A New Yorker went to the doctor with what he thought were hemorrhoids, only to be told he had advanced cancer.
Joshua Sanchez, now 38, of Harlem, first became concerned when he noticed blood in his stool in 2021.
But after a doctor’s visit to Mount Sinai, scans revealed he had stage four colon cancer which had also spread to his liver – where it was fatal.
Doctors warn about hemorrhoids – or nodules or swelling of the veins in the anus – and colon cancer can cause similar symptoms, which makes the latter difficult to detect in its early stages.
He is now raising awareness about cancer so that others do not have to go through the same ordeal.
Joshua Sanchez, 38, of East Harlem in New York, went to the doctor after blood kept appearing in his stool. He thought it was hemorrhoids, but the freelance artist discovered he actually had stage four colon cancer. (photo above with his mother)
Colon cancer can cause blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits or a lump in the bowel that can lead to constipation. Some people also experience weight loss as a result of these symptoms
However, colon cancer causes other warning signs than hemorrhoids, including diarrhea, frequent cramps, and unexplained weight loss.
About 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer each year and there are about 56,000 deaths each year.
The American Cancer Society warns that disease rates are rising at younger ages, with the number of under-55s diagnosed with the disease doubling in the past 25 years. The age group now lags behind in every fifth case.
Concerned about the trend, U.S. health officials now recommend that Americans begin cancer screening at age 45, down from the previously recommended age of 50.
The disease is the third deadliest cancer in the United States, with about 63 percent of patients surviving more than five years after diagnosis.
Take this quiz to check your colon cancer risk
Cancer, once considered a disease of old age, is now on the rise among the 55-year-olds and has doubled in the past 25 years. This quiz can reveal your risk of developing the disease.
The problem is how difficult it is to detect in the earliest stages. It can grow without causing any symptoms, and in those who do develop symptoms, it is often so common that it is dismissed as other things.
Mr Sanchez, who is also deaf, told Today through an interpreter: “At first I thought I had a haemorrhoid.
‘[But] I felt something was still wrong because I noticed blood.”
He opened up about his story to encourage others, especially the deaf, to get checked if they have a health problem.
Mr Sanchez went to the doctor in 2021 after becoming concerned and underwent an endoscopy and colonoscopy which revealed two masses in his colon and liver.
Biopsies were taken, which confirmed he had stage four colon cancer.
The patient underwent surgery to remove the tumors and then received three weeks of chemotherapy.
But during a procedure to administer the treatment to his liver, his arms became numb and difficult to move.
Mr Sanchez, who relies on sign language to communicate with others, said: “I couldn’t communicate at all. I had a very difficult time in the hospital.’
He was released but returned in 2022 after several lesions were discovered on his liver, raising concerns of cancer.
Doctors treated it with radiation and gave him instructions through a virtual reality headset that shows someone in sign language what to do.
Mr. Sanchez has yet to be declared cancer-free.
He is currently undergoing radiation to treat injuries to his pelvis. After that, doctors will do more tests to find out if her cancer has stopped growing.
He added, “We’re Latinos, so we don’t really focus on our health and we don’t talk about it and we don’t talk a lot about vulnerabilities. So it’s a serious issue that needs to be communicated more.”
Hemorrhoids affect about half of Americans at some point in their lives.
They are usually caused by extra pressure on the anus, probably due to straining to have a bowel movement, constipation, heavy lifting, prolonged standing and aging. They can also be caused by pregnancy.
In comparison, colorectal cancer – or bowel cancer in the UK – is typically considered a ‘disease of old age’, usually not noticed until someone is over 55 years old.
Colon cancer cases have increased among adults aged 20 to 49. Scientists say more than 40 percent of diagnoses are made by people between the ages of 45 and 49.
Dr. Ryan Williams, an oncologist at Bayfront Health in New Jersey, previously explained the warning signs of hemorrhoids.
“Bloody stools, small lumps near the anal opening, or pain can be severe,” he said.
“In most cases, the problem can be traced back to a benign condition called hemorrhoids.
“But sometimes the same symptoms can indicate the presence of colon cancer, the third leading cause of death from cancer.”
Here are the early warning signs of colon cancer:
blood in the stool
The most common early warning sign of colon cancer is blood in a person’s stool.
The blood can also be caused by damage to the rectum or hemorrhoids. But doctors recommend that anyone who regularly gets red in the toilet should be checked.
Colon cancer usually starts in the lining or inner lining of the intestine.
But when the tumor forms, it can damage the blood vessels that line the colon, which can cause bleeding. As the stool passes through the colon, it can mix with the blood, causing blood to appear in the toilet bowl.
Tears can also appear on the tumor itself, which can also cause bleeding that then mixes with stool.
In some cases, blood in the stool can also cause it to become very dark in color instead of red. Doctors say it should not be overlooked.
Change in bowel habits
Fluctuations in how often a person needs to visit the bathroom can also be a warning sign of colon cancer.
Suddenly, people with the disease can go to the toilet less often.
They may also suffer from persistent constipation or diarrhea, or have “pencil-shaped” stools.
These shifts occur because the tumor narrows a person’s rectum, making it more difficult to go to the bathroom more often and affecting digestion.
Cold hands and feet
Suddenly cold hands and feet can also be a warning sign of cancer, doctors say.
People with cancer often struggle with anemia, a condition in which not enough oxygen-rich blood cells circulate around the body.
This happens because they often bleed into the rectum, depleting the blood supply in the body.
The reduction causes the body to store blood for the internal organs and send less blood to the extremities – hands and feet – which causes the temperature to drop.
stomach ache
Doctors say people with colon cancer may also experience dull and constant pain in their abdomen.
This happens because as the tumor grows, it begins to press against a person’s organs, bones, nerves and other tissues.
Abdominal pain is one of the most obvious signs of cancer and doctors will immediately warn affected patients to get checked.
Unexplained weight loss
Another sign of cancer is weight loss without expecting it, doctors say.
As the tumor grows, it can disrupt the way the body processes food, causing it to get fewer calories from food. This means they burn more calories per day, which leads to weight loss.
The cancer can also speed up a person’s metabolism by overloading the immune system to fight the cancer, further promoting weight loss.
Digestive problems can also cause a person to eat less than usual.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
