THE ESSENTIAL
- In 2022, Dr. Lauren Juyia, then 37 years old, began to feel tired and have a feeling of heaviness in her pelvis.
- When she felt a lump a little later, she had tests. They revealed that she had colorectal cancer.
- Now in remission, she calls on young adults to be vigilant and not to avoid screening.
The majority of colorectal cancers are diagnosed in people over 50. This disease could thus seem quite far from the concerns of a 37-year-old gynecologist. Yet when Dr. Lauren Juyia spotted two noticeable changes in her body in August 2022, she knew she needed to seek help quickly.
She shared her story and the signs that worried her on the show Good Morning America in order to raise awareness among the general public of the risk of colon cancer.
Stage 4 cancer: a “16-week” mass in the ovary
Her mind as a healthcare professional began to go on alert when she felt fatigue and a feeling of heaviness in her lower abdomen. But seeing no other worrying signs, she put the thought aside. However, when she felt a mass in her pelvis, she went to the hospital to have an ultrasound.
“Having a background in obstetrics, we describe size by weeks of pregnancy and so I was like, ‘Oh my God, I have a 16-week mass. From my experience, I could tell it was my ovary.”confided Dr Juyia in the show.
After the mass in her ovary was confirmed, the doctor consulted several specialists. The various examinations taken then showed that the growth had increased by 8 cm in two weeks to reach approximately 24 cm.
“I have never seen anything benign, meaning not cancer, grow this quickly before” said Dr. Juyia. “So I kind of knew, deep down, that it wasn’t going to be good. And we suspected ovarian cancer of course, because the masses were on the ovaries.”
An operation was scheduled for September 13, 2022 to remove the tumor. In addition to affecting the ovary, it was also at the level of her uterus, her omentum (membrane that surrounds the intestines), her appendix and even her abdominal region.
Tests revealed that she actually had stage 4 colon cancer that had spread.
The gynecologist clarified that she had not had any of the “traditional” signs of colorectal cancer such as changes in stools, blood in the stools, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps or unexplained weight loss. .
“I felt a little tired. I was a little tired in the afternoons for about two months before this and as a mother with two small children – I had recently breastfed them, they were still waking up at night, I work full time – I just thought, “Oh, I think I need some afternoon tea.” “Whereas perhaps someone in their 50s or 60s would be much more tired with stage 4 tumors taking their energy.”said Dr Juyia.
Colon cancer: you should not ignore the symptoms
After the operation and the removal of the tumor, Lauren Juyia began six months of treatments. A second procedure took place in March to remove the remaining tissue from the mass. And so far, subsequent tests show “no signs of illness”. Now, the doctor wants to use her experience to warn young adults against cancer.
“People who are younger than the screening age should always pay attention to their symptoms because they are usually not eligible. We may not have any traditional symptoms since we are young, our bodies are more resilient”explained the doctor.
“And if you’re in the ages where you should be screened, take advantage of it. Don’t waste this opportunity. There’s a reason we want to screen you and keep you safe,” she added.
