[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”0″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″][et_pb_video _builder_version=”3.0.92″ _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|37.9062px|0px” _i=”1″ _address=”1″ prev_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”10px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|18.9531px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n
When Marielle McLeod started losing weight and having stomach issues at the age of 36,\u00a0her doctors were reluctant to say it was anything more than Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But the Charleston resident\u00a0insisted on more tests and asked for second opinions\u00a0as her symptoms got worse.<\/p>\n
After more tests were taken, she was diagnosed with late stage colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you talk to a lot of young onset patients, they went to multiple doctors before they were taken seriously. And by the time they were diagnosed, they were a stage three or four,\u201d said McLeod.<\/p>\n
Doctors around the country are noticing an alarming trend in colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Ronit Yarden, director of medical Affairs for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance in Washington, D.C., the disease is on the rise in patients under 50.\u00a0Colorectal cancer has long been thought of as a cancer that is most likely to affect people 50 and older.<\/p>\n
Dr. Yarden said McLeod\u2019s case shouldn\u2019t be that much of a surprise to doctors because studies show a steady rise in young onset cases over the last 20 years.<\/p>\n
According to Yarden, the risk of colon cancer for people born in the ’90s has doubled, and the risk of rectal cancer has more than quadrupled. All of this, while incident rates are decreasing for patients over 50.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still a minority of all colorectal cancer patients, but it\u2019s about 10 percent already diagnosed before the age of 50,\u201d said Yarden. \u201cIt\u2019s becoming a real public health issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer in the United States and is second only to lung cancer in number of cancer deaths.<\/p>\n
Yarden said\u00a0 a lot of the symptoms of colorectal cancer are vague, so people have symptoms they don\u2019t know can indicate that anything is wrong. One symptom can be as simple as passing gas. So, a lot of the time people will just pass it off as a bad meal or lack of exercise. And by the time they go to the doctor, it could be overlooked, especially if they are under 50.<\/p>\n
A Colorectal Cancer Alliance survey of about 1,200 young onset patients found that many of them had to see at least three doctors before they could be properly diagnosed. The patients who only went to one doctor said they had to go back to the same doctor multiple times before they were taken seriously.<\/p>\n
The survey also found that patients who only saw one doctor often were diagnosed in the\u00a0emergency room because of a dramatic flare up of symptoms.<\/p>\n
McLeod experienced this first hand. She had to push for her doctor to even order a colonoscopy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe an advocate for yourself. Don\u2019t take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer,’\u201d McLeod said. \u201cKeep being persistent because you never know.\u201d<\/p>\n
After 14 rounds of chemotherapy over 10 months, surgery to remove nearly three feet of her colon and the loss of her job in the process,\u00a0 McLeod says she is proud to work as a patient and family navigator for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.<\/p>\n
She said she will use her position with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance\u00a0<\/span>to advocate for young onset patients, so everyone is aware of the risk of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 50.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it made me stronger, overall [\u2026] Hopefully I will do the best I can with the new me\u2026 to help other people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 1″ src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/mcleod_family.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.1.0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 1″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.1.1″]<\/p>\n Marielle with her husband and children.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 2″ src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/marielle_2.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”2″ _address=”1.0.1.2″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”3″ _address=”1.0.1.3″]<\/p>\n Today, Marielle is a patient advocate and family navigator for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 3″ src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/marielle_3.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”4″ _address=”1.0.1.4″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 3″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”5″ _address=”1.0.1.5″]<\/p>\n McLeod is very open about her journey with colorectal cancer.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image 4″ show_in_lightbox=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ custom_margin=”||2px|” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”slide” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”4px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” always_center_on_mobile=”on” _i=”6″ _address=”1.0.1.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption 4″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”8px|||2px” custom_padding=”|||” _i=”7″ _address=”1.0.1.7″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Colorectal cancer is on the rise in young adults. Marielle McLeod was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 36. Now she is a survivor and a patient advocate. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":209,"featured_media":28992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Doctors around the country are noticing an alarming trend in colorectal cancer. It is on the rise in patients under 50. Colorectal cancer has long been thought of as a cancer that really only affects people 50 and older.<\/p> So, when Marielle McLeod started losing weight and having stomach issues at 36-years-old, her doctors were reluctant to say it was anything more than Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But McLeod fought for herself as her symptoms got worse, and she was diagnosed with late stage colorectal cancer.<\/p> \u201cIf you talk to a lot of young onset patients, they went to multiple doctors before they were taken seriously. And by the time they were diagnosed, they were a stage three or four,\u201d says McLeod.<\/p> Dr. Ronit Yarden, the Director of Medical Affairs for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, says that McLeod\u2019s case shouldn\u2019t be that much of a surprise to doctors, because studies show a steady rise in young onset cases over the last 20 years.<\/p> According to Yarden, the risk of colon cancer for people born in the 90s has doubled, and the risk of rectal cancer has more than quadrupled from the numbers it used to be. All of this, while incident rates are decreasing for patients over 50.<\/p> \u201cIt\u2019s still a minority of all colorectal cancer patients, but it\u2019s about 10 percent already diagnosed before the age of 50,\u201d says Yarden. \u201cIt\u2019s becoming a real public health issue.\u201d<\/p> According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer in the United States. It\u2019s second only to lung cancer in number of cancer deaths.<\/p> Yarden says a lot of the symptoms of colorectal cancer are vague, so people have symptoms they don\u2019t know can indicate that anything is wrong. One symptom can be as simple as passing gas. So, a lot of the time people will just pass it off as a bad meal or lack of exercise. And by the time they go to the doctor, it could be overlooked, especially if they are under 50.<\/p> A Colorectal Cancer Alliance survey of about 1,200 young onset patients found that many of them had to see at least three doctors before they could be properly diagnosed. The patients who only went to one doctor said they had to go back to the same doctor multiple times before they were taken seriously.<\/p> The survey also found that patients who only saw one doctor before their diagnoses were diagnosed because they went directly to the emergency room because of a dramatic flare up of symptoms.<\/p> Marielle McLeod experienced this first hand. She had to push for her doctor to even order a colonoscopy.<\/p> \u201cBe an advocate for yourself. Don\u2019t take \u2018no\u2019 for an answer,\u201d says McLeod. \u201cKeep being persistent, because you never know.\u201d<\/p> After 14 rounds of chemo therapy over 10 months, surgery to remove nearly three feet of her colon and losing her job in the process, McLeod says she is proud to work as a patient and family navigator for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.<\/p> She says she will use her position to advocate for young onset patients, so everyone is aware of the risk of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 50.<\/p> \u201cI think it made me stronger, overall [\u2026] Hopefully I will do the best I can with the new me\u2026 to help other people.\u201d<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[1433,1432,133,1435,1434],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24023"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24023"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29105,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24023\/revisions\/29105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}