Gregg Leakes Colon Cancer Has Returned
- Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes recently revealed that her husband’s colon cancer has returned. Gregg Leakes was first diagnosed with the disease in 2018 but announced he was cancer-free in 2019.
- NeNe says cancer has made her husband “different.” She struggled to take care of him during his last battle with the disease, but perhaps their history will allow for another triumph during this difficult time.
- The biggest symptom of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits. If you ever notice that you’ve developed constipation, diarrhea or changes in the size or shape of bowel movements, you should talk with your doctor right away.
NeNe Leakes' husband, Gregg Leakes, was previously diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2018. Nene’s last update to fans about her husband’s health was in May 2019 when she announced the exciting news that he was cancer-free after completing chemotherapy. But during a recent Instagram Live with The Jasmine Brand, NeNe shared that things had recently taken a turn for the worst.
Read More“He’s super small,” she said. “If you’ve ever been around somebody who’s had cancer before, he’s different. He’s different.”
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The couple first married is 1997, but divorced briefly in September 2011. They remarried on Real Housewives of Atlanta in June 2013, but struggled a few years later when Gregg was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer after finally getting a colonoscopy at the urging of his wife. NeNe even considered getting another divorce due to his attitude towards her while going through chemotherapy, but she ultimately decided to stick by his side. Hopefully, their long history will help them get through yet another challenging time.
Understanding Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that affects your large intestine (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum). The cancer develops when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to actually become cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts, so following recommended screening guidelines usually gives your doctor enough time to remove any polyps before they become cancerous.
Overall, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States, but it can be prevented with proper screening. Still, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be a total of 104,270 new cases of colon cancer and 45,230 new cases of rectal cancer in the United States this year.
SurvivorNet Guide: Treating Early-Stage Colon Cancer
Symptoms of this disease can include the following:
- A change in bowel habits. This ranges from constipation or diarrhea to changes in the size or shape of bowel movements.
- A change in stool color, particularly black or tarry stools, can indicate bleeding from a tumor that lies deep in the colon.
- Abdominal pain.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Anemia can also be a symptom because tumors can sometimes bleed a small amount over a long period of time resulting in low red blood cell count (anemia).
It is important to note, however, that displaying some of these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer. You could also have colon cancer and not display any of these symptoms. Regardless, it is important to stay up to date with screening and bring up any of these symptoms to your doctor should they arise.
As far as causes are concerned, there is still much research to be done. Experts point to certain risk factors such as diet, smoking tobacco, being obese, drinking alcohol and having a family history of colorectal cancer as factors that can increase a person's risk for the disease.
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