We often hear about colorectal cancer, but what do you know about rectal cancer specifically? In this episode of the YMyHealth podcast, Co-host Melissa Schenkman talks with with Jessica Ramos Acosta, a young rectal cancer survivor and cancer advocate to discuss her health journey, the importance of awareness around Lynch syndrome, and the critical role of self-advocacy in navigating the healthcare system as a person younger than age 50. Jessica shares her personal experiences with symptoms, receiving a cancer diagnosis at age 29, and undergoing immunotherapy. She emphasizes the need for millennials to be proactive about their health, as she would not have survived rectal cancer without advocating for herself for a colonoscopy when her doctors were not offering one, despite her severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

The discussion highlights the mental health challenges faced during treatment as a young cancer patient, importance of community support for young-onset patients and those in the LGBTQIA+ community, the complexities of survivorship, and the need for greater awareness and understanding of young onset colorectal cancer and the genetic disorder, Lynch syndrome’s role in it. As a cancer survivor, Jessica emphasizes living with intention and the impact of her experience on her perspective towards life and the value of health advocacy.

Highlights: 

• (00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• (01:08) Jessica’s Background and Health Journey
• (04:00) Understanding Lynch Syndrome and Genetic Testing
• (08:58) Symptoms and the Path to Diagnosis
• (14:58) The Importance of Self-Advocacy in Healthcare
• (21:06) Treatment Options and Immunotherapy Explained
• (26:57) Understanding Lynch Syndrome and Cancer Development
• (27:52) Introduction to Immunotherapy and Its Impact
• (30:39) Personal Experience with Immunotherapy Treatment
• (34:01) Mental Health Challenges During Treatment
• (39:02) Finding Community and Support as a Young Patient
• (42:38) Navigating Life After Cancer: The Survivorship Phase
• (49:52) Reevaluating Work and Identity Post-Cancer
• (52:00) The Untold Story of Young Onset Colorectal Cancer
• (54:10) Living with Intention After Cancer

Links:
Are you a millennial interested in learning more about healthcare issues specifically related to your generation? Start here: https://www.ymyhealth.com/ and follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ymyhealth_/

Learn more about this episode’s guest, Jessica Acosta, and follow her on Instagram @jayrayoflight to watch her cancer survivorship journey and continuing colorectal cancer advocacy work across the country.

Have a question about one of our podcast episodes? Email us at [email protected]. We will be answering your podcast episode questions in our next upcoming Q&A episode this summer.

Learn about YMyHealth’s Founder, Melissa Schenkman here: https://www.ymyhealth.com/team/melissa-schenkman

Thanks again to our sponsor Dr. Sarah Diekman, Director of Diekman Dysautonomia! If you’d like to learn more about our sponsor and her practice that provides care to patients with POTS and Long COVID, go to https://dysautonomiaexpert.com