Understanding Cancer Trends Among Young People
- Singer-songwriter Tamsyn Cornwall, 34, is keeping fans updated on her cancer journey, which includes joyous moments at the beach wearing a bikini, even though she uses a stoma bag.
- A stoma is a surgical connection between an internal organ and the skin outside your body that collects waste. It’s a removable pouch that can be used temporary or kept permanently.
- Her confidence inspires her fans and cancer patients.
- Cornwall was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2020. She underwent chemotherapy and several surgeries for treatment.
- The term bowel cancer generally refers to cancer that begins in the large bowel, but we tend to use the term colorectal cancer in the United States.
In a recent social media post, she candidly shared various aspects of her cancer journey, from undergoing treatment to adapting to life with a stoma bag, showcasing her remarkable bravery while donning a bikini.
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In a recent post on Instagram, Cornwall shared a medley of video clips showing various elements of her cancer journey. She is seen in the hospital undergoing treatment. However, she also shares more joyous moments, such as walking along the shore in a bikini while wearing a stoma bag.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, “a stoma is a surgical connection between an internal organ and the skin on the outside of your body.”
The pouch that collects body waste is removable and can be temporary or permanent.
View this post on Instagram
Encouraging fans like Instagram user Megan said, “You are such a wonderful soul sharing your story and inspiring others to keep going and love life and all its beauty.” Their supportive words create a sense of community and strength around Cornwall’s journey.
Cornwall responded by saying, “Appreciate your words massively.”
Expert Resources on Colorectal Cancer
- Young and Worried About Cancer? The Five Things You Shouldn’t Do (And What Doctors Recommend)
- ‘You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment’: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
- Alcohol Intake Has a Big Impact on Colon Cancer Surgery
- 5 Possible Signs of Colon Cancer; Don’t Be Afraid to Look in the Toilet!
- Why Do So Few Black Men Get Colon Cancer Screenings? Closing the Racial Disparity Gap In Cancer at Forefront After Tragic Death of Chadwick Boseman, 43
- Can The Stuff In My Gut Cause Cancer? There May Be a Link to Increased Rates of Colon CancerHere’s What The Experts Say
Tamsyn’s Brave Journey
Cornwall was diagnosed with stage 3B bowel cancer in 2020.
“I got really sick when I was eight with inflammatory bowel disease, then at 30, I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, so for most of my life, I’ve always fought to be healthy, and I feel that’s made me who I am today,” Cornwall told New Zealand-based lifestyle publication Eastlife.
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For treatment, she needed chemotherapy and underwent several surgeries.
“I don’t think we talk about how long recovery really takes,” she explained to women’s magazine Now to Love.
“You go from survival mode, where you’ve got this weird structure appointment, scans, going through chemo or recovering from surgery to suddenly being back in life. It’s a huge adjustment,” Cornwall added.
Colon Cancer is Appearing More in Young People
The average age people are diagnosed with colon cancer is 68 for men and 72 for women, according to the American Cancer Society.
The National Cancer Institute reports that since the 1990s, colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults younger than 50. Research published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found that cases in people younger than 55 “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.”
WATCH: Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.
“We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” cancer epidemiologist and lead study author Rebecca Siegel said.
Researchers are still trying to determine why younger people are being diagnosed in more significant numbers. Some experts point to risk factors, which include obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking, as a possible explanation for the increase.
“We don’t know for sure why we are seeing earlier onset and death from colon cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancers at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.
“It is likely a combination of factors, including diet and genetics as well as access to care and some environmental factors,” Dr. Yeo explains.
WATCH: How Doctors Look for Polyps.
Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera is used to examine the colon and rectum. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for ten years.
“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Yeo told SurvivorNet. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.
- What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
- If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
- What support services are available to me? To my family?
- Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
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