LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Las Vegas colon cancer survivor credits early screening with saving her life.
According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men under 50 and the second among women under 50.
“In the last 20 years, we have seen a significant increase of patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s,” Dr. Ovunc Bardakcioglu, Professor and Colon and Rectal Surgery Chief for UNLV’s Department of Surgery, said.
Bryce Ramsey was just 33 when she was diagnosed with sigmoid adenocarcinoma, the most common type of colon cancer.
“I was absolutely terrified,” Ramsey said. “They removed 3 feet of my colon and 13 lymph nodes.”
Before being diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, Ramsey said she had been experiencing some symptoms.
“I had noticed some blood in my stool when I would go to the bathroom, but just kind of chalked it up to it’s probably hemorrhoids,” Ramsey said.
She underwent four rounds of intravenous chemotherapy and two rounds of oral treatment. Now celebrating five years cancer-free, she credits a routine colon cancer screening with saving her life.
“Had I not gotten that, [the doctor] would not have been able to give me my diagnosis and save my life,” Ramsey said.
Colon cancer screenings are recommended at the age of 45, but one can get an early screening if one has symptoms.
“Any type of early symptom, I think, should be investigated,” Dr. Bardakcioglu said. “One of the common ones would be rectal bleeding as a first sign. Another one would be any type of abdominal discomfort or, change in bowel habits. When it’s persistent and it’s not just a couple of days, I think that immediately warrants further testing.”
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance has resources where one can take a free quiz that provides a personalized screening recommendation based on risk factors.
