1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Wellness un Mass. I'm doctor Nicole Sapphire. 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: Well today's episode it is a tough one, but it's 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 1: a very important one because I'm going to be sitting 4 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: down with a mom who is living with stage four 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: colon cancer metastatic colon cancer, meaning the cancer has gone 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 1: beyond the colon and it has spread to distant. 7 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 2: Parts of the body. 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: And she's sharing her story with the kind of honesty 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: that can really change how people pay attention to symptoms, 10 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: advocating for yourself when you go to the doctor, and 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: potentially risk factors, but more importantly, what it's like living 12 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: with a cancer diagnosis. Here's the reality. Colon rectal cancer, 13 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: meaning colon cancers and rectal cancers. It's absolutely rising in adults, 14 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: especially younger adults. In the United States. The incidence is 15 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: increasing about three percent per year for those ages twenty 16 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: to forty nine. Even as rates are dropping in older adults, 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: they're actually rising in younger adults. The reason they're dropping 18 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: in the older adults is because older adults are getting 19 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: colonoscopies and they're finding those pre cancerous polyps and having 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: them removed. So the rates of polyps turning into colon 21 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: cancer in older adults going down because they're getting those 22 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: pre cancerous lusions removed. But unfortunately, younger people who are 23 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: not getting screened in colonoscopies are being diagnosed with colon 24 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: cancer at an increased rate. So people born around nineteen 25 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: ninety have about double the risk of colon cancer and 26 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: about quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared to those 27 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: born around nineteen fifty. Now, yes, colonoscopies have a part 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 1: in it, but it's also due to some other things. 29 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: Today we're going to unpack a little bit about why, 30 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: what to watch for, and what you can do, including 31 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: risk factors, screening recommendations, and some practical things that you 32 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: can do. So if you've ever brushed off, I know 33 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: you don't want to hear about this, but recteal bleeding, 34 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: you know, bright red blood in the toilet, persistent changes 35 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: in your bow habits, you've been told that you have 36 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: anemia but no one knows why, or you're losing weight. 37 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: This is your sign right now to stop ignoring it. 38 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: Joining us now is Elizabeth Price. She has put together 39 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: a beautiful children's book which I have spent time going over. 40 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: Not only did she write it, but she was also 41 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: the illustrator, which I was incredibly impressed by, and so 42 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: I think everyone will be inspired by her and we'll 43 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 1: learn something. 44 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 2: Just by hearing her story. So I would love to 45 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: dive right in. Elizabeth. Thank you so much for joining, 46 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. So I want 47 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: to just start first. Let's introduce you. 48 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: You were a chiropractor for over a couple of decades. 49 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: You're a mother, but you were also given a pretty 50 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: tough diagnoses many years ago. Tell us about that. 51 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, So when I turned fifty and decided to do 52 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 3: all the right things and go ahead my mammogram and 53 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 3: went and had my colonoscopy without any family history, I 54 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,399 Speaker 3: came out of the colonoscopy with doctors waiting to tell 55 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 3: me that I had Colly cancer. That following shortly after that, 56 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 3: I had found out that it had already spread to 57 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 3: my lungs and that I was stage four And. 58 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: At that time the. 59 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 3: Diagnosis was a two two to five year survival rate. 60 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 2: And how long ago was that? When was that? 61 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 3: That was in twenty seventeen, So that was eight and 62 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 3: a half years ago. 63 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: You've already defined. 64 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: Yes, I'm on paper, I may not look great, but 65 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 3: mentally and on my every day and to my family 66 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 3: and friends, I'm in a different you know, I don't 67 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 3: feel any different than anyone else most days, and I 68 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 3: just i'm more I'm more considering myself living with it, 69 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 3: with living with cancer than and fighting it. 70 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: But you were given the diagnosis, You're told it was advanced, 71 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: and what pursued surgery, chemotherapy, what was your treatment like? 72 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 3: So for the first thing that they did was they 73 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: found out that it was stage four and that I 74 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 3: did have spread to my lungs. And then I started 75 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 3: on a chemotherapy path and radiation and surgery. And at 76 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 3: this moment today, I've had a one hundred and forty 77 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 3: four rounds of chemotherapy. I have had twelve major surgeries. 78 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 3: I've had ten rounds of radiation. 79 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 2: I have. 80 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 3: Been under anesthesia about twenty two to twenty five times. 81 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 3: I've lost count I am awaiting a liver resection in 82 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 3: three days, and I still have significant disease, and I'm. 83 00:04:58,279 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 2: Okay with that. 84 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 3: It's, you know, it's I've almost accepted that this is 85 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 3: my journey. I have to grieve my old life and 86 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 3: I just have to go on living this life and 87 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 3: I have a family and kids, and I have a 88 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: very strong faith and an incredible group of friends, and I. 89 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: Moved forward day by day. 90 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: So tell us what it's like hearing the words I 91 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: have cancer. 92 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 2: When you have kids at home. How old were they? 93 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: How did you so? 94 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 3: When I was first diagnosed, my children were five and ten, 95 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 3: and it was devastating. It was almost it was almost unreal, 96 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 3: like I because I didn't have any family history, because 97 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 3: I was going to the gym, and I was walking, 98 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 3: and I was very active and very big social life, 99 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 3: very big family life, traveling, and it just seemed very unreal. 100 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 3: And the first thing you do is you look up 101 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 3: and you google stage four cancer and you don't see 102 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: anything that you want to hear, and then it is terrifying. 103 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 3: It was terrifying, and I still have days where I'm terrified. 104 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 3: I still I have not in the eight and a 105 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 3: half years, I have never heard that I'm in remission. 106 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 2: I've never heard that there's no sign of disease now. 107 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 3: So it's something that it takes a long time to 108 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 3: come to terms with it. I am years and years, 109 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 3: but when I do get down, I. 110 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: Turned to my faith. 111 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 3: I talked to my friends and I listen to other 112 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 3: people in my situation who have defied the odds, and 113 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 3: that reminds me that it's not up to the doctors, 114 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:55,119 Speaker 3: it's not up to statistics. And I had a woman 115 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 3: once tell me, only you know, only God determines when 116 00:06:58,120 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 3: you're terminal. 117 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: So these things keep me going. 118 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean a lot of our day to day 119 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: is so much of our mental and emotional health, just 120 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: as much as it is our physical health. And how 121 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: you wake up, and you know, kind of the intention 122 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: you set for the day certainly helps with how the 123 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: day turns out. 124 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: Tell us when you were. 125 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: Given the diagnosis and kind of through the course of 126 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: all of this treatment, what was the biggest thing that 127 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: you found that you didn't expect? You know, what everyone 128 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: knows someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Everyone has heard, 129 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: you know, one story from another, But what are What's 130 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: something that kind of surprised you. 131 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 3: When I first started chemotherapy and I made it through 132 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 3: the first at that time, my chemotherapy was a seven 133 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 3: hour drip one day and eight hour drip the next day. 134 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 3: I went home with it attached, and I came back 135 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 3: two days later, and I thought, after the first time, 136 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: I'm like, wow, I can do this, Like I can 137 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 3: do this. 138 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: And then I went the next time and it was 139 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: a little less of a wow, I can do this. 140 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: And I think what surprised me is that chemotherapy gets 141 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 3: harder as you do it, So every time that you 142 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 3: do it, it's a little bit harder. 143 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: It stays in your body, it's a little bit harder. 144 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: I think that that was more of the. 145 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 3: Surprise than I was thinking, all right, I have this 146 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 3: because I did it once. I think also there's a 147 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 3: lot of there's so much good and doctors and nurses 148 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 3: that treat you, and there's there are some that are 149 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 3: just so realistic. 150 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: About the disease, and. 151 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 3: You have to really know yourself and trust in yourself 152 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 3: and trust in what other people are saying to make it. 153 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: Through all the hard days. 154 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: What was you, know, for for your friends surrounding you 155 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: and once you kind of share your diagnosis with them, 156 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: what were some of the things that they did that 157 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: you know looking back and are still doing for you. 158 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 2: I mean this is an ongoing process. 159 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: For you, Like what is like the best thing that 160 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: they have done for you that has really helped you through. 161 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:13,839 Speaker 2: All of this? 162 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 3: From day one when I was first diagnosed. My children 163 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 3: go to Parochio School, and the mothers of my children, 164 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 3: the class mothers, a bunch of them got together and 165 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 3: started a prayer group, started a rosary group for me, 166 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 3: and eight and a half years later, we are all 167 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 3: still together. And they were actually they were the force 168 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 3: behind this book. Even I brought them my ideas and 169 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 3: I brought them some of the paintings that I did 170 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 3: while watching TV, and they just rallied behind my entire family, 171 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 3: and they rallied behind my kids, and they're because it's scary. 172 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 3: I mean, I had phone calls from moms saying, oh, 173 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 3: my son heard something really bad happened to you, and 174 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 3: you know, with everything on TV and the my mom's 175 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 3: just really took me in and we just became a family. 176 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 2: And we're still a family. 177 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 3: Like it's just we're like a pack that I don't 178 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 3: think will ever be separated. And I think that's so 179 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 3: important to have people around you that are going to 180 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 3: keep you feeling safe and know that I'll be in 181 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 3: the hospital this coming weekend and my daughter's birthdays this 182 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 3: coming weekend, and I'm not at all worried about how 183 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 3: that's going to go down, because I know that I 184 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: have this pack of women who are going to make 185 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 3: sure that my daughter has like the best birthday ever, 186 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 3: and that everyone has food and people are that everyone's 187 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 3: taken care of. It's been an unbelievable gift, Like they're 188 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 3: a blessing. It's really been an amazing gift. 189 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: So you brought up the book. Tell us about this 190 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 1: book that you created. I have a sitting right in 191 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: front of me. I mean, it's absolutely stunning. It's called mom. 192 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 1: I know what you have Parenting with Joy through a 193 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: Journey with Cancer. Tell us about how you came up 194 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: with the idea, the process. 195 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 2: And what it means to you. Yeah. 196 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 3: So one of the big things we did not know 197 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 3: how to talk to our children about cancer at the time. 198 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,239 Speaker 3: We didn't use the word in the house, mostly because television, 199 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 3: the commercials, they show people dying or you know, in 200 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 3: horrible situations, and then we didn't want them to think. 201 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 2: That I was going to die, and we just didn't 202 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: use the word. 203 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 3: My son one time saw on the hospital wall said 204 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 3: cancer center and he asked my husband about it, and 205 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 3: my husband played it off, well that's part of the 206 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 3: hospital here, that's not part of here. 207 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: And then one day. I'm in my room and we 208 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 2: didn't tell them you had cancer. You kind of know 209 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: we did in the beginning, we did not. In the beginning, 210 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 2: we did not. 211 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 3: It was it was a little while in and I 212 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 3: was upstairs laying in bed, and my son was downstairs 213 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 3: and he started yelling, mom, Mom, came here. And I 214 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 3: came out of my room and we have a second 215 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 3: story with that overlooks down. 216 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 2: To the front hallway, and I started. 217 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 3: He was standing with his back against the front door, 218 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 3: and I started to go downstairs, and he put up 219 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,839 Speaker 3: his hand and he said, Mom, stop. 220 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 2: I said okay, and. 221 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 3: He motions for me to go back upstairs. So I'm 222 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 3: standing up at the railing and I'm looking down on him. 223 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 3: I'm like, what's up, kiddo. And he's a long silence 224 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 3: and he's just looking at me and was very serious, 225 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 3: and he said, Mom, I know what you have. 226 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 2: And it broke me. It just was it was the 227 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 2: moment that it hit I have cancer. And my children 228 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 2: are so young, and I don't want them to not 229 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 2: have a mother. I don't want them. I have a 230 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 2: lot of faith. 231 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 4: I I walk through life knowing that when I leave 232 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 4: this earth that I am going to feel so good, 233 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 4: and I will have my old body back, and I 234 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 4: will be at peace, and I will be with God, and. 235 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 3: I will peemp pain, and I won't have trouble walking, 236 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 3: and I won't have trouble sitting, and I won't have 237 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 3: to say to my kids, I'm too tired. But I 238 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 3: want them to have that mom that I had. I 239 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 3: want them to have the mom that has over the 240 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 3: top birthday parties and that will still go on the 241 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 3: roller coaster, and. 242 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 2: Everything I do is so that they won't have. 243 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 3: The life that I really grew up with great parents 244 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 3: and a great mom. 245 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:33,079 Speaker 2: So I'm okay with the pain. 246 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 3: I'm okay with the one hundred and forty four rounds of 247 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 3: chemo as long as it keeps me here long enough 248 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,359 Speaker 3: to just be a mom. 249 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 2: And make sure that they have a mom. 250 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 3: So I just with every little milestone that they hit 251 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 3: in life, and that they have hit graduations other things, 252 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 3: I'm just so glad that I get to be there. 253 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 3: And I think, Okay, I made it high school graduation, 254 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 3: and I made it to tell my son's prom pictures, 255 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 3: and now I look forward to the weddings and I 256 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 3: just keep thinking I'm gonna be there to dance with 257 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 3: my son, And it definitely is something when you have 258 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 3: cancer and you're diagnosed with how I'm diagnosed. I went 259 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 3: to a wedding and when they had the mother son dance, 260 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 3: I had to run into the bathroom and it hit 261 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 3: me like a ton of bricks. So I have to 262 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 3: fight those moments and just remember and keep telling myself 263 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 3: it's okay, I'm going to be there for that. I'm 264 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 3: going to be there for that. 265 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: You're listening to wellness and mass, We'll be right back 266 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: with more. So you're taking your experience and channeling a 267 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: lot of that emotion to try and help others, and 268 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: that is yes. 269 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 2: Yes. 270 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 3: So then because there were things that we did to 271 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 3: stay like I didn't. 272 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 2: We didn't put me in a room and shut the door. 273 00:14:58,560 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 3: One of the things which I show in the book 274 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 3: as my kids put tents in the bedroom and they 275 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 3: slept in my bedroom for years. I mean they really 276 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: just and if they weren't sleeping there, they would come 277 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 3: after home after school and read their books and their. 278 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: Tents while I was sleeping. 279 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 3: So it's just some fun activities that we did. And 280 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 3: my husband and I would always make sure that you know, 281 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: they saw me as not this is my sick. 282 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 2: Mom in bed. 283 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 3: And so we did fun things and I thought, if 284 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 3: I can put these in a book and help one 285 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 3: other family make light of some of the trauma, that 286 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 3: it wouldn't be so traumatizing. 287 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: And were the killing these illustrations? Were you an artist 288 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: before you made this? Because it's beautiful? 289 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 2: Thank you. 290 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 3: I've never I did not go to art school. I 291 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 3: have my I mean my mother was artistic, her father 292 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 3: was artistic. So maybe it's just something that came down 293 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 3: the line. But I do get cravings to paint and 294 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: I get cravings to draw, and uh so I did 295 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 3: them while watching TV and watching the news and and 296 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 3: and then I brought the pictures and my phone, which 297 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 3: I had like just talked to the book and my 298 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 3: phone to the Rosary group. So I kind of had 299 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 3: this idea, but I know, I'll just put it in 300 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 3: a corner of the room and it'll end up there. 301 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 3: And the women just took it and were like, can 302 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 3: we do this, because we need to do this, And 303 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 3: they had it published in like a month and and 304 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: we've taken we had they had to go fund me 305 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 3: set up, and we had a bunch of books printed 306 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 3: and now we've donated them to cancer centers. If anyone's listening, 307 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 3: they can reach out. I'm happy to donate from the 308 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 3: books that we have been able to buy. 309 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: With the donations to anyone you need to actually where 310 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: can people actually find it if they wanted to go 311 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: and find it. 312 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 3: They can find it Barnes and Noble, Amazon, any major 313 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 3: book platform there are, Mom. 314 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: I know what you have by Elizabeth Price for people 315 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: who are watching, and we will put a link when 316 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: I post this on social media everyone, So for those 317 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: of you who follow me on social media, you will 318 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: find it. So now that the book is out and 319 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,719 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're getting some feedback, you know, tell us 320 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: a little bit about you know, where where are you at? 321 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: You just you kind of alluded that you have an 322 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: upcoming surgery coming, But how are you doing right? 323 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 3: So right now I have a significant amount of spread 324 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 3: on my liver and I have about twenty four masses 325 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 3: in my lungs. The biggest, bigger ones are the size 326 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 3: of about golf balls, and because of previous lung surgeries, 327 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 3: I only have oh, probably like one and a half 328 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 3: one and three quarters long left anyway, So surgery to 329 00:17:58,960 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 3: take those out. 330 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 2: This is not something that's going to happen. 331 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 3: But they're gonna try to take the cancer off my 332 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 3: liver within the next week and we're hopeful about that, 333 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 3: and then I'll just continue on whatever the next steps are. 334 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 3: I'm trying to do as best as I can holistically, 335 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 3: and I have a great oncologist who, you know, he 336 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 3: just keeps telling me all you gotta do is make 337 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 3: it till the next chemot comes out, and you know, 338 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 3: we just keep switching that up and I'll get there. 339 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 2: I'll get there. I'm determined. So he sounds strong. He 340 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 2: looks strong, didn't. 341 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm sure you notice this, But since your diagnosis, 342 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: the American Cancer Society has changed their screening recommendations from oh, 343 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 1: fifty when you got. 344 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 2: Yours to age forty five. 345 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, well, considering that they really determined that I've 346 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 3: had this long. You know that I had it since 347 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 3: I was at least forty five. I mean, there was 348 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 3: no reason for me to think it forty five that 349 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 3: I should go get a colonoscopy. And I'm so thankful 350 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 3: that they have changed it now because I know that 351 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 3: my outcome would be completely different. I mean, if they 352 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 3: catch it early. I mean, it's somewhat curable in most 353 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 3: people if you can catch it early. So I'm a 354 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 3: huge advocate for go get your colonoscopy, and if you 355 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: think there's a problem and you're not forty five, go. 356 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 2: There and demand it anyway. 357 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 3: I mean, you don't have to wait for a doctor 358 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,879 Speaker 3: to tell you you're not forty five yet. If you 359 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 3: have even like the slightest hint that something might be wrong, 360 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 3: don't let anyone tell. 361 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 2: You that you're just being, you know, a hypochondriac. There's 362 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 2: nothing wrong with you. Just have it checked. 363 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: Unfortunately, that happens a good amount, especially in women. We 364 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: kind of get told that our belly pains are just 365 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: belly pains and we can just deal with them. 366 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's so true. I mean, everyone needs to listen 367 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 3: to their inner self when it comes to their health. 368 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 3: And I've seen a lot of doctors along the way. 369 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,880 Speaker 3: I've gone through a lot of doctors. When I see 370 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 3: a doctor who may want to give me an expiration date, 371 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 3: I thank him very much and then I move on 372 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 3: and I get some other opinions, and I think that, 373 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 3: you know, the age being moved back to forty five 374 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 3: is excellent but I don't think that people should be like, well, 375 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 3: I don't have to do it till forty five, because 376 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 3: look at me. I waited because I thought, oh, I 377 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 3: don't have to do it until I'm fifty, and do you. 378 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 2: Have any symptoms looking back? 379 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 3: Looking back, there were some signs that were there the problem, 380 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 3: or I shouldn't say it was a problem. 381 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 2: But I had my daughter at forty five and I preclamsy. 382 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 3: They had to take her a little bit early, and 383 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 3: so some of the symptoms I had afterwards were attributed 384 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 3: to that rather than being checked out. So some things 385 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 3: that I complained about, they were, oh, you know, it's 386 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 3: it's because you had this difficult birth. In hindsight, I 387 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 3: should have gone and acted on the symptoms that I 388 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 3: was having, because. 389 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 2: So I can educate other people. 390 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: Are you talking about possibly some like blood in the 391 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: rectum or blood in your stool. 392 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 2: Some blood. 393 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 3: Don't let anyone tell you it's hemorrhoids until they've gone 394 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 3: in and looked to see whether or not it's hemorrhoids. 395 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 3: I had difficulty sometimes passing school. 396 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 2: And going to the bathroom. 397 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: My tumor was three milimeters inside the rectum, and that's 398 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 3: why I was having difficulty. 399 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 2: Don't let anyone. 400 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 3: Tell you you have a prolapsed rectum without doing a 401 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 3: exam and actually going in and seeing, because most of 402 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 3: the time those are not pro last victums. 403 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 2: Most of the times those are due to tumors. So 404 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 2: there was a looking back on it. 405 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 3: Yes, there was a long list of things that I 406 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 3: just put full trust into, you know, my medical doctors, 407 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 3: who I do. You know, I put full trust into 408 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 3: my doctors now, but I I take accountability for myself 409 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 3: and I you know, you have to not let anyone say, oh, 410 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 3: it's okay, but we don't have to check that it's 411 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 3: not the norm. 412 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, as you know doctor obviously being a doctor myself, 413 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: you know, we definitely have a balance of you know, 414 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: chasing the zebras or just assuming the you know, the 415 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: hoof steps that we're hearing in the park or a 416 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: horse probably they're probably not a zebra. And so when 417 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: a woman who had a difficult pregnancy, you know, the 418 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: internal hemorrhoids extremely common and so to have you know, 419 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: bright red blood per rectum, you know in the toilet. 420 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: Common things being common, it is a bleeding internal hemorrhoid 421 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: because you don't really feel them, But you're absolutely right, 422 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: I mean, and significantly less common. 423 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: It's colon cancer. 424 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: Unfortunately, it's becoming more common these days, especially in younger people. 425 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: But the reality is, you know, you can tip the 426 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: scale either way every person who shows up with a 427 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: little bit of blood. We can't send everyone for a colonoscopia. 428 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: That probably doesn't make sense, however, the reality is, you know, 429 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: people know their bodies better than anyone else, and if 430 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: they're telling you there's something wrong, you should probably do 431 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: your due diligence to look into it. And I think 432 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: as colon cancer is becoming more and more common, you know, 433 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: I really do hope that women are dismissed less. 434 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 2: Than historically we have been. It would be wonderful if 435 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 2: that ends up being the case. If we talk loud enough, 436 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 2: it will more. 437 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: Coming up on Wellness Unmasked with doctor Nicholson fire, are 438 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: there any like takeaways that you have been finding just 439 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: on a day to day like things that you do 440 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: that make you feel good, whether physically or mentally, you know, 441 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: kind of despite everything that's going on. 442 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 3: Honestly, I mean, if anyone is in my position right now, 443 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 3: and there are going to be bad days and they're 444 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 3: going to be you know, good days, and on my 445 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 3: bad days, sometimes it helps for me to listen to 446 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 3: podcasts and listen to others in my position who have 447 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 3: beat the odds, and it's so encouraging to hear people 448 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 3: who have staged four and are living life, and who 449 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 3: have stage four and have beat it and are not 450 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 3: stage four anymore and have no size of disease. 451 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 2: There's going to be bad days. 452 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 3: I mean, I definitely there is a physical toll of 453 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 3: having cancer, but you just have to you have to 454 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,479 Speaker 3: just I think once I got to the point of 455 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 3: acceptance and this is who I am, and you have 456 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 3: faith in that it's what it's supposed to be. I 457 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 3: think it makes life a little bit easier. And if 458 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 3: you have children, they know more and they see more 459 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 3: than you think they do, and it's better to talk 460 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 3: to them when you can and include them in as 461 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 3: much as you can so that they're not scared, so 462 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 3: they don't go to bed at night thinking, oh, my 463 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: mom's going to die, because that's the last thing you 464 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 3: want them to think. 465 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 2: If anything, you want them just to know, Okay, my mom's. 466 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 3: Sick, but she's going to get better and one and 467 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 3: have faith and absolutely have faith. 468 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: Well, thank you so much for creating this beautiful children's book. 469 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 2: Mom, I know what you have. 470 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 1: I think I think it was cathartic for you, and 471 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: it was wonderful that your friends all helped you. But 472 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: this book will obviously help so many others who are 473 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: potentially going through the same journey as you are. 474 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,479 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you so much for having me. All right. 475 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 1: Well, if today's conversation, you know, hit you in the 476 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 1: gut like it did mine and you got a little emotional, 477 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: all I can say is good, because this is one 478 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: of those moments where awareness can literally change outcomes and 479 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 1: it can save your life. Coal a rectal cancer. It's 480 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: not an older person's disease anymore. Like I said, rates 481 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,479 Speaker 1: are rising in younger adults, and deaths have been creeping 482 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: up in people under fifty. As I mentioned when I 483 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: was talking to Elizabeth. When Elizabeth was fifty, the recommendation 484 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: was to get your first colonoscopy if you don't have 485 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: family history, at the age of fifty. So that's what 486 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,120 Speaker 1: she did. She was following the rules, she was doing 487 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: everything right. She had her colonoscopy at fifty, but she 488 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: already had advanced. 489 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 2: Coal and cancer. 490 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 1: Well, we've gotten smart to the fact that these rates 491 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:58,919 Speaker 1: are rising, which is why in the last few years 492 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 1: the new recommendations are even without family history of colon cancer, 493 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 1: you should be getting a colonoscopy at the age of 494 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 1: forty five. I have a feeling that's going to go 495 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 1: a little bit lower. If you have a family history 496 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,399 Speaker 1: of colon cancer at all, I think you will definitely 497 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: should be getting your colonoscopy before forty five. Really, it 498 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 1: should be about ten years younger than when your family 499 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: member was diagnosed. So if your parent was diagnosed with 500 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: colon cancer at fifty, you should be getting a colonoscopy 501 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: at forty. And if you have any symptoms, whether you 502 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 1: have respectors like family history or not, those symptoms rectal bleeding, 503 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: bowel changes like constipation, unexplained anemia, unexplained weight loss, not 504 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: because you're on a GLP one, but all of a 505 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: sudden you're just losing weight. Do not let anyone dismiss you. 506 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: You have to advocate for yourself. Yes, we all need 507 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: to be increasing our fiber, we all need to be 508 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 1: increasing our hydration. These can affect your bowl habits too. 509 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: But if you've already tried to increase your fiber and 510 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: increase hydration, and you're still having issues, you absolutely need 511 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: to go to a doctor. 512 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 2: Why are more. 513 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: Young people getting colon cancer. It's a really good question, 514 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: and they're certainly not an easy answer. It's going to 515 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: be multifactorial. We have some ideas. We know that our 516 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 1: gut flora is completely disrupted. We've taken far too many antibiotics, 517 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:22,400 Speaker 1: we ingest far too many microplastics. We're not eating enough 518 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: fermented food, and we eat way too much processed sugary foods. 519 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: All of this is disrupting our gut and that natural flora, 520 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: those good bacteria in our gut that keeps it healthy. 521 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: The first thing you can do to try and lower 522 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: your risk of colon cancer is absolutely get a better diet. 523 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: If the majority of what you're consuming is sitting in 524 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: your pantry and it has an expiration date of like 525 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 1: twenty twenty eight, that's probably not a good thing. Fresh 526 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: fruits and vegetables, decreasing smoked meats, and increasing more lean 527 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: proteins and like white fish, salmon, all these things can 528 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 1: actually decrease your risk of colon cancer. Taking probiotics, prebiotics 529 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: and increasing the amount of fermented foods like kimchi and 530 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 1: pickles and sour krau. All these things can help restore 531 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: that gut flora. And do not take antibiotics every time 532 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: you have the sniffles. You don't need a Z pack 533 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: all the time, I promise you. Not only does it 534 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: create antibiotic resistance in the bacteria and everything else and 535 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: your body not being able to fight off these infections 536 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: and take normal antibiotics, but it's also destroying your gut flora, 537 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: and that is increasing your risk of colon cancer. So 538 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: only take antibiotics when they're truly necessary, when your doctor 539 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: absolutely recommends them. Don't just take a Z pack or 540 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: whatever it is because you have an upper respiratory infection. 541 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: The reality is the far majority of them are viruses, 542 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: and you don't need the antbiotics. Even if you think, oh, 543 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:57,560 Speaker 1: I got better after taking a Z pack, well you 544 00:29:57,600 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: probably would have gotten better anyway, because it's just the norm, 545 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: of course, the disease of the virus. So now I 546 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: will get off my soapbox. You have heard me. I 547 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: just want to again say I'm so grateful that Elizabeth 548 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: Price joined us. She shared her story. I have a 549 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: copy of her book mom, I know what you have 550 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: parenting with Joy through a journey with cancer. As she said, 551 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: It's available Barnes and Noble, Amazon, everywhere you get books. 552 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 1: It's a beautifully illustrated book that talks about what she 553 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: has done with her children to somewhat normalize cancer and 554 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: make it a part of their life. I think that 555 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 1: this book will help so many people, so I recommend 556 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: getting your copy, giving it as a gift to someone, 557 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,239 Speaker 1: just having it on your shelf, whatever you want to do. 558 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 2: It's a beautiful book. 559 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 1: I'm doctor Nicole Safire and this is Wellness un Mass. 560 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: Please share this episode with someone you love and if 561 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 1: this story reminded you to stop postponing your help, let 562 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: today be the day that you make the appointment. Thank 563 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 1: you so much for listening. Be sure to listen to 564 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 1: Wellness sun Mass with doctor Nicole Sapphire on iHeartRadio, Apple 565 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts. 566 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:05,680 Speaker 2: And I'll see you next time.