A Kentucky mother's alarming battle with colon cancer has emerged as a cautionary tale, compelling her to share her journey with hopes that it might urge others to get screened early. Patty Goering, a patient from Cold Spring, Kentucky, and her physician, Tahir Latif, recently shared the details of her diagnosis and treatment at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, a conversation covered by WLWT.
Goering, who was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at just 48, recounted her initial disregard for persistent symptoms to her doctor, which eventually led to the startling discovery of her health condition. She had believed herself to be fairly healthy and without any family history of the disease. However, routine tests revealed the harsh reality that she was indeed ailing. "I owe them my life. They saved my life," Goering told UC News, referring to the medical team that guided her treatment.
Her doctor, Tahir Latif, MBBS, director of infusion services at the UC Medical Center and a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UC's College of Medicine, painted a concerning trend, indicating an uptick in colorectal cancer diagnoses among the young. "Every third or fourth patient is coming in at the age of under 50," Latif pointed out in his interview with WLWT.
The American Cancer Society has adjusted its guidelines in response to this trend, recommending that individuals with no family history or symptoms should now get their first colonoscopy at age 45. This is an essential precautionary measure. Though the specter of cancer haunts many, the emphasis has shifted towards early detection and intervention to save more lives potentially.
