Today was scheduled to be Opening Day for Major League Baseball.  

For me, it’s one of my FAVORITE days of the year. 

Everything is new, everything is fresh, my team is still in contention!

Today I want to talk to you about a player on the Orioles named Trey Mancini and why HE matters to YOU.

Welcome to Health Made Simple.  We have one mission.  To help eliminate the confusion by providing you with clear, concise, and up-to-date health information in 5 minutes or less.

On March 7th, Mancini left spring training for what they were calling a non-baseball medical procedure.  

5 days later, they reported that he had had a malignant tumor removed from his colon…he had colon cancer.

So you’re asking…why is this important to me?  

Well, Mancini is only 28 years old. 

Routine screening for colon cancer doesn’t start until age 45.  

This means he either had symptoms or had a strong family history of colon cancer.  

So let’s talk about it, especially since we are in the midst of colon cancer awareness month.

First, what are the symptoms of colon cancer? 

Many of the symptoms of colon cancer can also be caused by something that isn’t cancer, like infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.

In many cases, people who have these symptoms do not have cancer. 

Still, if you have any of these problems, it is a sign that you should go to the doctor so the cause can be found and treated if needed:

• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
• Rectal bleeding
• Dark stools, or blood in the stool
• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Unintended weight loss

With regards to family history, about 1 in 3 people who develop colorectal cancer have other family members – especially parents, brothers and sisters, or children – who’ve had it. But most colorectal cancers occur in people without a family history of it.

If you are over the age of 45, you need to be screened for colon cancer.  

But I have good news.  There are new tests available for people who are an average risk and doesn’t require the dreaded prep. 

In fact, all you need to do is have the kit sent to you in the mail, have a bowel movement in the box, and ship it back to the lab.  

I’ll make it even easier for you.  Send me a message at hello@getknowme.com and I will send you an order form.

COVID-19 is keeping a lot of people at home.  Let’s at least do something for our health while we sit around and wait!