Man in his early forties, with two children, believed his abdominal discomfort was due to eating poorly cooked sausage at a barbecue... however, it was actually colon cancer, as doctors stated he had only a few months left to live.
Headline: Five-Year Survivor: Matt Eamer's Journey with Advanced Bowel Cancer
Subheadline: A tale of resilience and medical advancements in the fight against colorectal cancer
Matt Eamer, a 44-year-old father-of-two from Redhill, Surrey, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in September 2020. Despite the grim prognosis, Matt's story is one of hope and perseverance.
Further tests revealed a rare BRAF mutation in his cancer, which drives tumors to grow at an alarming rate. In December 2024, Matt underwent a 14-hour surgery to remove cancerous tissue in his ribcage, followed by heated HIPEC chemotherapy. Scans after the surgery showed 'things clear.'
Matt began fortnightly Cetuximab infusions combined with four daily Encorafenib pills, new immunotherapy drugs approved just months earlier. Five years on, Matt is still clear and continues treatment.
Matt's journey underscores the critical importance of early symptom recognition and updated screening guidelines. Common symptoms of early-onset (young adult) colorectal cancer include blood or rectal bleeding in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain or bloating, fatigue, a sensation of incomplete bowel emptying, loss of appetite, and night sweats. Rectal bleeding, in particular, is a significant warning sign that should never be ignored.
The rise in colorectal cancer rates among adults under 50 is a concerning trend. In England, cases have been increasing by around 3.6% per year, while in the US, rates have been rising by about 2.4% annually over the past decade. The exact reasons for this increase are under investigation, but may involve diet, environment, microbiome changes, and delayed diagnosis due to low suspicion in this age group.
Advances in treatment for advanced colorectal cancer in recent years have been significant. Personalized surgery combined with chemotherapy remains a mainstay in managing local and metastatic disease. Improvements in chemotherapy regimens to better target cancer cells and reduce recurrence have been made. The advent of targeted therapies aimed at specific genetic mutations within the tumor, such as EGFR inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors, has also been a game-changer.
Moreover, the use of immunotherapy for certain molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer has improved survival in advanced stages. Treatment plans are increasingly personalized, considering patient age, genetic markers, and tumor biology, improving outcomes especially in younger patients who may have different genetic profiles.
Matt Eamer will join Sir Chris Hoy's charity cycle in Glasgow to raise funds for Bowel Cancer UK. His story serves as a testament to the power of medical advancements and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
[1] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults and Children: Questions and Answers. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colorectal-young-adults-treatment-pdq
[2] American Cancer Society. (2021). Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2021-2023. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures/colorectal-cancer-facts-and-figures-2021-2023.pdf
[3] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2021). Colorectal cancer: diagnosis and management. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg11
[4] American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2020). ASCO Answers: Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/colorectal-cancer/asco-answers-colorectal-cancer-young-adults
[5] Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., Jemal, A., & Ward, E. (2021). Colorectal cancer statistics, 2021. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71(1), 7-33. doi: 10.3322/caac.21540
