Raquel's Stage 4 Colon Cancer Symptoms | Colorectal Cancer | The Patient Story
TLDRRaquel, a 33-year-old woman working in the tech industry, shares her personal journey with terminal colorectal cancer. She recounts her initial symptoms in 2019, which she initially attributed to diet and lifestyle, and how they recurred in 2022. Despite experiencing classic symptoms of the disease, including frequent bowel movements, changes in stool, and blood in her stool, her concerns were initially dismissed due to her age and demographics. It was not until a severe episode of abdominal pain in 2023 that she sought emergency care, leading to her diagnosis. Raquel emphasizes the importance of heeding one's intuition and seeking multiple medical opinions, as her cancer had metastasized significantly by the time of diagnosis. She discusses her treatment journey, which has primarily involved chemotherapy, and her decision to pursue surgery despite its risks. Her story is a call to action for individuals to advocate for their health and not accept dismissal from medical professionals when faced with persistent symptoms.
Takeaways
- 📝 Raquel is a 33-year-old woman working in the tech industry who was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer.
- 🎨 In her spare time, Raquel enjoys reading, drawing, and being artistic. She also connects with others going through similar experiences on social media.
- ⚠️ Raquel first noticed symptoms of colorectal cancer in 2019, including frequent bowel movements and changes in stool consistency, but initially attributed them to diet.
- 🩸 Blood in the stool is a major red flag for colorectal cancer, which Raquel experienced but initially dismissed as not serious.
- 🔍 Raquel's cancer was found to be metastatic, with tumors in her colon, ovaries, liver, lungs, peritoneal cavity, and omentum.
- 🏥 Raquel emphasizes the importance of listening to your intuition and seeking multiple medical opinions, especially if symptoms persist.
- 💊 She underwent chemotherapy, which had mixed results on different parts of her cancer, and experienced side effects like neuropathy and cold sensitivity.
- 💉 Raquel also needed to take shots to boost her white blood cell count, a common need for about 50% of chemotherapy patients.
- ⛔️ Surgery was initially not considered due to the advanced stage of her cancer, but Raquel is actively seeking second opinions for the possibility of surgery.
- 🧐 Raquel's experience highlights the potential for young people and minorities to be dismissed in medical settings due to misconceptions about who gets colorectal cancer.
- 🌟 She remains positive and hopes to inspire others facing challenges, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and persistence in healthcare.
Q & A
What is Raquel's age and health condition?
-Raquel is 33 years old and has terminal colorectal cancer.
What does Raquel do for a living?
-Raquel works in the tech industry.
What are some of Raquel's hobbies and interests?
-In her spare time, Raquel enjoys reading and drawing, and she is artistic. She has also been engaging with social media to connect with others going through similar experiences.
When did Raquel first start noticing symptoms of colorectal cancer?
-Raquel first started noticing symptoms of her colorectal cancer in 2019.
What were some of the initial symptoms Raquel experienced?
-Raquel's initial symptoms included frequent bowel movements and changes in the consistency of her stools, which she initially attributed to her diet and lifestyle.
What dietary changes did Raquel make to address her symptoms?
-Raquel started eating a higher protein diet, increased her fiber intake with supplements, and made an effort to eat healthier foods.
What was the reaction of Raquel's primary care physician when she first reported her symptoms?
-Raquel's primary care physician initially dismissed her symptoms as anxiety and scheduled a psychiatric appointment rather than further investigating her bowel symptoms.
What are some classic symptoms of colorectal cancer that Raquel experienced?
-Raquel experienced frequent bowel movements, changes in stool appearance, blood in the stool, feeling full quickly after eating, and unexplained weight gain or bloating.
What was the outcome of Raquel's blood tests and imaging studies at the ER?
-The blood tests showed elevated cancer markers, and imaging studies revealed advanced cancer in her ovaries and liver. A liver biopsy later confirmed the primary source as colorectal cancer.
What is Raquel's current treatment approach for her colorectal cancer?
-Raquel is primarily undergoing chemotherapy, with a focus on shrinking the metastases in her liver and lungs. She is also considering surgery after seeking second opinions from other hospitals.
What advice does Raquel have for others who might be experiencing persistent symptoms?
-Raquel advises listening to your intuition, seeking out specialists, getting second or third opinions if necessary, and not accepting dismissal from medical professionals. She emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself and one's health.
What is Raquel's perspective on her cancer diagnosis and its impact on her life?
-Raquel maintains a calm and logical approach to her diagnosis, expressing confidence in her ability to handle the situation, whether she can heal or not. She aims to be an inspiration to others and believes that everything will be okay.
Outlines
🎨 Raquel's Life with Colorectal Cancer
Raquel, a 33-year-old tech industry worker, shares her experience with terminal colorectal cancer. Despite her illness, she maintains a passion for art and has found solace and connection through social media. She recalls her symptoms starting in 2019, initially attributing them to diet and lifestyle. However, her condition persisted and worsened, leading to her eventual diagnosis in May 2023 after experiencing severe abdominal pain. Raquel emphasizes the importance of recognizing the classic symptoms of colorectal cancer, such as frequent bowel movements, changes in stool, and unexplained weight loss.
🏥 Medical Dismissal and ER Diagnosis
Raquel discusses the dismissive attitude she encountered from her primary care physician, who attributed her symptoms to anxiety and scheduled a psychiatric appointment instead of further investigation. Three weeks after her physical, Raquel's cancer was discovered as fully metastatic in the emergency room. She highlights the importance of not relying solely on statistics when it comes to health, as they can lead to the dismissal of serious symptoms in younger patients. The ER took her condition seriously, conducting a blood panel that revealed high levels of cancer markers, leading to further tests and the discovery of her advanced cancer.
💉 Treatment Journey and Hospital Switch
Raquel narrates her journey through cancer treatment, which began with chemotherapy at one hospital and switched to another after insurance requirements. The first hospital suggested immediate surgery, while the second focused on chemotherapy to shrink the tumors before considering surgery. Despite the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, including neuropathy and cold sensitivity, Raquel continued the treatment. She also had to receive shots to boost her white blood cell count. Her response to chemotherapy has been mixed, with some areas responding well while others, like her liver and lungs, have shown resistance.
🛂 Seeking Second Opinions and Advocacy
Raquel is currently on weekly chemotherapy, which is crucial for her survival. She is also seeking second opinions from other hospitals, including M.D. Anderson in Sloan, in hopes of finding a surgical option that could extend her life. She advises others to trust their intuition and seek multiple medical opinions, especially when symptoms are persistent. Raquel stresses the importance of advocating for oneself and not accepting dismissal from medical professionals, encouraging individuals to find healthcare providers who will listen and take their concerns seriously.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Terminal colorectal cancer
💡Tech industry
💡Artistic expression
💡Social media
💡Symptoms
💡Colorectal cancer
💡Metastases
💡Chemotherapy
💡White blood cell count
💡Second opinion
💡Intuition
Highlights
Raquel, a 33-year-old with terminal colorectal cancer, emphasizes the importance of not letting her illness define her entire life.
She is currently working in the tech industry and enjoys reading and drawing in her spare time.
Raquel has been using social media to connect with others experiencing similar health challenges.
Her symptoms began in 2019, initially dismissed as diet-related, but returned in 2022.
Raquel's roommate and later a colleague noticed her frequent bathroom visits, prompting concern.
Initially, she attributed her symptoms to diet, thinking she was eating too many processed foods or not enough fiber.
Her symptoms included frequent bowel movements, changes in stool appearance, and blood in the stool.
Feeling full quickly after eating was another significant symptom Raquel experienced.
Despite a healthy diet, Raquel could not lose weight, which was later attributed to a large amount of fluid due to her cancer.
Raquel's cancer was found to be metastatic, with tumors in her colon, ovaries, liver, lungs, and abdominal lining.
She was initially misdiagnosed with ovarian cancer before the primary source was identified as colorectal cancer.
Raquel's cancer was discovered after a severe episode of abdominal pain led her to the emergency room.
Her cancer markers were significantly elevated, indicating advanced cancer.
Raquel's calm demeanor and logical approach to her diagnosis surprised the ER doctor.
She emphasizes the importance of listening to your intuition and seeking multiple medical opinions.
Raquel has been undergoing chemotherapy, which is currently keeping her alive, and is seeking a second opinion for surgery.
She advises others to fight for their health and not to accept dismissal from medical professionals if symptoms persist.
Transcripts
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