Rory Kennedy, 36, has no household historical past of most cancers. He’s not obese, and he has at all times maintained a wholesome life-style — clear eating regimen, common train, no smoking or consuming.
So when he was identified with stage 3C colon most cancers final September, it was a shock, to say the least.
“I don’t have a single checkmark of colon most cancers,” he informed The Put up. “No root trigger. They mentioned simply one thing occurred in your physique that one thing mutated.”
All of it started in 2022, when Kennedy skilled every week of black, tarry stools — which may be brought on by something starting from gastrointestinal bleeding to consuming too many blueberries.
He went to an pressing care clinic, the place he was informed it was in all probability “simply an ulcer” or some micro organism, given some medication, and despatched dwelling.
“I took [the drugs] and the signs appeared to alleviate over the following month,” he mentioned. “So I didn’t assume something of it. Went on with my life. All the things was fantastic.”
Flash ahead to June 2024, when Kennedy noticed “one single bloody stool” — probably the most outstanding indicators of colon most cancers — and determined to see a gastroenterologist, particularly since he had had intermittent abdomen pains — which is one other widespread signal.
“He informed me straight away that if I had black, tarry stools again then, I ought to have gotten a colonoscopy and endoscopy instantly,” Kennedy mentioned.
Although colorectal most cancers can typically be asymptomatic, Dr. Kiranmayi Muddasani, a employees surgeon within the Division of Colorectal Surgical procedure at Mount Sinai Medical Middle, informed the Put up {that a} change in bowel habits or caliber of stool — in addition to rectal bleeding or weight reduction — are among the many most typical signs.
“That’s why a colonoscopy is the easiest way to detect and deal with it earlier,” he mentioned.
As soon as they carried out these procedures on Kennedy, he heard a sentence nobody ever needs to listen to.
“That’s once I was hit with the brick of reports: ‘You’ve a mass in your colon,’” he mentioned. “I used to be stunned. I had no concept. I knew there was one thing occurring, however I figured I simply had a polyp that was bleeding or an damage within the colon or one thing.”
What adopted was “fairly intensive” surgical procedure at Mount Sinai Medical Middle in Miami, throughout which 10 inches of colon, some small gut, appendix and 45 lymph nodes had been eliminated. Most cancers was present in eight out of the 45 lymph nodes, resulting in a stage 3C prognosis in September 2024.
“There are letters concerned as a result of I assume each step is a bit worse. So like 3A will not be as unhealthy as 3B, which isn’t as unhealthy as 3C. 3C is the final letter for stage 3,” he mentioned.
“So I’m mainly one notch away from stage 4.”
It was, to say the least, devastating.
“Have you ever ever gotten a pizza burn? Whenever you eat a sizzling pizza and it burns the highest of your mouth? Think about that feeling all over the place.”
Rory Kennedy
“I’d say from the time I realized [the diagnosis] and all the way in which to love a month after, you’re simply in a horrible headspace,” he mentioned. “I’ve a spouse, I’ve a new child youngster that simply turned one the day I used to be doing surgical procedure.”
He started chemotherapy therapy, which has taken a bodily toll on his physique.
“There’s loads of unwanted effects,” he mentioned. “You get nauseous, can’t sleep since you’re on steroids the primary few days which might be speculated to alleviate the nausea however you’re nonetheless nauseous so that you’re taking drugs for that.”
Chemo weakens the immune system, resulting in frequent sicknesses — which suggests he can’t be round his younger son as a lot as he’d like.
When he will get tears in his eyes, they burn — and so does his mouth, a lesser-known situation often known as “chemo mouth.”
“Have you ever ever gotten a pizza burn? Whenever you eat a sizzling pizza and it burns the highest of your mouth? Think about that feeling all over the place — in your mouth, your gums and in your throat,” he mentioned.
Even nonetheless, Kennedy believes the toughest a part of having most cancers is the uncertainty.
“The psychological is unquestionably the worst half as a result of the bodily time heals,” he mentioned.
“It’s actually difficult as a result of all of the situations simply run by your thoughts. Oh my gosh, I’m not going to see my child go to kindergarten or I’m not going to see him graduate highschool or get married or any of these items. Oh my gosh, I could not be capable to even have one other child. My spouse’s going to maneuver on with no husband. Do I inform her to discover a new husband? Do I must construct a will?”
He credit his spouse, Fb help teams for individuals with most cancers, and his religion with getting him by the darkest days.
“Generally, I ponder — once I had the black tarry [stools], I want the physician would have informed me again then, ‘Hey, I’m referring you to a GI.’”
Rory Kennedy
“I’m a Christian and I’d say it’s made me a fair a stronger Christian, made me much more trustworthy,” he mentioned.
And, by all of the ache, getting most cancers has given him one silver lining — it’s made him follow mindfulness.
“On the great aspect, I’ve been extra current within the second, as a result of I don’t know what number of good moments I’m going to have,” he mentioned.
At present, Kennedy is ending chemo, after which he’ll bear scans and blood assessments to test for most cancers. If the assessments are clear, he might be in remission, however he may have a 40-50% likelihood of recurrence.
If he’s cancer-free for 5 years, he might be discharged — however nonetheless faces a ten% lifetime recurrence danger.
Lately, he’s feeling significantly better, particularly for the reason that preliminary assessments they’ve completed have proven up clear. But when there’s one factor he regrets — it’s that he didn’t get a colonoscopy sooner.
“Generally, I ponder — once I had the black tarry [stools], I want the physician would have informed me again then, ‘Hey, I’m referring you to a GI.’”
He has determined to share his story within the hopes of urging individuals to get colonoscopies, emphasizing {that a} colonoscopy is the one option to stop colon most cancers by eradicating precancerous polyps.
He additionally confused that — opposite to widespread perception – the process is fast, painless (beneath anesthesia), and straightforward to recuperate from. And it positive beats the choice.
“I don’t need different individuals to undergo this,” he mentioned.
“I extremely don’t suggest most cancers, it’s actually not enjoyable. I’d slightly do 30 colonoscopies in a row than undergo freaking chemo.”
