I saw an osteopath and he suggested an mri as he could feel damage so I paid £250 for a private MRI and £250 for a private consultation and they found that my spine had crumbled away and one disk was bulging but by the time it was found it had done permanent damage and now I’m permanently disabled it’s discusting that I had to pay £500 to get a diagnosis when my GP was just ignoring me but at the same time I’m glad I could afford to get the help lots can’t
My friend's 3rd bout of appendix cancer, her oncologist LITERALLY told her her pain was in her head. She finally agreed to go to a different doctor after that. But it was too late. She was gone within a month. He spent 9 months gaslighting her. The new doc saw the cancer on the scans from the beginning of this bout. I'm still angry.
I was told for 20 years that I had a virus (and also,totally not listened to)when I had practically no leg muscles and no reflexes,and was mostly bedbound.When they finally did a muscle biopsy,after only doing blood tests for 20 years they found out I had a myopathy!
yup
I have Stage IV colon cancer. I'm learning that the symptoms are very much ignored until they're so extreme that you end up in the ER. Originally, they sent me home and told me it was my gallbladder, to take Ibuprofen and see my primary. I got five minutes away and they called me back to the ER, because they'd gotten my CT results and I had a blockage/tumor. They hadn't even waited for the results of the CT before they discharged me. I've learned a LOT about self advocating for my medical care since then.
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for sharing your story. That's so hard ❤
I’ve learned to tell the Doctor I’m not getting off this table until I get what I want. We pay them and I’m not going unnoticed
My friend Robin started having the same problem and she blood for 11 years before she got her diagnosis because the tumor was hidden on the inside and wasn’t presenting itself but when it did, she got diagnosed with stage three she had a year of remission and then stage four She was gone less than a year after that it makes me cry because she knew something was wrong
I'm so sorry. I lost one of my best friends three years ago after several years of hell. Many medical mistakes were made and it's difficult not to be bitter. Big hugs to you.
How did the doctors miss such a symptom for 11 years?
My sister tried for 10 years with symptoms to get a colonoscopy. She had blood etc and because there was a history in our family we told her to push hard and exaggerate symptoms. After 10 years her dr “reluctantly” did it. Make hand stage 4 and it had been growing for all of those 10 years. She fought to stay for her 17 year old dd but sadly passed away after a 3 year battle. Miss her so bad! So happy you had some connections. Women are much more overlooked with screening for this as they chalk it up to IBS in r women’s issues!
I’m sorry for your loss.and I’m sorry for this too W T Hell??? A history of colon cancer and never went to another doctor 10 yrs??!!! I’m sorry … I just can’t….
@slowrunner40….I’m terribly sorry for your loss 💔🕊Sending you and yours all my love and prayers 💋
So happy you are healthy and cancer free! my daughter in law was 27 years old a year ago 2023 and her symptoms were dismissed as she had just had a baby. Her cancer was very aggressive. She was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and passed away a month later. Please advocate for yourself.
🫶🏽
What's crazy is when, in our lifetime, have we known anyone in their 20s getting aggressive colon cancer... I'm not a conspiracy person - but something is very very wrong with this, and I do have to wonder what's behind this. I'm so sorry for your family's loss... heartbreaking.
@@JHall-jo9rm It's s absolutely horrific and there has been an uptick recently but aggressive CAs in younger adults has been perplexing scientists for several decades now. That being said, there are published studies citing elevated i g g 4 following several doses...this increases CA risk as well as CVD, ADs, etc. Sorry for all the medical abbreviations but attempting to avoid triggering the algorithm.
My condolences for the loss of your daughter-in-law, Diana. 💔
Patient advocacy can be difficult even for medical professionals. There should be training available to learn the necessary skills to initiate better diagnostic care for ourselves and family. Clinicians often forget we're the experts when it comes to our bodies.
@JHall-jo9rm so true. And many pass not long after diagnosis coining the term "turbo cancer".
Sweet mama, i had the same cancer, same stage, almost exact same treatment. 5 years later, still cancer free and no longer even worry. It will happen for you too❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
It's sick and sad they dismissed people all the time who know something is wrong, but to dismiss a person who works in the medical field is crazy. I am so so sorry this happened to you😢
in these series all i hear is these doctors who dont give a f about people. in every video. I wonder why they work with people if they dont even care for them or listen. i dont get it at what point these doctors lose their humanity or compassion. Doctors act like cancer cannot happen to any age person,aither they are lazy or just dont give a f. you cannot trust these doctors anymore. I hope these patients make a complaines about these doctors who dismissed them, because otherwise this situation will never change.
I'm the same right now not being listened to at all. I have severe swelling all on one side of my body (left side) foot, ankle, leg, arm, ear, face. I'm so sick of not being heard and I know there's something not right
@@karenmclaughlan9128 I'm so sorry🥺 And I know people will say "make them listen". I also know it isn't that simple and it is heartbreaking to know something is definitely wrong and not be able to get help 😔
@celticsunise4ever Unfortunately there's no other doctors nearby and because I am housebound I can't travel
@@karenmclaughlan9128 Is there pain? This may be related to a possible obstruction. Diagnostic imaging should be useful as well as an ER visit. What you've described sounds so stressful. If your symptoms don't seem to warrant a trip to the ER, seek another opinion until the provider listens and runs the appropriate tests. Or ask for a referral to see a specialist. Also, if you know which labs and imaging you need tell the physician to document your requests and his/her refusal in your chart. 🙏
My name is Andrea I turned 50 this year and a month later got diagnosed with colorectal cancer a month later. I passed out in Thailand at the end of my trip. I was told that trip and me passing out saved my life. I have 2 more doses before I get scanned again. I have two sons and I’m fighting my tail off. 🙏🏾🙏🏾
❤❤❤thank you for sharing your story sooo relieved you are great now..❤❤❤ enjoy your life with your young family.❤❤❤
Praying 🙏 for you love.❤❤❤
God please bless this precious mother to totally recover, bless Andrea to experience the joy of watching her children grow into adulthood and beyond. In Jesus name
Sending prayers for your healing. Jesus please heal this lady of cancer and remove every cancer cell in her body Lord.. give her strength, peace, and comfort as she fights this battle Lord.. in Jesus Name, Amen.🙏🏻💜
Girl you got this 😜😜...
This type of “doctoring” is become more and more common. It’s as if doctors don’t want to be bothered anymore.
There are incompetent people in every field.
Unfortunately, more and more critical primary care physicians are being replaced by nurse practitioners who have very little nursing experience and no supervision. A first year primary care attending has 10,000 hours of training compared to the 500 hours of nurse practitioner training. The clinical time of NP training is shadowing, rather than supervised practice.
I write all this to help people understand that they may be seeing a midlevel provider who doesn't know what they don't know.
are amazing, and I am very grateful for all you have been through and shared with us ❤️
Not dismissing Drs, but its the Insurance Company Driving this… they are given a max # of mins per patient.
And to be fair, I believe that there are Drs who care very much for their Patients but also don’t want them to lose their Insurance… so in many Cases the Drs hands are tied and have no recourse. Also they fear being sued… their Insurance premiums are astronomical due and its due to Frivolous lawsuits, just as our Car insurance is raised and costly due to those who DONT follow the law and have No car insurance.
They really don't
@@VintageRed411, absolutely! This is exactly what happened to me. I was seeing a nurse practitioner for my primary care physician who took sometimes 2 months or more to get an appointment with. His practice encourages patients to see the NPs who work for him. This can be a deadly mistake if you have cancer or another serious health condition. My bloodwork had been off very slightly for a couple of years or more. I now know it was my ovarian cancer that the nurse practitioner completely missed. It never even entered her brain it could be cancer. She kept telling me the reason I felt the urge to pee all the time… and then felt I couldn’t empty my bladder completely was due to a condition women around perimenopause & menopause experienced… not realizing (due to lack of education & experience) that was a number one symptom of ovarian cancer! It went right over her head! Who knows if the primary care doctor would have caught it either. The reason I felt I needed to pee all the time was because I had a malignant 17.5 cm tumor on my right ovary putting pressure on my bladder. Finally this NP applied pressure around my abdomen and actually felt the tumor. Her eyes got wide as saucers! There it was. The thing she had missed for months & months. So upsetting…. then I had that horrible gyn oncologist who allowed my cancer to spread and a tumor grow right out of me! There’s simply no excuse for such negligence & incompetence.
I hate that they dismissed your symptoms as nothing. Sadly it happens all the time. So glad your doing much better
Right?!?!? How do they keep saying patients are too young!
Not only should we address the healthcare professionals, but also insurance companies that set the guidelines on what doctors can treat/explore? Insurance companies dictate Healthcare for patients based on what they will pay.
Good luck to you all...
Yeah and the worst part is doctors will ride your butt about getting something done like a blood draw or seeing a specialist, I mean straight up lecture you about the importance of getting certain tests they've ordered so if something is wrong we can catch it early but if the urgency comes from you the patient it seems like they take even longer.
I had a colonoscopy last month and thank God I don’t have any cancer. I am doing research for my sister who has had colon cancer. She’s a survivor. I pray for those who have any type of cancer especially children. I pray for Andrea and family 🙏
🐒marimarxuach Don't bring in your religious believes and pretend you're a better person because you "pray" If praying does work, HOW? Because in all those cases people have very very painful experiences and didn't make it your "god" sucks só much for saying: 'nope, I didn't got enough prayers!!!!' 🤮 If you're fighting a battle for life, don't go to doctors. Just pray. Your choice. Do you say to your sister: Don't go to a specialist, I'm praying!? 🤦🏽♀️
This is the best interview I've seen here. I am a
7 yr cancer Survivor of Stage 4 ,
Two rare oral cancers, Hard Palate Cancer and Bone Marrow Cancer of Maxilla , were diagnosed at the same time. I applaud her honesty about getting Dr.'s attention, and if you need to shake your rattles n stomp your feet. Also, her discussion about pain, not normal pain, the kind that takes you out of your body for survival. She is one amazing warrior, and I am truly grateful to hear the down n dirty parts of her journey. I'm now in my early 60s but to see the young generations getting Colon cancers is horrid. I never smoked and I had no interest alcohol made me sick out the gate. Let's just acknowledge that Cancer can attach it's cells to meat eaters, vegans, sugar freaks n clean eaters. It doesn't discriminate. Noone in my family smoked. I do know that I had lots of stress, childhood , like many , abuses , tough marriage , two parents working to just make it
Motherhood, the best, ,,
wife, sometimes the best. Worked in the hospital Lab , 12hr shifts Trying to keep all the plates of life spinning. Stress is toxic. Thank you for sharing your battle !
I so agree with advocating for yourself on everything. My 32-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer when her daughter (my granddaughter) was 2 years old. She passed away on 01/08/2022 after fighting for four years. If there is cancer on both sides of your mother's and father's side, I would demand a colonoscopy just for your own piece of mind. My daughter was featured on King 5 news out of Seattle, WA telling her story and raising awareness. If anyone ever tells me they are having symptoms, I automatically tell them to get checked and don't take no for an answer. My daughter told me about a 14-year-old boy in her support group who was dealing with colon cancer. You are never too young!
I am so very sorry about your daughter. What were her main symptoms?
As a critical RN for 40+ yrs.. this makes me so ANGRY! I'm recovering from a near life ending emergency because my sx's were marked up to "getting older"! Grrrr!!... I work prn in ER in retirement ... the day I woke up & couldn't walk I FINALLY got to see a Dr by way of the "back door"..a Tx to higher care... my spinal cord was almost pinched in half at C1-C2! Thank God I knew to lay on the couch doing NOTHING trying to see a neuro surgeon! Please in your practice LISTEN to your pts! ... it was subtle sx's.. dropping everything, I had no neck pain! Fatigue, walking funny when tired, loosing grip... numbness in fingers! I couldn't connect iv tubing.. it was blamed on the locks?..
I understand your fear of the future! Lean on your faith!! It has saved me in those dark times! ❤️👍🏻🙏
@@kamhart I’ve had severe back pain since Christmas that intensifies @night. The 1st ER doc kept saying calm down I’m having a panic attack. No way my spine’s causing these muscle tremors. I was adamant it’s my spine. He was such a jerk & said it’s impossible so I left to another ER. They did CT’s & sent me to a neurosurgeon. I was diagnosed w/ cervical myelopathy bc of spinal stenosis from 2 old herniated discs & a bone spur. Neurosurgeon sent me for an injection but The pain doc wouldn’t do it. He said I need surgery asap to prevent permanent damage. I’m a fender bender away from paralysis & sent me back to the neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon said he’s not operating w/ all the signs & symptoms I have. My cervical nodes & neck swelled 1 @ a time 13mo’s ago & the signs & symptoms been progressing. I keep feeling like I’m gonna have seizures. The whole back of my head /necks swollen. I have tinnitus. My sight & hearings cutting in & out. I developed cranial neuralgia. Theres growing lumps & knots inside my mouth, cheeks, jaws, palate, R. shoulder, R. breast & my collarbone thickened. My white counts always high & I have protein in my urine. I’m losing weight on steroids & been nauseous for months. I’ve been to numerous docs! Bc i Had a biopsy of my parotid gland, which was negative, no one cares to do anything else. They blame inflammation & say I’m fine. I think there’s a possibility the node was just negative or pathology didn’t test for the right thing. My body’s shutting down im so deathly ill I wrote my 4boys letters in case something happens b4 this’s diagnosed. The ent who did the biopsy put me on antidepressants bc I went back begging for another biopsy & more tests. There should be laws protecting patients from negligence & neglect. Docs take an oath & don’t practice by it !
@@RachelHarder-rp8io I hope you have found a better doctor who will listen to do and do the necessary tests and treatment! 😔
@@shielapetty1334thanks & sorry I had to vent. I’m still fighting for help. My spleen swelled recently. I’ve been so so sick! I just tested positive for Lyme but I’m not quite convinced lymes causing all my symptoms. Im terrified for my boys. they don’t deserve this! I won’t give up til I have all the answers. If it takes 100 docs I’ll keep advocating. ❤️🩹
I 100% agree that sometimes you need to exaggerate your symptoms in order to get the help you need!
I have a permanent ostomy. I had cancer so I have had it for 8 years. I will have it forever and I know it. It keeps you alive.
My fiance has a lileostomy so I sort of understand. I hope you stay well
❤❤❤
Husband has stage 4 CC..was stage 3 but moved to his lungs. The cancer is growing steadily because there is nothing they can do for the lungs. Resection isn't an option. He's on his 3rd stage cancer treatment-Lonsurf and it's not doing anything. Glad you are in remission. Wish it was so for my husband.
All the best for your husband! Sending much love ❤
May you be helped & comforted at this time.
Praying for your husband, I have stage 4 lung cancer.....no cure,just living day by day,just wishing I had more time.❤
Thinking of you and your husband and sending love from England 🫂❤️
@@colleenbonamico9143thinking of you too and sending love from England 🫂❤️
I’ve had colorectal cancer when I turned 50 . Was diagnosed when I had my colonoscopy went through a entire month of chemo and radiation then waited 2-3 months and had surgery and had my rectum removed had the ileostomy bag for six months then removed and there are times I wish it weren’t removed because when I eat there has to be a bathroom close by because I immediately go . It’s been almost 6 years but started to see issues again so now it’s colonoscopy and endoscopy next month too see what’s happening. I listen too a lot of peoples story’s and how similar they are to mine .God bless .
Im 37. I am a wife and mom of 4. I was diagnosed with stage 3b colon cancer just 2 months ago. I had to insist on getting a colonoscopy. Ridiculous!!! God is good though… He is opening so many doors for me!
praying for you ✨♥✞ God is always there for us!!!!
So happy you advocated for yourself. What symptoms did you have that made you want the procedure?
On Valentine's Day 2013 my wife woke me up in the middle of the night and said she had excruciating pain in her abdomen. We went to our local hospital emergency room where they did a CT scan and found a mass in her pelvis. They transferred her to another hospital for the surgery and by the end of that day they removed part of her cecum and ilium as the tumor was at the ileocecal valve, and did what they called a double shotgun resection. Diagnosed as stage 3B, she underwent hyper CVAD chemo for 6 months, stopping the platinum drug the last 2 months because of worsening neuropathy in her toes and starting in her fingers. She had no symptoms at all prior to the pain on Valentine's Day. No bleeding, cramping, or otherwise. Her last CT scan was years ago and she has no longer had to have them. The neuropathy in her toes remains however.
It makes me livid that doctors brush us off like that! We know our bodies better than anyone. Thank God your husband knew the right people.
Yeah and get their noses out of that damn laptop and look at the patient, and assure them you are paying attention to them. I feel since documenting has gone electronically, the patient/ Dr rapport has faltered.
I lost my sister because it was months getting the oncologist who was an hour away (there are no gynological oncologists where we live) took forever getting her in. The different doctors didn't communicate. Everything took ages took get set up due to insurance etc. It was awful, she was stage 4 uterine cancer. On top of that she had Cerebral Palsy and couldnt be cared for at because we couldnt even get home health workers to show up.Thank goodness for her excellent Palliative Care, they were wonderful. I am still really sad about it. It haunts me that I couldn't get her better care or do more to get her healed.
🙏🏻🩵🙏🏻
That happened to me too! My first diagnosis! The radiologist the oncologist sent me to was on vacation at the time.I didn’t know she was on vacation at the time,I was already to go with the chemo and the radiation treatment. I was diagnosed at stage 3 ,the GI doc who diagnosed told me time was now to start treatment!! I didn’t know anything then.I thought it was normal to take that long! But it wasn’t !The oncologist should of referred me to someone else!There were O other doctor’s in that office,that could of started radiation! I found out later that doctor was
His golfing buddy! Do your research!I wish I would of known then all I know now. Now Iam stage 4
❤❤❤
You did what you could❤❤❤
I’m in Spokane too dealing with health issues. So crazy that even medical staff get dismissed. I’m so sorry!
Hi! I’m Cathy and I have stage 4 ovarian cancer. Because I had bladder pain syndrome for many years when the discomfort became severe pain, I was evaluated with an in office cystoscope. My bladder tissue was very healthy. It was the CT that picked up the very large ovarian mass.
Seeing the gyn oncologist I learned the tumor had been growing for many years.
After chemo and several surgeries I am now in remission.
Rarely is ovarian cancer caught early. No screening tool. Vague symptoms.
I just turned 72. I had Breast cancer at 49. I have been having bleeding, excessive bowel movements, sometimes 12-20 times a day. It wakes me in the night. I have many accidents. It has been going on and off from constipation to diarrhea for over a year. And these symptoms with bleeding and diarrhea have been getting worse since Dec 2023. I takes months to go through the system. It took a month to see PCA. Weeks to get CT and blood work, another month for specialist, another to wait for colonoscopy. And still waiting!! I feel as if I have a demon growing inside me. I know I am much older than many but the fear is real.
That is terrible! What if you go to the ER? Would they run tests?
What country do you live in???!!
biofilm
Visit the ER asap, a colonscopy right away...
72 is not old nowadays. I'm over 70. Go to ER cause I've found a lot of doctors and PA's brush u off. You definitely have a serious need to get testing.
Hard journey. You pushed so hard and be proud of yourself. Feeling sorry for yourself is completely normal. It’s miserable to hurt. You inspire me. God bless
My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer almost 7 years ago. He is still cancer free 🙏 all the healing towards you in the name of Jesus
Amen
Amen
Thank goodness you are a Nurse Practitioner. My sister is a Physician Assistant in Florida. She said MANY doctors are very dismissive of women's symptoms. For example, many doctors will say "it's probably anxiety" or "this is all in your head." Doctors need to be retrained to LISTEN, and NOT assume that what we are telling them is NOT NORMAL. We know our bodies better than doctors. By the time women are diagnosed with cancer -- the cancer is at Stage 4 -- rarely is cancer caught at Stage 1. WTF is wrong with these doctors!
This really makes me angry 😠 😡 why the hell are doctors so dam dismissive, nothing pisses me off more. Wishing you a complete recovery all the best.
Anyone with 15 bowel movements a day with bleeding & the s.o.b.s didn’t think anything was wrong?? That is CRAZY!😵💫
So sad... They did same to me..
We had better health care for more people before “hospital mergers”. It’s the corporatocracy.
I think they are becoming less and less knowledgeable
@@ceeceetracey9839 or maybe just don't care 🤷
I'm 65, and developed a severe case of anemia to the point I had to rush to the hospital for blood transfusions. Up to now, it was truly my only symptom that something was wrong. Next was a colonoscopy, and sure enough, they found a tumor on my right side. I was shocked! Tomorrow, I will be having surgery to remove the right side of my colon, and of course, I'm a nervous wreck. But my doctors are moving fast on this, and I'm pleased about that! All of this has just been in about 6 weeks time from start to tomorrow. After, I will see an oncologist to determine if I should have chemo. Thanks for your story! You are young to have gone through so much! But I think you will and have this beat! Bless ya!
Ive had to get iron infusions for my iron dr have no idea why. Im bleeding from my bum and ive had a colonscopy nothing was found . My iron is still low
I hope you're feeling ok❤❤
In 2013, I had nearly the identical diagnosis and treatment plan as this young lady. Including the ileostomy and the reversal surgeries! 2024 marks ten years cancer free. 🙏
Hope you had a conversation with your original doctor. They need to know how deadly it is to be dismissive. Good on you for being brave enough to persist. Those who aren't in the medical profession may be too timid to second guess physicians. Good work!
I imagine that was the moment when you wanted go back with the doctor and yelled at him for treating you like you were crazy and exaggerating your symptoms.😢
Why does ANYONE have to go through awful things? I've visited Pity City for all my medical awfulness and I've finally stopped asking, "Why me?!" Why not me? Why not you? Why not anyone. It sucks!! Anyway, I hope you get better. I lost my dad when I was eight years old (massive heart attack) and then my mom, four years after that (lung cancer that metastisized to her brain). I've been ill most of my life. 😢
I'm so very sorry! 🙏💕
Thank you for sharing your experience. It angers me to no end that someone is dismissed due to the opinion of a healthcare professional without any evidence to support such a conclusion. Good for you and your husband for advocating for a solution to your cancer diagnosis. Your husband’s doctor sounds like he’s a gold standard professional. My experience with stage 2a was the treatment that you received by very competent G I doc. I hope that you have a full recovery and a bright future in front of you. 🙏🏻☮️
It’s so refreshing to hear someone in the medical field say to advocate louder for ourselves and really push for tests. Thank you.
I hope she remains cancers free ❤
God bless you! Cancer has affected a lot of members of my family. I hate cancer. Wish
you all the best.
I’m soooo sorry you had to go through that!! 😢
That’s awful how those doctors dismissed you!
I almost know every thing you went through. Physically, emotionally, the pain you were describing. I’ll be honest it was hard to hear , it was triggering. I completely understand the feeling of wanting to give up! When I had my ileostomy before my reversal was the hardest. 1 am visit from the home nurse to help me with my ostomy bag , bags literally exploding! 😮 However after everything, I wouldn’t change a thing! I was blessed with an amazing team of doctors and I have my life. I was 23/24 years old when i went through all that and I’m 52 today.
Thank you for sharing your story! Your not alone! I can say that
You’re meant to be here for reason! You’re amazing!!
thanks for being super honest with symptoms,
I am in healthcare and kept going back to dr for a year because I was losing weight. Was told I look good; and don’t worry. Finally I found lump in breast myself; stage 2 bilateral breast cancer. (And I have history of that in family.) I was also finishing up MPH. Next was fighting them about late effects from chemo. Now it is dismissed for the long term health issues. It is ridiculous; be thankful you are in healthcare. At least you understand and can better how to advocate for yourself.
🫶🏽
I’m so sorry, I hope you get better soon 🥺
You are so brave. My aunt died from colon cancer, and now that I feel any symptoms, I feel so scared. I am happy you are doing better. You are young, strong and have a beautiful family.
I recommend getting a colonoscopy even in your mid-thirties if you have any relative that has CRC. More and more young people are getting colon cancer and a colonoscopy is not a big deal. You're in and out in an hour and it's like the best sleep you've ever had. Why people make such a big deal out of it when you can't even feel any pain is ridiculous because it creates a false narrative.
If a health care provider gets that dismissed, what is even the point for a non-practitioner of even trying. . . So sick of the medical system.
You are the bravest woman I ever heard. You have been through so much.
As a GI nurse this infuriates me. I don’t give a damn what one doc says. You shout at the rooftops and don’t let no ever get in the way. I get it, we are in healthcare and we know a lot. I am so sorry that you weren’t listened to. Medical field is really horrible nowadays and it won’t get any better unfortunately.
It's so strange that ppl have a difficult time getting colonoscopies. I've been offered several, and by offered, I mean backed into a corner, despite not having symptoms that would merit that. I know a gastroenterologist who was offered a job, but they had a quota of colonoscopies they'd need to prescribe per month. They didn't take the job.
It's like you can't get it if you need it, and if you don't, they try to force it on you. I think the trick is, whatever you think is wrong, don't say that, say something different or don't offer what you think it might be. If you say you're depressed, they'll say it's bipolar. If you say you have a cough, they'll say it's anxiety. It goes on and on.
The medical industry in America is making me very angry with all the dismissing and gaslighting! By the time people get diagnosed here it will be too late for many or has greatly spread! I have lived here not yet two years and have been going through the same since here with what I fear is cancer where as when I lived in Australia they ran tests within days of any concerns I had without guilt or gaslighting or drama. I am now starting to get a lot of pain in my brain area and ribs so I hope what may possibly has not yet been diagnosed hasnt spread. I am getting my large fixed lymph nodes finally checked in two weeks after having to push a few times plus so many other symptoms that I have been complaining about a year and a half from night sweats, rashes that lasted months, ongoing cough and pain, losing many pounds for no reason in short time frame and enlarged fixed lymph nodes and chest pain and extreme fatigue. I have 4 kids and am not trying to die and not taken seriously! sorry you had to go through this
biofilm biofilm biofilm, to be fair if they didn't dismiss symptoms there would be a lot less homeless people
@@Whyaretaxespayingforcorr-cc8sryou make no sense at all.
@@cpg8000 stop gaslighting, makes 100% sense
@@cpg8000 you might be slow
@@cpg8000 in case you're being sincere what don't you understand, healthcare is intentionally sabotaging the USA and Americans while stealing taxes shamelessly, pretty simple, and people with autoimmune with limited finances led to many becoming homeless in the past example Skid Row California, even Canada
They had so many excuses. I am so sorry for what you had to go through.
So proud of you just to let you know my dad had stage four and he lived another eight months before he passed away and they had reversed and did radiation and everything and just didn’t work so I’m so glad that you’re still there with your husband and your childrenlots of love to you and your family
Why me? I’ve asked that question for the last 14 years. My husband died of a brain aneurysm 14 years ago. He was my soulmate my best friend. And after a week by his beside I watched him die.
I almost wish it had been cancer so I could talk to him and comfort him.
You are very brave. And lucky. Be well.
You are one strong mom!!! Grace and peace be with you!
You are amazing!!! Im so sorry you have to go through all of this. You have a beautiful family. You got this!!
Andrea, thank you for sharing your journey! So much important information that you gave. You look and sound great! Happy Mother's Day!
Thank you for posting this very dry and sharing your experience. May you remain cancer free forever while raising your beautiful kids and helping others. Remain forever kind because life is short. 🙏🙏🌼🌼🌺🌺
I have stage 4 grade 3 metastatic breast cancer & I feel the same way about the medical professionals not taking things seriously 🙃 much ❤🙏💪 to you from a survivor in Boston
I bow to you for your strength and perseverance. I nominate you for poster mom based on your level of determination to giving cancer a swift kick you know where! Best wishes for bright life ahead.
Absolutely maddening and frightening how long it took for the medical community to respond to her and her symptoms and how MRIs are withheld/delayed from patients.
I so understand the mind set thing. I was dx’d with breast cancer in June of ‘22. It was stage 1 grade 1A. I had a double mastectomy because there was a 2nd spot found in the same breast. After my last visit, I was moved to every 6 month visits. It’s so scary! I don’t get any scans, like you do, which also causes anxiety. People say to me all the time that I’m so lucky it was caught early and that I had the mastectomy, etc. So many do mot realize that a mastectomy does not mean you can’t still get BC again. Also, women with early caught, low grade BC have a 30-40% chance of reoccurrence within 10 years and it is often metastatic at that point. It’s a lot mentally to deal with. Yes, I know I am lucky compared to many women with BC but I still have to be very aware of my body and pay attention to any pain that may not go away, etc. Just after my dx I found out my bio father has colon cancer. So I still need to get in and get my colonoscopy done, too. I’m so glad you are doing well and I pray you continue to be healthy and cancer free for many years to come.
Your a strong beautiful woman to go through all this. Your husband was a blessing I'm sure. God Bless
Yes! I completely understand how horrible this experience was for you. I was diagnosed with stage 3 high grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma arising in endometriosis. A more rare subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer. My doctor removed a 17.5 cm tumor from my right ovary as well as doing a radical hysterectomy to try and prevent the cancer from spreading. I started chemo 8 weeks later. I couldn’t find anyone to drive me to have my port placed so that delayed things. Finally I just began chemo through my veins. During that time… who knows what happened!… scans were done without contrast. 😱😱😱 When I completed chemo I was told I was cancer free by my gyn oncologist. He even fist bumped me as it was during Covid so no hand shaking or hugs. Around that time… thinking I was cancer free… I noticed a little tender golf ball sized bump below the skin right next to my incision line. I brought it to my doctor’s attention twice. He told me we would just watch it as he thought it might be a hernia. I expressed my concern. In the weeks to follow I pleaded with his nurse via message by the patient portal. It was becoming more red and tender and growing in size. I was just kind of dismissed. Finally I showed the chemo nurse practitioner (head of the infusion department) and she didn’t like the looks of it one bit! She ** immediately** sent me for a biopsy. It came back positive for cancer. So my gyn oncologist (a well recognized women’s cancer specialist) let my cancer spread. They found 2 new tumors. My cancer had metastasized more. The tumors were inoperable. One of those tumors grew through my colon and lower intestine. I was told I would need a permanent ostomy. You can imagine my heartbreak and devastation… and sheer terror. My second opinion gyn oncologist told me my options were to try more chemotherapy (the chemo hadn’t worked at all so far)…. a clinical trial… or hospice. I felt like he didn’t have much hope for me. Meanwhile the clock was ticking and the tumors were growing and the cancer was spreading. I had no time to waste. I immediately went to MD Anderson in Houston, TX where they started me on radiation therapy immediately. It was successful. Both tumors were destroyed by the radiation… but not before the golf ball sized tumor got so big it literally grew right out of me. Literally. It looked like a big fluffy mushroom when it came through me. On the last radiation session… right after… it fell over and shriveled up. The tumor was finally dead. It was like a sci fi or horror movie. The darkest time of my life. It’s called a “fungated tumor.” It’s fairly rare and the prognosis is not good. Most oncologists might see one or two cases (if that) their entire career. I was only given about 6 months to live with that thing growing inside me so close to the skin’s surface. I am still so soooooo angry that my oncologist didn’t take me seriously and kept saying we will just keep an eye on it. Meanwhile cancer was spreading through my body.
This was not the first awful experience I had with my cancer journey. Another medical professional (a male physician’s assistant) made light of my foot and ankle swelling and told me I was overreacting to the fluid that was accumulating in my body (a sign of ovarian cancer) when I pleaded for a diuretic. I was literally full of cancer and my feet & ankle swelling was a medical emergency. My tummy soon grew so big one nurse at the ER thought I was about 8-9 months pregnant. Another major sign of ovarian cancer. By the time I was taken into surgery for frontline debulking my first tumor (on my right ovary) weighed 15 lbs and I had 25 lbs of ascites (fluid ovarian cancer makes that is full of cancer cells).
Because of my decision to go to MD Anderson and my wonderful doctor, Dr Shannon Westin, I have been cancer free for 20 months. God is good. I will keep you in my prayers… 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Stay strong, warrior!!!!!! God bless… 🩵
biofilm?
🫶🏽🤍
your cancer will come back. high grade carcinoma is tricky.. best of luck to you
@@MystikalWisdom shut up! 🤡
wonderful end to horrible doctors all around. im speechless at them all being so nonchalant !
You’re an ambitious person and no doubt an inspiration to others. Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you for sharing!!! Yes! We all must be our own advocate. I’ve had crohn’s for over 40 years and continue to advocate for myself.
So happy that you are doing better! It makes me so mad when doctors dismiss patients like that. I am going through something a bit similar right now, with swollen lymph nodes for months that keep growing and no explanation, but apparently they are not "big enough yet" to warrant a biopsy. So frustrating.
Push for a biopsy. It could be lymphoma.
@@HopeofGlory-qx4lk Yes, I am going to try to be more assertive.
@@LykaLo 🫶🏽
I was diagnosed with stage 3C rectal sigmoid cancer. It was in 9 lymph nodes but hadn’t spread anywhere else. I had a neoadjuvant treatment plan somewhat like yours, but the order flipped. I had 4 months of FOLFOX chemo, then 6 weeks of recovery, then 28 days of chemo and radiation, 6 weeks of recovery. 0: 0:15 Then a low anterior resection of the tumor with a temporary ileostomy for 9 months. Then an ileostomy reversal. I’ve been cancer free for almost 4 years. From the chemo I have permanent chemo induced neuropathy in my feet and some in my fingers. From the surgery, on a daily basis, I’m challenged with multiple daily bowel movements (6-8 per day) as well as urgency challenges which makes it difficult to be away from a bathroom during certain times of the day. How did you do post ostomy reversal? Are your bowel habits fairly normal? I had a very good response to the chemo and radiation. The tumor had pretty much just turned into scar tissue. I wasn’t offered watch and wait as an option, possibly because that option was pretty new a few years ago. I wish I had been offered it knowing now the daily challenges I experience. But ultimately I’ve done very well with my treatments. I’ve followed a few cancer patients on you tube and a good number of them haven’t survived. So I feel fortunate. I think most cancer patients always have a fear of recurrence, even many years after treatment. I think it’s virtually impossible to eliminate that thought, even when it’s buried deep in your mind. I’m glad you’ve had a good response to your treatment. It’s always beneficial when clinical people experience a significant health event. It’s too easy as a clinical person to loose appreciation for the patient experience.
can you share your symptoms please?
@@TUPELO_HUNNY symptoms were:
Frequent bowel movements
Stools became narrow in shape due to constrictions in the colon caused by the tumor
Anemia due to blood loss from the tumor
Blood in the stool
Shortness of breath when exercising due to anemia. Which I attributed to asthma.
@@roch145 thanks for sharing I think its Important people know all of the different symptoms people endure
@@TUPELO_HUNNY those were my symptoms. Other colon cancer patients have other symptoms such as back pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea. Colon cancer is frequently misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, or Chron’s. So don’t ignore symptoms. Get your first colonoscopy at 45. Colon cancer is one of the easier cancers to prevent if you get your screening colonoscopy on time.
What a story you are telling to help others. What I don't understand is after all these years why they can't find better treatments for cancers.
So sad that you had to go through all of that - thankfully you are better and you will be cancer free. God Bless
Thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry that your symptoms were dismissed for so long. Being so open about your journey and your symptoms will help so many others
I’m so sorry darling, this is happening way too much. I am a nurse too and dedicated over 20 years of my life to my profession. I am very sorry that you were not listened too, that you felt that frustrated and ignored. You have been through so much you poor wee thing. What a horrible experience, especially with two little ones. I thank you for sharing your story, you really are such an inspiration dear! My thoughts are with you darling. Hang in there and continue being you, your a beautful soul. ❤I was in an accident a few years back and as you know, we may not be doctors, but we are not stupid and we know a lot about human biology and disease. We also know our own bodies, and I have gone to specialists time after time and been dismissed so many times, I expressed that my pain was not improving and my spinal fusion had failed, I said this for 4 years, a surgeon finally listened and a PET/CT showed my spine had collapsed and my screws were in my intercostal ligaments. I now have 90 degree hyperkyphosis. My condition has worsened over time and my pain is unbearable.
I'm so very sorry! 🙏💕
I had 2 years of appendicitis symptoms until I almost passed out while driving and finqlly a new locum women doc ❤took another blood test and it showed my inflammation markers were veryhigh so I went straight in for an op . It was a very scary journey that didn't have to happen as bad as it did through sheer ignorance from m egotistical doc .so glad ur OK now.
I've noticed that gastroenterologists and colon doctors in the United States can be very dismissive of symptoms. This has been my own experience, and it's frustrating. Trust me, I am in healthcare as well, I'm a medical assistant and pre med. It's absurd; most people don't like to go to the doctor, but when we do go, it's because we need to. It seems like they don't understand that.
So lucky you have such a supporting partner! Best of luck to you !
Thank you so much for sharing your story! ❤ I hope you’re doing well.
I’ve been dealing with this exactly for the past two years now I’ve not been diagnosed. I’m praying that everything is OK. I’m 21
I don’t know if you have tried this already, but I think they have a little at home test now. You can research to be sure. You can take the test, but even if you don’t take the test they don’t know that, I would go in tell them that the test was abnormal and I want a colonoscopy to verify it. I pray that you get good news in the end, the one thing I’m learning from my own friends and family is that we really have to be our own advocate because no matter how many of these stories happen they are still dismissing us . 🫶🏽
It’s really troubling to me that people are being blown off even worse now than a decade ago. I also had stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2013 and my primary was dismissing my symptoms. I started bleeding but thank God I was able to pick a gastroenterologist and get an appointment within a week. I did it all myself with no help from the primary physician. I wouldn’t want to go through this in 2024, because I’m not so sure I would’ve made it.
It’s sad how doctors assume it’s nothing major. I had the same problem but with the stones in my gallbladder. Doctors always told me it wasn’t my stones that was causing me pain. 3 years ago I took a trip to Mexico to visit some of my husbands family, and my husband told me why don’t you have the doctors here take a look. I thought what a great idea. The doctors in Mexico see what you have and send you to a specialist that specializes in the area of the problem right away. For surgery you don’t have to wait either(for what I had). I meet with my specialist and he told me these are the symptoms you have right? I said yes I do and he said yes it’s your gallstones that is the problem and he ran 3 different test. The next day I went for my results and He told me it is your gallstones and it’s best you get them removed as soon as possible. Then I asked when can we get the surgery and he said tomorrow(in my mind I thought it was too soon). It was a Thursday and I told him how about we schedule the surgery for this coming Monday and they did. That hospital was the best hospital in the area so I wasn’t worried and I like that I got to meet the specialist and he was so nice to me and I like how he was the one that did the surgery and told me not to worry that I was in good hands. After the surgery they showed me my gallstone and wow 😯 there was a big gallstone and a lot of small ones; I’m guessing the big one was giving me the problem that was causing so much pain; but I was glad to see they were all out. I payed $2,000 US dollars for the surgery which included my own room and food for a night. I couldn’t thank the specialist enough. Fast forward to today all pain gone and I’ve only have had 3 headaches, I’m so happy my body is finally resting after 10 years of on and off episodes, and doctors in the US telling me it’s all in my head and that I’m doing it to myself. I now know where to go and get checked for accuracy with affordability. I never imagined my first trip ever to Mexico would be the place I would get surgery. I’ll forever be thankful 🥲🙏🏼
I lost a Friend due to canser on Monday 13th Of may . My Prayer is that it would come a Cure that can hjelp. You are a sutch a strong woman and i am so touched by you’re story.
You are correct about being your own advocate! My sister was told it was most likely hemorrhoids it was stage three cancer. Follow through is key to possibly saving your life.
We literally almost have the same exact story except I was 39 with 3 yr old twins. But I went through the same treatment plan and the two surgeries. It has been a wild ride and I agree the reversal surgery was so much more painful than the resection. I am still recovering from the reversal. Many prayers to you!!! I wish you were my nurse practitioner because no one really understands this journey unless you have traveled it.
You are absolutely correct about advocating for yourself and also for family. My cousin was in her early 40's and they kept brushing her off and she had a baseball size tumor stage 4 by the time they listened. She chose not to do chemo after having one round. She unfortunately did not make it for very long.
So very sorry! 🙏💕
Thank you so much for sharing your story… you are so brave and strong. I know your story will save alot of lives. Its so critical to stay on drs even when they brush you off- they are human and make Mistakes but no-one knows your body better than you! Your story shows how true that is! Your advice is invaluable to all of us! Thank you!!!
Thank you for sharing your story. You are one very brave incredible lady
Thank you for sharing your story, I know you have helped many people. God Bless you as you journey onwards. 🙏🙏❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing this. It is very sad that the medical field does not realize that younger people are suseptible to colon cancer. You are a very strong beautiful person. Just manifest that you are free. Do not think it will come back. Think it is gone. xoxox
Good bless you sweetheart and I hope and pray that all your cancer has been removed and that it never comes back. Thank god that finally someone heard you and you got all the help you needed. God bless your husband to and giving you all the help you needed. Thank you for telling your story. 🙏🙏
Recently, I got another PCP. During my initial visit I asked him a question and he answered, he didn't know. Immediately, I thanked him and told him that he would be my new PCP. Why? Because he was honest enough to say he didn't know instead of doing as most doctors do, play down the seriousness or make you believe it's all in your mind.
Me, too! I respect a doctor who admits they don’t know something! My husband’s doctor found his cancer when it had been missed by previous doctor who did not do even basic testing.
Bless you and your family. You are a soldier!!!
Thank you for sharing your story. Wishing you a complete healing and full restoration.
Thank you for sharing your journey. God bless you
Andrea you are an amazingly strong woman ❤❤ u are certainly a soldier, all the best enjoy yr beautiful family 🙏 ❤❤❤
It took my gynecologist 3 years to diagnose my endometrial cancer, it was stage 3c2 by the time I was diagnosed and it’s a slow growing cancer. I was almost 38 when the symptoms started and she kept saying it’s probably early menopause, all my Pap smears were normal, she finally did a biopsy after almost 3 years and she said it’s not going to come back positive it’s just precautionary. Well it was positive
I am very moved by your story and want to thank you so much for living on and help many more people who will definitely benefit greatly from your strength and compassion.
🙏🏻 Nam-Myoho-Renge-kyo 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for making this video. Listening to it has opened my eyes about some things I have going on. Now I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to talk to my Dr about it. With my insurance I don’t have to have a referral to see a specialist so knowing that even if my Dr doesn’t think I need it I will call and get one myself. I hope you are still doing great and you’ll be in my prayers always. Again thank you so much for telling your story. I know this wasn’t easy for you to do. God bless you & your beautiful family.
Thank you so much Sir,very informative to us na nahihirapan paring intindihin technicalities ni YT,Keep on helping us Sir.
I’m 63 with stage 4b uterine cancer. I know that sounds old compared to you but my kids still live at home and need me (21,25) and my husband of 30 years has been amazing. It’s been horrible. I had great care and they caught it as soon as I had symptoms but the surgery and chemo were hell. Finished it 3 months ago and I’m tired. Everyone is so happy my first scans were clear but the chances of remission are very high so I can’t be happy and that drives my support system nuts so I’ve stopped telling no most people except the few that let me feel that way. ❤
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm praying for you.
Thank you for making that comment about GI being overwhelmed. We truly are. I can guarantee you if we could scope everyone we would. I always tell my patients and their family members guidelines mean nothing. The age for colonoscopy was moved from 50 to 45. If you have a first degree relative with a cancer your imaging starts 10 years before their diagnosis age. My youngest patient died at 28 from colon CA. Her daughter will start being scoped at 18.
Guidelines mean nothing to me. Living in Memphis, I kindly remind my patients and their family members that St. Jude is downtown. What’s the age guideline for pediatric cancers.
This story makes me hate the medical field even more!!! I'm so sorry this happened to you.
I was ignored and lost my left ear and part of my skull. I’m now deaf, with my ear filled with flesh to keep it closed. I’m lucky to be alive. Blood pouring out of my ear is not normal. I put my foot down and demanded CT etc and I was in surgery the next day for a huge operation.
Thank you so much for making this. You have helped inform and help us with easy to understand
I had foot surgery in early Aug this year by early September I was complaining to podiatrist about feeling weak and tired i was brushed off. A week later I was in septic shock my foot rotted from inside out and had to have emergency surgery stayed in the hospital all September. Im 20 have a bone infection, mrsa, c.diff and so many other medical conditions and a picc line in my arm from a foot surgery. If you feel there is something wrong then there probably is it’s your intuition.
I’m so glad she said to exaggerate your symptoms because I tell people that same thing and they look at me like I’m insane lol
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s so scary. My dad died 3 months after the scope.