Colorectal cancer: 5 things you need to know about this disease
According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 1 in 10 new cancer cases and cancer deaths in the United States are related to colorectal cancer.
Staff video, USA TODAY
Lauren Ver Steeg isn’t afraid crack Ass jokes.
Since being diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer at age 26, she has made a conscious effort to speak openly about the often taboo topics surrounding the disease.
“A lot of times you just have to laugh and laugh,” she told USA TODAY. “No one wants to talk about poop or think about poop. But I think the more we can make it a normal conversation topic and find ways to laugh about it, the easier it will be to talk about it.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, rectal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the rectum, the last few inches of the large intestine. Rectal and colon cancers are similar in many ways, so they are often referred to collectively as colorectal cancer, the clinic added.
Now, Ver Steeg is sharing her story to raise awareness for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March in collaboration with the V Cancer Research Foundation.
“I put it away because of the hemorrhoids.”
Ms Ver Steeg said her friend had always had “stomach problems”, or what she described as typical tummy troubles or abdominal pain.
Even when she had frequent diarrhea or blood after going to the bathroom, she brushed it off.
“I just dismissed it as hemorrhoids, which I’m sure a lot of people do,” she said.
After her first checkup in years, her doctor recommended seeing a gastroenterologist for her symptoms. But Ver Steeg was busy living an exciting post-pandemic life in New York City.
“Now that things are open again and I can go out with friends, party and hang out, why should I see another doctor?”
After three or four months, the symptoms got even worse. A friend recommended she see a specialist, who immediately ordered a colonoscopy. result? She had a malignant tumor in her rectum.
A recent report from the American Cancer Society found that the incidence of rectal cancer will increase by 1% per year from 2018 to 2022. Rectal cancer now accounts for about one-third of all colorectal cancer diagnoses, up from about one-quarter in the mid-2000s.
Younger people are also being diagnosed at a more advanced stage. For example, the report found that about three in four adults under age 50 with colorectal cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Ver Steeg’s treatment included radiation therapy five days a week for one month, eight rounds of chemotherapy for four months, followed by surgery.
Now 28 years old, it’s been a year and a half and she hasn’t shown any signs of illness. Once she reaches the 5-year mark, she will be considered cancer-free.
There were good days and bad days, but by naming her tumor, she brought light to a dark situation.
“Facing stage 3 cancer at 26 years old, especially cancer in your butt, is not something to take lightly,” she said, noting that she had conversations with family and friends about how to lighten her mood. “We kept saying, ‘Oh, it’s a stupid tumor.’ That’s how we ended up with Stu.”
Ver Steug’s graphic designer mother created a cartoon version of him that was later used on T-shirts sold to raise money for colorectal cancer.
“I think what we created is now a little bit bigger than myself.”
“Early detection is really important.”
Bar-Steeg said her openness has influenced those around her, as she receives messages from family and colleagues about her symptoms and colonoscopy appointments.
“In some small way, hopefully by me talking about this and making it a little bit more common knowledge and hopefully less stigmatized, people will feel more comfortable sharing their concerns with their doctors, friends and family.”
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the most common cancer-related death in people under age 50 and the second most common cancer death overall.
Fortunately, colon cancer is highly treatable if detected early. It is also believed to be preventable in most cases with regular check-ups and healthy diet and lifestyle habits.
According to the ACS Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 report, approximately 55% of colorectal cancers can be caused by several risk factors, including lack of physical activity, excessive smoking and alcohol intake, excess body weight, high intake of red and processed meat, and insufficient intake of calcium, whole grains, and dietary fiber.
Ver Steeg hopes her story will inspire others to take action and get tested.
“Early detection is really important,” she said. “Throwing a butt joke in there keeps things from getting put off later.”
