A New Yorker went to the doctor with what he thought was hemorrhoids, only to be told he had terminal 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 showed he had stage four colon cancer that had also spread to his liver – where it is deadly.
Doctors warn about hemorrhoids — or lumps or swollen veins in the anus — and colon cancer can cause similar symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose early.
He’s now raising awareness about cancer so others don’t have to go through the same ordeal.
Joshua Sanchez, 38, of East Harlem in New York City, went to doctors after blood kept appearing in his stool. He thought it was hemorrhoids, but the freelance artist found out he actually had stage four colon cancer. (pictured above with his mother)
Colon cancer can cause you to have blood in your stool, a change in bowel habits, a lump in your bowel that can cause an obstruction. Some people also experience weight loss due to these symptoms
However, colon cancer triggers other warning signs that are distinct from 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 annually.
The American Cancer Society warns that disease rates are rising sharply at younger ages, with the number of under-55s diagnosed with the disease doubling in the past 25 years. The age group is now behind one in five cases.
Concerned about the trend, US health officials are now recommending that Americans start 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 five years after diagnosis.
The problem is how hard it is to spot in its earliest stages. It can grow without causing symptoms, and in those who do get symptoms, they are often so general that they are dismissed as other things.
Mr Sanchez, who is also deaf, told Today through an interpreter: “At first I thought I had a hemorrhoid.
‘[But] I felt like something was still not great because I had noticed some blood.
He has revealed his story to urge others, especially the deaf, to get checked out if they have a health issue.
Mr. Sanchez went to doctors in 2021 after becoming concerned and had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, which found 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 was then placed on 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 speak to others, said: “I couldn’t communicate at all. I had a really tough time in the hospital.’
He was released but returned in 2022 after multiple lesions were found on his liver, raising cancer concerns.
Doctors treated this with radiation and gave him instructions through a virtual reality headset that showed someone telling him in sign language what to do.
Mr. Sanchez has yet to be declared cancer-free.
He is currently undergoing radiation to treat lesions in his pelvis. After that, doctors will do more tests to find out if his 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 discuss vulnerabilities very often. So it’s a serious matter that needs to be communicated more.”
Hemorrhoids affect about half of Americans at some point in their lives.
They are typically caused by extra pressure on the anus, likely from straining to have a bowel movement, constipation, heavy lifting, prolonged standing, and aging. They can also be caused by pregnancy.
By way of comparison, colon cancer – or bowel cancer in the UK – is usually thought of as a ‘disease of old age’, typically not appearing until someone is over 55 years old.
Colorectal cancer rates have increased in adults aged 20 to 49. Scientists say that more than 40 percent of diagnoses occur in the 45 to 49 year olds
dr Ryan Williams, an oncologist at Bayfront Health in New Jersey, previously explained the warning signs of hemorrhoids.
“A stool with blood, small lumps at the anal opening, or pain could be serious,” he said.
“In most cases, the problem stems from a benign condition called hemorrhoids.
“But sometimes the same symptoms can indicate the presence of colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer death.”
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 frequently finds red stains on the toilet should get checked out.
Colon cancer usually begins in the lining, or innermost lining, of the intestine.
But when the tumor forms, it can damage blood vessels lining the colon, leading to bleeding. As the stool passes through the colon, it can then mix with the blood, causing blood to appear in the toilet bowel.
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 turn very dark in color instead of red. Doctors say this should not be overlooked.
Change in bowel habits
Changing the frequency of going to the toilet can also be a warning sign of colon cancer.
People with the condition may suddenly start going to the bathroom less often.
They may also begin to suffer from constipation or diarrhea for a long time, or have “pencil-shaped” stools.
These shifts occur because the tumor narrows a person’s rectum, making it harder to go to the bathroom more regularly and interfering with digestion.
Cold hands and feet
Suddenly cold hands and feet could also be a warning sign of cancer, doctors say.
People with cancer often face anemia, a condition in which not enough oxygen-rich blood cells travel around the body.
This happens because they bleed frequently in the rectum, depleting the blood supply in the body.
The reduction causes the body to conserve blood for the internal organs and send less to the extremities – hands and feet – resulting in a drop in temperature.
stomach pain
Doctors say people with colon cancer may also face dull and constant abdominal pain.
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 patients who experience it to get checked out.
Unexplained weight loss
Another sign of cancer is unexpected weight loss, doctors say.
As the tumor grows, it can begin to disrupt the way the body processes food, causing it to extract fewer calories from food. That means they burn more calories per day, which leads to weight loss.
The cancer can also speed up a person’s metabolism by turbocharging the immune system to fight the cancer, further fueling weight loss.
Digestive problems can also cause someone to eat less food than normal.
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