Leni Longino by no means missed work as a customer support consultant. That’s till searing stomach ache prompted her to go to the emergency room at Piedmont Newton Hospital one Friday final August.
She had had a number of indicators one thing was flawed within the months main as much as the ER go to. For instance, her vitality was so low that she would typically have to make use of her lunch break for a nap. However listening to the prognosis at age 46 of colon most cancers that had metastasized to her liver nonetheless shocked Longino.
“Once I was within the emergency room with my buddy, who had come to sit down with me, I simply checked out her and stated, ‘Nicely, that’s a recreation changer!’” The face of the everyday colon most cancers affected person is altering. Based on the American Most cancers Society, the speed of individuals being recognized with colon or rectal most cancers underneath age 50 went up nearly 2.5% per yr between 2012 and 2021. Present steerage from the group is for folks at common threat for colon most cancers to begin common screenings at age 45. However folks with colorectal most cancers of their household or folks with a private historical past of sure bowel-related circumstances might need to begin screening earlier.
“Screening pointers from skilled medical organizations aren’t as clear-cut for folks with threat elements for colorectal most cancers,” stated gastroenterologist Michael Cheng, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians Gastroenterology Newton. “They’re finest interpreted for any particular person by their physician.”
Longino regrets that her first colonoscopy with Dr. Cheng was when she got here to the ER. She stated she does have a household historical past of most cancers.
“Nobody needs to have a colonoscopy, but it surely’s actually not that dangerous,” she stated. “It’s price it in the long term to not be sick.”
Her youthful sisters took her recommendation and obtained colonoscopies, which confirmed they don’t have most cancers.
Longino simply completed her eleventh spherical of chemotherapy. She is winding down on infusions and can quickly solely want the chemotherapy given by way of a take-home pump. She has come to benefit from the workforce of nurses at Piedmont Newton.
“The infusion nurses are incredible. That complete group over there may be only a pleasure,” she stated. “I’m so comfortable to not have to do this [sit for infusions], however I’m going to overlook them!”
Radiation is up subsequent. As soon as that’s full, Piedmont Clinic doctor Evan Feldman, M.D., will carry out surgical procedure at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital to take away the mass in Longino’s colon.
Longino credit her constructive angle for getting up to now. One factor she is constructive about: the entry she has needed to high quality most cancers care near residence. Piedmont Newton is only a five-minute drive from the place she lives in Oxford, Ga.
“I’ve to go to Atlanta often. I can’t think about having to do this each time. It could be a nightmare,” she stated.
Longino’s therapy progress is clear to her from the constructive distinction in how she feels after an infusion. There have been occasions early on when she wanted a wheelchair to depart Piedmont Newton. “Now I simply be-bop out of there like ‘See you on Thursday,’” she stated.
Her oncologist, Shanker Polsani, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians Medical Oncology Newton, appears happy too.
“[Dr. Polsani] doesn’t sugar coat issues,” Longino defined. “I can inform that he’s excited by my progress, and that helps me really feel optimistic.”
On Saturday, April 26, Piedmont Newton is holding a profit live performance to help oncology providers and applications on the hospital for sufferers like Leni Longino. Everyone seems to be welcome and tickets could be bought at give.piedmont.org/newtonconcert.
