Man’s Constipation Misdiagnosis Leads to Terminal Bowel Cancer Revelation
A father from Missouri has recounted how initial symptoms mistaken for simple constipation were, in fact, indicative of terminal bowel cancer.
Shawn Michael, 48, of Springfield, Missouri, shared his poignant diagnosis in a YouTube video last month, amassing nearly 100,000 views.
He disclosed that the cancer had metastasized to several vital organs. However, he expressed optimism, believing chemotherapy, coupled with his age and overall good health, would bolster his “fighting chance.”
Initial Symptoms Mistaken for Constipation
Mr. Michael, who relocated to Missouri to assist with his family’s classic car parts business, first experienced difficulty with bowel movements in October of the previous year.
When over-the-counter laxatives proved ineffective, he sought medical attention at an urgent care facility.
He was prescribed medication he described as ‘napalm for your intestines,’ which initially eased his discomfort.
Despite symptom relief, Mr. Michael sensed something was still amiss.
“Two days later I could still physically feel something inside of me,” he stated.
Discovery of Advanced Bowel Cancer
Experiencing intense pain, Mr. Michael initially suspected fecal impaction.
However, consuming a fizzy drink triggered severe pain, leading him to believe the issue was far more serious.
“I took one sip and it felt like someone shot me in the gut, it was so painful,” he recalled.
Returning to urgent care, medical professionals conducted a CT scan, revealing a mass in his colon.
“[The nurse] informed me the indications there were for stage four colon cancer,” he explained, highlighting the rapid pace of medical attention as an indicator of severity.
His immediate concern shifted to informing his wife of the grave news.
Following a difficult phone call, his wife rushed to his side. A surgeon explained that scans revealed a significant blockage in his colon requiring immediate surgery, along with other concerning masses.
Mr. Michael underwent prompt surgery to remove a substantial portion of his colon.
Surgical Findings and Cancer Spread
Upon waking from surgery, he sought to understand the full extent of the surgical findings and whether all cancerous tissue had been removed.
The surgeon detailed the extensive obstruction in his colon, expressing surprise it had not ruptured. They also discovered numerous large, cancer-like tumors on his omentum, a fatty tissue layer surrounding the colon.
Mr. Michael noted a silver lining, stating, “That was actually kind of a lucky break that it had attached to that fatty tissue there. That had been able to help slow down the progression to the other organs.”
Doctors also removed seven lymph nodes containing cancerous tissue.
Despite the surgeon’s assurance of removing all visible cancer during surgery, subsequent tests revealed the disease had spread to his liver, spleen, and lungs – confirming stage four cancer.
“That’s where it is sitting currently and what we’re hoping to kill off with chemo,” he said.
Medical professionals have refrained from giving a specific prognosis, emphasizing that his age and general health offer a “very good shot at fighting this.”
Treatment Plan: Chemotherapy and HIPEC
“Our plan currently is to do three months of chemo,” Mr. Michael stated.
Following chemotherapy, he is scheduled to undergo Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).
This procedure involves circulating heated chemotherapy drugs directly into his abdominal cavity to target remaining cancer cells in the torso, which houses digestive organs.
HIPEC is often utilized for abdominal cancers as standard chemotherapy methods can be less effective in reaching this area. It aims to improve long-term outcomes for patients with advanced-stage cancers in this region.
Patient’s Positive Update and Rising Bowel Cancer Rates in Younger Adults
Mr. Michael, who previously described himself as “active,” mentioned the difficulty of prolonged rest during treatment.
In a recent update on TikTok, Mr. Michael shared encouraging news of a scan showing “no evidence of disease or active tumours.”
His case emerges amidst a concerning global increase in bowel cancer diagnoses among individuals under 50.
The Alarming Trend of Early-Onset Bowel Cancer
Experts are still investigating the precise causes behind this rise in younger-onset bowel cancer cases.
Potential contributing factors under consideration include poor dietary habits, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, obesity, and insufficient physical activity.
A study from late last year indicated that bowel cancer rates in adults aged 25 to 49 have risen in 27 out of 50 countries surveyed over the decade leading up to 2017.
Regional Increases in Bowel Cancer Cases
The most significant increases were observed in:
- Chile (4% annual average rise)
- New Zealand (4%)
- Puerto Rico (3.8%)
- England (3.6%)
Separate data from Cancer Research UK indicates a 52% increase in bowel cancer incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s.
Conversely, rates in older demographics, statistically more prone to the disease overall, have either decreased or remained stable during the same period.
Approximately 2,600 new bowel cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the UK among individuals aged 25-49, with 44,100 new cases across all age groups.
Notable Cases and Future Projections
Numerous personal accounts of young individuals diagnosed with bowel cancer have surfaced in recent years.
A prominent example is Deborah James, known as “bowel babe,” diagnosed at 35, who raised substantial funds for cancer charities before her death in 2022.
Analyses project a rise of 2,500 bowel cancer deaths per year in the UK between now and 2040.
Concurrently, the number of people diagnosed with the disease in the UK is anticipated to increase by about 10% within the same timeframe.
Bowel cancer currently causes nearly 17,000 deaths annually in Britain, with only half of those diagnosed expected to survive 10 years post-diagnosis.
Recognizing Bowel Cancer Symptoms
Constipation is a widespread health issue, affecting an estimated one in seven adults in the UK at any given time.
Other bowel cancer symptoms to be aware of include:
- Rectal bleeding or blood in stools
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal lump
- Bloating
- Unexplained fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
Individuals experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more are advised to consult their general practitioner for medical advice.