Young Professional Gets Unusual Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

LAS VEGAS - March 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Joey England credits his wife and his 21^st Century Oncology physician with saving his life. England was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2014 and is now sharing his journey to raise awareness during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, observed in March.

England, a 45-year-old sales director from Las Vegas, was getting frequent stomach cramps. His busy schedule made him delay seeing a doctor – until his wife insisted.

His primary care physician diagnosed diverticulitis and prescribed antibiotics. The cramps returned two weeks later, and they were more severe. He and his doctor discussed whether he should get a colonoscopy, but his insurance wouldn’t cover it because of his young age.

He opted to get one anyway, and it revealed a 4.5-inch tumor that was nearly blocking his colon’s connection to his rectum. The severity of his condition didn’t hit him right away.

“This isn’t supposed to happen to people this young,” England said of his November diagnosis. “At first, I was nonchalant about it. I didn’t realize the impact it would have.”

England had surgery, but doctors weren’t able to remove the tumor because of its precarious position on his rectum. They referred him to 21^st Century Oncology’s Board Certified Radiation Oncologist, Tam T. Nguyen, M.D., who was named a “Top Doctor” in 2013 by Las Vegas Life Magazine.

“Most colon and rectal cancers occur in patients 50 and older, but they can happen to younger people too,” Dr. Nguyen said. “Patients and their doctors need to be vigilant about preventive screenings and colonoscopies for people with warning symptoms, regardless of age.”

England is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to shrink his tumor, and will have surgery to remove it in the next few months. In the meantime, he’s enjoying life with his wife of 24 years, Melisa, and working from home.

He lauded Dr. Nguyen for his expertise and reassuring manner, but also had a bit of unconventional praise for the doctor’s short wait times.

“When you have cancer, you do a lot of waiting,” he said. “Walking in and getting to see someone almost immediately is just awesome. That’s what I experienced at 21^st Century Oncology.”

An estimated 93,090 cases of colon cancer and 39,610 cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society, making colorectal cancer the third most common cancer, excluding skin cancers.

For more information about our services, visit www.21cOncologyLasVegas.com or call (702) 990-4761.

About 21^st Century Oncology:

21^st Century Oncology is the largest global, physician-led provider of Integrated Cancer Care services. The company offers a comprehensive range of cancer treatment services, focused on delivering academic quality, cost-effective patient care in personal and convenient settings. The company operates 181 treatment centers in 17 states and six Latin American countries. The company also operates 36 centers located in six countries in Latin America. The company holds market-leading positions in most of its domestic local markets and abroad.