Colon cancer is on the rise in young adults. In fact, 20% of diagnoses in 2019 were in patients under age 55, which is almost double the rate in 1995.
39-year-old Joseph Rea was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2020 after going to the doctor for abdominal pain that wouldn’t go away. Because he lived a healthy, active lifestyle, the news came as a shock.
General surgeon Dr. John Abikhaled removed part of Joseph’s colon following his colon cancer diagnosis. He encourages young adults to recognize changes in bowel movements and talk to their doctor about any suspicious symptoms.
Joseph documented his journey on YouTube and recently shared his story with CBS Austin in hopes of raising awareness, and showing the ‘real’ side of cancer so others going through treatment don’t feel alone.
Colon cancer is affecting younger and younger people. In the last 2-3 years, the age recommended for a colonoscopy decreased from 50 to 45.
“Everybody should have a screening colonoscopy or some form of colon cancer screening beginning at age 45,” said Dr. John Abikhaled, a surgeon with Austin Surgeons.
That’s not just a statistic, but a firsthand experience for Joseph Rea.
"It was pretty shocking. I was diagnosed at age 37, which is pretty uncommon,” said Rea.
In 2020, at age 37, Joseph felt stomach discomfort. He tried eliminating foods from his diet, which eased the pain temporarily. When that didn’t work, he underwent a scan with a gastroenterologist and found out he had stage 4 colon cancer. Dr. Abikhaled saw him for surgery.
“He’s a model patient. He's just such a great example. I was so impressed by how he posted videos on his blog every step of the way during his treatment,” said Dr. Abikhaled.
Joseph’s medical journey didn’t just take place in the hospital room, but online.
He created a YouTube page and began documenting his experience immediately after the first surgery. Those videos show his good and bad days, and his six months of chemotherapy. The videos are flooded with uplifting messages, prayers, and messages of solidarity from others fighting the same fight.
"I'm so honored and grateful that, you know, I can use my experience to help others, to provide assistance to people who are going through this, or help them know that they're not alone,” said Rea.
Currently, Joseph is glad to be cancer-free and will continue to use his platform to raise awareness.
"My plan is to continue sharing what the journey is like because life after cancer is totally different from life before cancer," said Rea.
Dr. Abikhaled hopes Rea's story encourages others to be aware of any signs and symptoms.
"Don't be afraid to get a colonoscopy. It's a safe procedure, and if it allows for early detection of colon cancer, it can lead to quick treatment," said Dr. Abikhaled.
Courtesy CBS Austin News
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