Iconic call-in psychic Miss Cleo sadly passed away at the young age of 53, after a battle with colon cancer. The illness eventually spread to her liver and lungs. We’re filling you in on what to know about her cancer diagnosis.
Miss Cleo, who’s real name was Youree Dell Harris, sadly passed away after she was recently hospitalized, then discharged to a hospice center, TMZ reported. Colon cancer, her original diagnosis and ultimately the catalyst in the spread of her illness, lead to her death. We are breaking down a few things you need to know about the illness that ended her life.
1. What exactly is colon cancer, and where exactly is it located?
Colon cancer, (otherwise known as colorectal cancer, rectal cancer, or bowel cancer), is cancer in the lower gastrointestinal tract, or the rectum. “It is when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine,” via WebMD. Most people who develop colon cancer are older than 50.
There are stages; 0, I, II, III, or IV;
2. What are the symptoms?
There are no early warning signs. It is important to be checked by your doctor periodically, since finding it as early as possible means there is a better chance the cancer is curable. “As the disease progresses, there could be blood in the stool or pain in the belly. Bathroom-related issues like constipation or diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue could occur. By the time these symptoms appear, tumors tend to be bigger and harder to treat,” the online health publisher states.
3. What causes colon cancer?
Risk factors include old age, gender (males), eating red or processed meets, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking – the site notes.
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4. What treatments are there?
Surgery is the most common treatment in order to remove the tumor, according to the site. A CT test can be done to see if the cancer has spread to the liver, lungs, or lymph nodes. The scan is of the abdomen, chest and pelvis. Depending on the size of a tumor and scan results, your doctor will most likely diagnose a stage of the cancer (I, II, III, or IV). Other treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapies, ablation and embolization, immunotherapy, or complementary therapies (acupuncture, massage).
5. Is it genetic?
“The 2 most common inherited colorectal cancer syndromes are hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). They can affect either sex, and the children of people who carry these genes have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease-causing gene,” WebMD mentions. However the two syndromes account for less than 5% of all colorectal cancers.
Risk factors that you can’t control: “polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, family history or colorectal cancer or precancerous colon polyps” (Polyps are growths on the inside of the intestines)
Our thoughts and prayers are with Miss Cleo’s family and friends at this time.
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