Josh Herting, a 34-year-old who exercised regularly and maintained a healthy diet, found blood in his stool. Despite feeling fit and healthy, he realized something was wrong and sought medical advice. After a colonoscopy, he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, a shocking revelation that turned his life upside down. Although he was initially unaware of the possibility of having cancer, he took the necessary steps and underwent treatment.
Colorectal cancer cases are increasing among younger individuals, a trend that has been observed since the late ’90s. Factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption are believed to contribute to this rise. Dr. Kimmie Ng, Director of the Young Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, suggests that environmental factors could be altering people’s immune systems, making them more susceptible to developing these cancers at a younger age.
Herting’s cancer treatment involved surgery to remove the tumor and six months of chemotherapy, which had challenging side effects. Despite the difficulties, the treatment was successful, and six years later, Herting remains cancer-free. Regular check-ups continue to monitor his health.
Remarkably, Herting has since married and become a father of two. His experience has taught him to appreciate life and he is now advocating for increased awareness of colon cancer symptoms. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive and seeking medical attention if any potential signs of the disease are noticed. Herting’s hope is that by educating people about the symptoms to look out for, more individuals will take preventative measures against colon cancer.
