Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 | 2 a.m.
Jackson Layton is one brave particular person.
In January, he was identified with Stage 4 colon most cancers that had metastasized to his liver. Aggressive rounds of chemotherapy adopted. Within the midst of this damning battle, Layton and spouse, Hannah, determined to share Jackson’s story publicly.
As a substitute of holding his prognosis and prognosis non-public, Jackson and Hannah wished to chronicle his trials on-line. With Hannah’s assist, Jackson’s journey is being shared on Fb and different social media platforms. His mom, Diane Layton, created a CaringBridge web page devoted to Jackson’s struggle.
“On 1/11, my husband was identified with stage 4 colon most cancers that has unfold to his liver,” Hannah wrote in a Fb put up final month. “The day earlier than, I keep in mind telling him he was simply having a abdomen ache like each different time. Little did we all know this might be absolutely the worst nightmare.”
Jackson, 28, mentioned he felt compelled to go public as a result of he needs to boost consciousness round colon most cancers and early detection in younger adults. Usually, individuals are urged to display for colon most cancers at 45. Jackson want to see that suggestion modified.
“Colon most cancers in younger adults is rising at an alarming price, and nobody can inform us why,” he mentioned. “Why are wholesome younger folks getting Stage 4 colon most cancers? Why is it so onerous to get examined, screened or colonoscopies? I notice colonoscopies include a danger, however there needs to be change — it’s so onerous for a teen to get a colonoscopy.”
That Jackson was identified with colon most cancers at such a younger age might be thought of an anomaly. However it’s not all that unusual as of late. In the present day, colon and rectum most cancers was the main explanation for demise for males below 50, in keeping with the American Most cancers Society.
Males between 20-29 — Jackson’s age vary — have been on the high of the record.
Early detection is vital
I’ve had my very own colon most cancers scare. Throughout my first colonoscopy about 4 years in the past, medical doctors found and eliminated two massive precancerous polyps, small clumps of cells that kind on the liner of the colon.
On the time, I used to be 46. Three years later, I used to be given the all-clear throughout a follow-up process. I’m scheduled for an additional invasive surgical procedure in 2029.
As I used to be then, I stay grateful medical doctors caught these polyps earlier than they developed into full-blown most cancers. Jackson wasn’t as lucky. And neither was Danielle Ripley-Burgess.
Ripley-Burgess was simply 17 when she was identified with Stage 3 colon most cancers. She mentioned she was identified twice extra at 25 and 39, however aggressive screening caught them early so she didn’t want therapy aside from surgical procedure.
When she first realized of her situation as a teen, it was very unusual for somebody that younger to obtain such devastating information.
Ripley-Burgess is 41 now. As vice chairman of illness consciousness for Battle Colorectal Most cancers, a Missouri-based nonprofit advocacy group, she urges folks of all ages to know the danger components concerned and their household’s historical past with such a most cancers.
“Every single day, we’re sadly studying about tales like Jackson’s and Hannah’s, the place a teen is dealing with superior colorectal most cancers that got here out of nowhere,” she mentioned. “It’s devastating and heartbreaking, and it motivates us to maintain educating, advocating and funding analysis to resolve what’s happening.”
Ripley-Burgess mentioned early onset colorectal most cancers is anticipated to extend by greater than 140% by 2030.
“Greater than 27,000 folks below age 50 can be identified with colorectal most cancers in 2030,” she mentioned. “Amongst adults below age 50, colorectal most cancers is now the No. 1 explanation for most cancers demise in males and the No. 2 trigger in girls. And we’re seeing an increase of colorectal most cancers in younger adults all around the world.”
In line with Battle CRC, if a teen has any indicators of colorectal most cancers, they need to ask for a colonoscopy. Among the most typical signs in younger sufferers are blood within the stool, intense belly ache, narrowing stools, anemia, and typically constipation, Ripley-Burgess mentioned.
“Don’t assume it’s stress,” she mentioned.
Misdiagnosis led to most cancers
In Jackson’s case, he mentioned earlier than he was identified with colon most cancers, he encountered abdomen points for years.
Docs informed him he had irritable bowel syndrome and a power acid reflux disease illness often known as GERD. Jackson mentioned he believes he was misdiagnosed.
“By no means as soon as was colon most cancers introduced up or considered,” he mentioned. “It’s all the time handed off as simply abdomen points. What would my life be like if I had a colonoscopy 4, 5 years in the past? Would I’ve Stage 4 colon most cancers?”
Almost definitely not, Battle CRC’s Ripley-Burgess mentioned.
“Don’t let a physician inform you you’re too younger for a colonoscopy or that you just most likely have hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome,” she mentioned. “Should you’re a teen and really feel like something is off together with your physique, let your physician know and fiercely advocate for your self to get to the foundation trigger as rapidly as attainable.”
Ripley-Burgess mentioned the Battle CRC web site has a screening quiz that might be used as a useful useful resource for folks youthful than 45. For extra info, go to fightcolorectalcancer.org
Newlyweds get dangerous information
Jackson and Hannah have been married simply six months earlier than Jackson’s prognosis. They’d simply bought their first house when he fell unwell sufficient to hunt emergency therapy at a neighborhood hospital.
After which the sobering actuality of Jackson’s struggle for his life kicked in.
The speedy aftermath of receiving the information was completely terrible for Hannah, she wrote.
“I might by no means want this ache on my worst enemy,” she wrote.
In line with Jackson, medical doctors informed him they might not decide how he developed colon most cancers. He informed me he’s no knowledgeable, however the components and preservatives in our meals may contribute to the rise in younger folks creating this probably deadly illness.
“I don’t know a lot in any respect about this subject, and haven’t ever considered it earlier than I used to be identified and my life was on the road,” he mentioned. “But when I can increase consciousness to younger folks to get checked and pay attention to indicators of colon most cancers, and verify their meals, then that’s the least I can do to save lots of folks from my scenario. I really feel like that is what I’m being referred to as to do and why I used to be put on this scenario.”
The braveness Jackson Layton has proven these previous few weeks are onerous to place in phrases. He’s preventing each for his life and others’.
Toriano Porter is a columnist for The Kansas Metropolis (Mo.) Star.
