A medical expert has provided insights on potential causes of cancer in young individuals, as they consider a case where one twin was diagnosed with cancer while the other was not.
For many, cancer is a transformative experience. Although medical treatments and pharmaceuticals have improved in managing the disease, much remains unknown.
The doctor pondered over the reasons why one twin developed stage 4 colon cancer, while her sibling did not.
Dr. Mark Lewis, a cancer survivor and leading figure in gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Health, noted that the scientific community is gradually uncovering more about the origins of colon cancer.
The American Cancer Society has highlighted a rising incidence of colon cancer among people below the age of 50.
Dr. Lewis pointed out: “There really is unfortunately no such thing as too young for colon cancer. About one in seven of the patients in my practice with colon cancer are under the age of 45.”
Discussing this trend, Dr. Lewis suggested several factors could be contributing, including lifestyle choices, genetic predispositions, and, notably, the use of specific medications during youth.
He elaborated: “Antibiotics in childhood and in adulthood can affect the bacteria that line the colon.
“We’re being very, very careful about prescribing antibiotics to young people because we do know there is at least a slight increased risk for colon cancer decades later.”
He further added: “If you are willing to talk to your doctor about your gut health, I promise you we are going to be better at finding colon cancer sooner.”
This insight may shed light on why Brinlee Luster from Utah developed colon cancer, unlike her twin sister Mariela. However, the sisters have not disclosed whether one had a higher exposure to antibiotics during their upbringing.
The twins, who were accustomed to sharing experiences, faced a divergent path in 2023 when Brinlee encountered a challenge her sister did not.
At the age of 21, two years prior, Brinlee began experiencing ‘severe abdominal cramping’ and noticed increased fatigue.
Initially, doctors suggested her symptoms could be attributed to various factors, including birth control and irritable bowel syndrome.
Brinlee confessed to KSL TV that she initially dismissed the discomfort, attributing it to stress instead of considering a significant health concern.
She remarked: “I just thought, you know, I’m stressed, I’m planning my wedding, I’m about to graduate college, there’s a lot of changes.”
Ultimately, her symptoms intensified, prompting a colonoscopy that revealed her colon cancer diagnosis.
Following her diagnosis, Brinlee underwent 30 chemotherapy sessions and is reportedly free from cancer.
Mariela also had a colonoscopy, where doctors removed polyps that could potentially develop into cancer, and she now credits her sister with having saved her life.
She expressed: “I like to think that she really did save my life in a way because I was headed down that route.”