Warning: This article discusses cancer and may be distressing for some readers.
A man was shocked to discover he had cancer that was spreading to other organs after experiencing only a single symptom.
Shawn Michael, a 48-year-old from Springfield, Missouri, shared his cancer journey in a video that has gone viral on social media.
He revealed his diagnosis on The Patient Story’s YouTube channel last month, and the video has already garnered nearly 100,000 views.
Doctors diagnosed Michael with stage four colorectal cancer, noting that it had started to spread to other organs.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, Michael and his medical team maintain hope for his recovery due to his youth and general good health.
The diagnosis came as a surprise to Michael and his family since he had only experienced a single common symptom prior to the discovery.
Initially facing bowel problems in October last year, he thought he was suffering from constipation but couldn’t find relief through common remedies.
After over-the-counter treatments failed, he visited an urgent care center where he was given a treatment he humorously described as ‘napalm for your intestines’.
This treatment alleviated his symptoms, but Michael sensed something was still wrong.
Describing his experience, he said: “Two days later I could still physically feel something inside of me. It hurt so bad.”
Upon returning to urgent care, a CT scan revealed a mass in his colon, leading to the urgent need for surgery to remove the blockage. Doctors also found additional concerning masses, but there was some positive news.
The surgery involved removing a significant portion of his colon and discovering large tumor-like masses on his omentum, which is a fatty tissue surrounding the colon.
Michael noted: “[The surgeon] explained that the obstruction in my colon was so large he was shocked it hadn’t ruptured.
“It was fortunate that it had attached to the fatty tissue there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UVPC2O5n_0
“This had helped slow the progression to other organs.”
Though the initial surgery was successful, with doctors removing all the detectable cancer, some cancer still remains.
Michael is now preparing for three months of chemotherapy in the hopes of eradicating the remaining cancer cells and remains optimistic about his recovery.
For those affected by similar issues and seeking confidential support, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or through their 24/7 live chat service.