Survival of Patients With Inoperable Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With Baseline Severe Pulmonary Dysfunction ...
Man, 34, Prescribed Allergy Creams By GP But Actually Had A Deadly Rare Cancer
Cancer symptoms: Top 14 early signs to look out forA young man's rare cancer was initially mistaken for an allergy after he experienced severe itching.
Alex Watson, 34, was prescribed allergy creams after going to his GP in July this year complaining of itchy skin and problems with his urine.
But just three days later his condition worsened.
Alex, from Tunbridge Wells, said: "When I woke up on the Monday I saw jaundice in the whites of my eyes and my top half of the torso had a yellowy tint to it.
"I called my GP back and they recommended I go to A&E.
"I had a series of scans and stayed there for 15 hours in total being transferred from one department to another."
These tests revealed the lorry driver had neuroendocrine tumour growing in his pancreas – a rare form of the disease that can grow anywhere.
It is estimated to affect just four in 100,000 adults each year, and often leaves the sufferer with no symptoms.
But, luckily, due to the position of Alex's tumour, it caused issues elsewhere in the body allowing the problem to be spotted.
"Things could've been a lot worse so I'm glad I went in when I did," Alex said.
"Because of where the cancer was the tumour was blocking the bile duct preventing bile from being excreted.
"This meant it was ending up in my bloodstream causing the severe itchiness."
Alex said the diagnosis came as a "huge shock" to both him and his family, including his partner Kristlin.
He recalled: "It was the fear of the unknown and when you hear that it's like your worst nightmare.
"It was tough to hear it but now looking back I'm so grateful to be here and explain everything and tell my story."
In October, Alex underwent an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour as well as the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile duct.
This month Alex was given the all-clear and is preparing to return to work.
He is also working to raise awareness of the disease as well as fundraising cash for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, with a live music event that has so far garnered more than £1,000.
"I've had donations from people I haven't even met which is crazy but please keep donating," he said.
"We want to raise as much money as we can and get as many people as possible to come down with their families and friends.
"Thank you to everyone who is supporting me from the bottom of my heart."
Alex added: "What I would say to anyone who doesn't feel right, just go and get yourself checked, it could save your life."
According to the NHS, symptoms of a neuroendocrine tumour depend on where in the body it is and what hormones it produces.
"For example, a tumour in the digestive system (gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumour) may cause diarrhoea, constipation or tummy pains," the health body says.
A tumour in the lung (pulmonary neuroendocrine tumour) may cause wheezing or a persistent cough.
The health body adds: "Some tumours may lead to abnormally large amounts of hormones being released into the bloodstream.
"These are known as 'functioning tumours' and can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, flushing, cramps, wheezing, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), changes in blood pressure and heart problems."
If you experience any unexplained symptoms or have any concerns you should speak to your GP.
NBC Host Antonia Hylton, 30, Reveals She Was Diagnosed With Rare Cancer After IGNORING Her Symptoms For TWO YEARS - As She Urges Others Not To Dismiss Warning Signs
NBC's Antonia Hylton has revealed she was diagnosed with a rare cancer at the age of 30 after ignoring her early symptoms for close to two years.
The journalist began experiencing stomach issues about two years ago but initially says she found it 'easy to just write it off.'
She told Today of her reasoning for ignoring the early signs: 'I travel, I'm on planes and maybe I don't have the best diet. But I love what I do, so it's worth it and I'm not going to let these symptoms hold me back.'
Hylton has since been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor and is now urging others to 'listen' to their bodies.
NBC's Antonia Hylton has revealed she's been diagnosed with a rare cancer at the age of 30 after ignoring her early symptoms
Hylton, who works as a correspondent for NBC News, began having 'constant inflammation' in her stomach while she was out on the road but continuously dismissed it.
But she became more alert to her symptoms after a segment on the show saw host Craig Melvin speak about the death of his brother due to colon cancer.
She said: 'Something about that really stuck with me.'
The TV personality, who previously received an Emmy for her work on Vice News Tonight, had also identified similarities between her experience and that of a woman on TikTok who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer aged 24.
Her symptoms began to worsen around the same time, revealing: 'I was waking up [and] my face was swollen. I was having trouble going to the bathroom for days on end.
'I went to see a specialist who sent me for a colonoscopy.'
The results of the screening test came back three weeks later and revealed that she had a polyp which turned out to be a neuroendocrine tumor.
Thankfully, doctors caught it early.
Hylton has since been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor and is now urging others to 'listen' to their bodies
What is a neuroendocrine tumor?Neuroendocrine tumors are rare and can occur anywhere in the body.
Most occur in the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum and pancreas.
The symptoms often depend on the location of your tumor but signs of one in the colon or rectum include:
Source: Mayo Clinic
AdvertisementHylton, who has a family history of colon cancer, candidly explained: 'I was panicking.
'It really wasn't until I saw my doctor face-to-face that I started to feel that sense of relief and also a sense of empowerment of: "You took action, you did something."'
The journalist continued: 'I had a series of procedures to remove tissue and screening tests to see if the cancer had spread.
'The last scan showed I'm all clear.'
Hylton explained that most of her symptoms have now gone away, adding she feels 'blessed and relieved.'
She is now urging others to not overlook their own early warning signs.
'I learned a really important lesson at 30 to listen to myself and to put myself first.
'I love my job. I worked hard here at NBC, and I'm not going to stop doing that.
'But I've learned the lesson that I really need to put my health first and not push these things off,' she concluded.
There are about two million cases of colon cancer diagnosed in the US every year.
But only one to two per cent of those are neuroendocrine tumors.
Black people have the highest rate of colon cancer in the US, according to the American Cancer Society.
NBC News' Antonia Hylton Shares Rare Cancer Diagnosis After Missing Early Symptoms
The NBC News correspondent said she began experiencing symptoms about two years ago, but it was "easy for me to just write it off."
NBC News correspondent Antonia Hylton is opening up about her cancer diagnosis. Appearing on the Third Hour of Today, the journalist revealed that she was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, a neuroendocrine tumor, on her 30th birthday after she initially brushed off her symptoms for several years.
Hylton told Today hosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer that she first began experiencing symptoms, including stomach issues, about two years ago. However, "it was easy for me to just write it off. I travel. I'm on planes (and) maybe I don't have the best diet. But I love what I do, so it's worth it, and I'm not going to let these symptoms hold me back."
It was a segment on the Today show in August about Craig Melvin's brother's death due to colon cancer that finally prompted her to see a doctor. Hylton said, "Something about that really stuck with me," noting that the segment aired around the time her symptoms started to worsen. I was waking up (and) my face was swollen. I was having trouble going to the bathroom for days on end." Remembering her family's history of colon cancer and knowing that Black people have the highest rate of colon cancer in the U.S., Hylton said, "I went to see a specialist who sent me for a colonoscopy."
Three weeks later, on her 30th birthday, she received a call from her doctor informing her the screening revealed a polyp that turned out to be a neuroendocrine tumor, a rare type of cancer that releases hormones into the bloodstream. Dr. Nooshin Hosseini, a gastroenterologist and Hylton's doctor, said on the Today show that while the tumors can occur anywhere in the body, they most often develop in the gastrointestinal tract, specifically the small intestine.
"I was panicking," Hylton recalled of the diagnosis, sharing that the tumor was fortunately caught early. "I had a series of procedures to remove tissue and screening tests to see if the cancer had spread. The last scan showed I'm all clear."
Hylton said that she is now doing well, telling the Today co-hosts that through the ordeal, she "learned a really important lesson at 30 to listen to myself and to put myself first. I love my job. I worked hard here at NBC, and I'm not going to stop doing that. But I've learned the lesson that I really need to put my health first and not push these things off."
Comments
Post a Comment