Stunned 86-Year-Old Florida Retiree Taking Iron Pills Gets Colon Cancer Diagnosis After ‘Paralyzing’ Stomach Pain

Hope for Older Colon Cancer Patients

• Alice Sherman, 87, was taking some iron pills for anemia, which is when you have a low level of healthy red blood cells, when she started experiencing “paralyzing” pain in her midsection. Thankfully she went to get medical help, and was shocked to discover she had stage 3 colon cancer.
• One of the most common signs of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits. This ranges from constipation or diarrhea to changes in the size or shape of bowel movements. A change in stool color, particularly black or tarry stools, can indicate bleeding from a tumor that lies deep in the colon.
• When it comes to colon cancer prevention, screening is now recommended for everyone after the age of 45.
• While catching colon cancer early is optimal, it’s important to know that even people diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, though incurable at this stage, are able to manage it more as a chronic disease, therefore it’s still possible to live an active life.

87-year-old Alice Sherman, in a personal essay for Newsweek , says she was taking some "heavy-duty" iron pills for anemia, which is when you have a low level of healthy red blood cells, when she started experiencing "paralyzing" pain in her midsection. Thankfully she went to get medical help, and was shocked to discover she had stage 3 colon cancer. The CAT scan that her primary care doctor had ordered showed a "thickening" in her colon, she recalled. "My doctor immediately ordered a colonoscopy. I was 86 at the time and skeptical, but she insisted. Two days later, the doctor called and told me he had made an appointment with a surgeon," the St. Petersburg, Florida native continued, explaining her next procedure: "He'd make a small incision in my stomach, pull out the colon, cut and clean it, then sew it back." RELATED : Facing a Cancer Diagnosis — Tips to Help Manage the Process "It sounded simple enough," Alice added, noting that she was told she'd be in the hospital for three or four days. "No one told me why I needed the procedure, but as usual, I just went along with the program."

Alice said she was released as soon as her "bowels were functioning properly. The surgeon then "urged" her to see an oncologist. "I did, and two weeks later, the oncologist revealed I had Stage 3 colon cancer." Alice said she was "stunned" because she felt "perfectly fine — how could I be dying?" RELATED : Does Alcohol Impact the Risks for Colon and Other Cancers? The thought of all the treatment was "bewildering," she wrote. Luckily, Alice's PET scan did not show any cancer outside of that area. "The surgeon had removed 17 lymph nodes, two of which were diseased. My primary doctor was ecstatic about the results, though I didn't fully grasp the significance." One thing Alice did know: "I felt incredibly lucky to conquer Stage 3 cancer without any further treatment." RELATED : Famous TV Dating Coach, 51, Gets Shocking Colon Cancer Diagnosis– Gratitude As Surgery ‘Couldn’t Have Gone Any Better’ However, considering the advanced stage of the cancer, it was recommended to go on a chemo pill "as a precaution." And though Alice said she has a strong heart, clear lungs and eats a good died, she's very sensitive in general with side effects. "When I told the oncologist, she agreed with my decision but will continue to monitor me." As for her current health and mindset? "A year later, I am doing so well. I see the oncologist and cardiologist regularly and visit other specialists as needed. Every night, I thank God for a wonderful day and pray for my family, friends, and other survivors."

Understanding Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a type of cancer that affects your large intestine (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum). Your doctor might call this type of cancer colorectal cancer. The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. If you don't have these polyps removed, they can sometimes change into cancer.  It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become a full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts. If you get the recommended screenings , your doctor will likely have time to remove any polyps that form before they can cause problems. While experts don't know exactly what causes colon cancer, they do point to certain risk factors, such as diet, smoking tobacco, and drinking alcohol. Having a family history of colorectal cancer can also increase the risk. Dr. Heather Yeo explains what we know about alcohol and colon cancer risk. Both men and women can get colon cancer. Overall, it is the third most common cancer in the United States — but it’s also very preventable with the recommended screenings.

What Increases Your Risk for Colon Cancer?

Risk factors are things that make you more likely to get colon cancer. They don't mean that you'll definitely get this cancer — only that you're slightly more likely to be diagnosed. You may be at greater risk for colon cancer if you:

• Are older. About 90% of cases are in people age 50 or older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Yet it is possible to get this cancer earlier in life.
• Have inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can, over time, cause cells in your intestines to turn cancerous.
• Have a family history of this cancer. Just under one-third of people who get colon cancer have family members with the disease.
• Have a gene mutation. About 5% of colorectal cancers are caused by an inherited genetic mutation that causes syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
• Don't exercise very often. Staying active can lower your risk.
• Eat a diet that's high in meat. Regularly eating red meats like burgers and steaks, and processed meats such as hot dogs and bacon might put you at higher risk.  Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead might lower your risk.
• Are overweight or obese. Having too much weight increases your risk of both getting colon cancer, and of dying from it.
• Drink a lot of alcohol. Limiting alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks daily for men could help lower your risk.
• Use tobacco. Long-term smokers are more likely to get this cancer than are nonsmokers.

Environmental risk factors such as smoking and obesity are important in the development of colon cancer before age 50. Yet, up to a third of people who develop cancer at a younger age have a genetic condition that puts them at high risk. For that reason, it is important for people of all ages to pay attention to changes in their body or bowel habits.  Weight loss, blood in the stool, and changes in bowel movements that don't go away are worth seeing your doctor about.

Colon Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Older 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 the proportion of cases in people younger than 55 “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.” Researchers are still trying to determine exactly 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." 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 continued. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem." In 2021, the American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.

Get Comfortable Discussing Bowel Movements

It's not unusual for people to be uncomfortable discussing bowel movements and anxious about the prospect of a colonoscopy, which may lead them to ignore symptoms. “You shouldn’t die from embarrassment,” Dr. Zuri Murrell , a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, said in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet. There are many doctors, like Dr. Murrell, who believe it’s necessary to rattle the cages to make people aware of the critical importance of screening, especially among some population groups who are at higher risk for the disease. ‘You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment’: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented Explaining symptoms, Dr. Paul Oberstein , medical oncologist and assistant director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet “the most common sign of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits.” “That could range from constipation or diarrhea to changes in the size or shape of bowel movements,” Dr. Oberstein explained. “You could also notice a change in stool color, particularly black or tarry stools, which can indicate bleeding from a tumor deep in the colon.” Even if you have zero symptoms and feel completely healthy, it’s critical to get in and get checked. Schedule your appointment today.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may want to 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?
• What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff