<![CDATA[A 22-Year-Old Patient With Colorectal Cancer: The Nuances of Care]]>

Summary: A 22-year-old woman who had just graduated from an Ivy League college and was working at an animal shelter went to the hospital with bad stomach pain. Doctors were shocked to find she had colon cancer, even though she had no family history of the disease.

Her doctor, Dr. Marc Lehrer Greenwald, recommended a major surgery called a subtotal colectomy. Instead of just taking out the tumor, they removed most of her colon. They did this to protect her future. By leaving less of the colon behind, there is a much smaller chance that new cancers can grow there later in her life. Today, she only has about 10 to 12 inches of her colon left, but her body is adjusting well. She is recovering nicely, and doctors will keep a close eye on her as she gets back to her dream of going to veterinary school.

For more details, see cancernetwork at cancernetwork.com/view/a-22-year-old-patient-with-colorectal-cancer-the-nuances-of-care (opens in new tab)