Hamm, 49, Lost Mother to Cancer
- Actor Jon Hamm lost both of his parents by age 20, with his mom dying of colorectal cancer when he was only 10 years old.
- Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in America, but screening can help you detect – and even prevent – the disease.
- Hamm, like many others who have lost loved ones to cancer, says therapy was crucial to helping him heal.
After his mother’s death, Jon went to live with his father Daniel, who died shortly after Hamm turned 20 years old. Even though the couple had divorced when Jon was two, Deborah’s death forever changed Daniel.
“He was just so much older, so much sadder. Life was harder.”
Despite being orphaned at only 20 years old, Hamm was able to achieve wild success as an actor and international celebrity. Counseling has helped him cope with the loss of his parents.
Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer, which is cancer that forms in your large intestine, is the third most common form of cancer for both men and women: over 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease every year.
Colon Cancer: Introduction to Prevention and Screening
Fortunately, colon cancer can be easily detected with a colonoscopy, which is a test that uses a camera attached to a long, thin tube to check for polyps (small abnormal growths) throughout your colon and rectum.
Related: You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment”: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
By removing these polyps before they become cancerous, doctors can actually prevent colon and rectal cancer before they happen.
We’ve seen great progress because of expanded access to screenings: colon cancer rates have been going down as the number of annual colonoscopies goes up.
For people at average risk for colon cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends starting colon cancer screening at age 45. You’ll have your first colonoscopy at this age to discover any polyps, and if none are found, this will serve as a baseline for your next exam, which will likely be at 55.
There are a number of factors that put people at a higher risk for colon cancer, most notably having a family history of colon cancer and smoking. These people should start screening earlier.
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms that may be colon cancer:
- Change in bowel movements/habits
- Change in stool color/blood in stool
- Anemia
- Cramps
- Gas
- Weakness
- Tiredness
Therapy Can Be Lifesaving
Hamm has been open and honest about struggling with his parents’ deaths as well as alcoholism. He’s been a powerful advocate for therapy, telling reporters and his millions of fans that professional help can change your life.
“It has all these connotations, but it’s just an extended period of talking about yourself,” Hamm explained to Mr. Porter’s The Journal in 2016. “People go for all sorts of reasons, not all of which are chemically related. But there’s something to be said for pulling yourself out of the grind for a period of time and concentrating on re-calibrating the system. And it works. It’s great.”
Millions of survivors and people who have lost loved ones to cancer share Hamm’s view that therapy can be a critical step to finding peace, especially after loss.
SurvivorNet previously spoke with Camila Legaspi, a young woman who lost her mother to breast cancer when she was in high school. Looking back, she now says that therapy played a crucial role in helping her find joy again in life.
"Therapy saved my life," Legaspi previously told SurvivorNet. "I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me."
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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