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Lauren Riccotone began experiencing occasional rectal pain and bleeding in 2015, but assumed that she had just had hemorrhoids.
Her husband, Chris, urged her to undergo a colonoscopy, but on the day of the intervention, she discovered that she was expecting her first child.
Amazed by the news, the 34-year-old nurse from Middletown, Pennsylvania, postponed the exam and focused on pregnancy.
But just two weeks after giving birth to his daughter, Riccotone started bleeding profusely and almost collapsed at home, Yahoo Lifestyle reported.
A colonoscopy a few weeks later revealed that she had colorectal cancer that had spread to neighboring lymph nodes.
She underwent surgery and six months of chemotherapy, after which she learned that she was pregnant again. But just a month after giving birth to his son, the doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to his lungs.
Riccotone, now 37, does not suffer from cancer and says she shares her story to educate younger people about the disease so they can learn to recognize the symptoms.
Lauren Riccotone, 37, of Middletown, Pennsylvania, suffered from occasional rectal bleeding and bleeding, but she assumed that she had just had hemorrhoids. Pictured: Riccotone, right, with her husband Chris and their daughter Charlie
On the day of her colonoscopy, Riccotone discovered that she was pregnant and delayed the procedure. She gave birth to her daughter in January 2016. Pictured from left to right: Riccotone, daughter Charlie, husband Chris and son Michael.
Riccotone started having rectal bleeding in 2015 and planned a colonoscopy.
"I thought it was just a hemorrhoid or something I was eating – I was not too worried," she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
On the day of the procedure, the medical staff performed a number of standard tests and tests, including a routine pregnancy test.
While Riccotone was preparing to undergo anesthesia, the result was that she was pregnant with her first child.
She decided to postpone colonoscopy after her pregnancy because she was still convinced that the bleeding was a result of hemorrhoids.
In early January 2016, Riccotone gave birth to his daughter, Charlie Elizabeth.
Just two weeks later, however, the new mother was in the bathroom when she started bleeding profusely.
"There was blood everywhere, both in my rectum and in my vagina," she told Yahoo Lifestyle. "I was so dizzy and weak that I could barely stand up.
She called her husband, Chris, who rushed home and took his wife to the ER.
Riccotone has been diagnosed with colitis, an inflammation of the lining of the colon. She explained that her mother, who had an infant daughter to feed, was discharged two days later, subject to a colonoscopy.
Still waiting to learn that she had hemorrhoids, she was shocked to learn that she actually had stage 3B colorectal cancer.
"Even after hearing the news, I was in total shock," Riccotone said. "I did not cry. I was totally incredulous. I was so young and I had no family history of colon cancer. It did not seem possible.
Just two weeks later, Riccotone was in the bathroom when she started bleeding profusely. A few days later, he was diagnosed with stage 3B colorectal cancer. Pictured: Riccotone with husband Chris and daughter Charlie
Riccotone underwent surgery and six months of chemotherapy. Just weeks after the end of treatment, she discovered that she was pregnant again and her follow-up exams were put on hold. Pictured: Riccotone, left, with her husband Chris
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or rectum and is located in the lower part of the digestive tract.
Cancer usually starts with growths called polyps. They are located on the inner lining of the colon or rectum and become cancerous over many years.
A study published in 2017 found that the number of colorectal cancer cases diagnosed in adults under 55 had doubled from 1990 to 2013, although no one really knows why.
In response, the American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines, lowering the age of 50 to 45 years at which people at medium risk begin regular screening.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, among both men and women.
It is also the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. The number of deaths in 2019 is estimated at more than 51,000.
The day after his colonoscopy, Riccotone had an appointment at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
She told Yahoo Lifestyle that Dr. Sanjay Reddy, a surgical oncologist at Fox Chase, had told her that if she had waited longer, the results could have been fatal.
"The tumor was so big that Dr. Reddy said that she would have perforated my intestine in a few days," she said.
In August 2017, she gave birth to her son Michael and, a month later, tests showed that the cancer had metastasized and spread to her lungs. Pictured: Riccotone, left, with husband Chris and daughter Charlie
Riccotone is now cancer free and says he wants to educate younger people about the disease. Pictured: Riccotone, left, with her husband Charlie
Dr. Reddy operated to remove the tumor in March 2016, which was a success. Following this, she had to undergo six months of chemotherapy.
In February 2017, Riccotone completed its last round. She was still tired and nauseous, but the doctors told her that it was only the residual effects of her chemotherapy treatment.
However, after a visit to the emergency for a stomach virus, tests revealed that she was pregnant again.
"I had never had my period, but I had just thought that chemotherapy had put me into premature menopause," she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
Her follow-up scanner had to be postponed due to her pregnancy. The son of the couple, Michael Vincent, was born in August 2017.
A month later, analyzes show that the cancer had metastasized and spread to the lungs of Riccotone.
She underwent surgery and was treated again with chemotherapy.
Both his daughter and son have been free from cancer or chemotherapy.
Currently, Riccotone does not suffer from cancer and hopes to educate young adults about colorectal cancer.
"I work in the emergency room of a large health system. So I treat cancer every day, including cancer among younger people, "she said. & # 39; But many people my age [don’t] recognize that this can happen to them.
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