Cancer is stupid 8-10-23

We are back from another trip and are finally home for a few weeks before we hit the skies to return to Houston. We went to Idaho to visit Zach's family (his Aunt and cousin). It was beautiful, and the highlights of the trip for Silas were going on a boat in Payette Lake, located in McCall, ID, and jet skiing!

Zach is making it a priority to head back into the office a bit before September when he will go on leave. I am sure some of you saw him yesterday when he was in and went back in today. I forgot to mention in the last post that surgery is scheduled for 9/6.

Today I got a message from a friend who knows someone who was recently diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in a bordering town at the age of 40. WHY? Why is this happening to so many young people? I read this from a UC David Blog trying to find answers once again:

"Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50. Millennials (people born between 1981-1996) have twice the risk of colorectal cancer compared to those born in 1950, according to a 2017 study. The same research found that people under age 55 are nearly 60% more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease than older adults. That makes the odds of surviving colon cancer more challenging."

Pure anger is what I feel right now because all the diagnostics are for people 45 and older. Colonoscopies won't be approved until 45 unless you are having symptoms... well, symptoms for colon cancer mean it has progressed to a later stage.

How do we bring more awareness and better care for younger people? Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50. WTF??????

We have to change this. More research and money need to be focused on why this is happening so we can help people earlier. Let's be proactive instead of reactive.

If you have ideas on how to do this, please let me know. -Amber