Dad Lost To Colon Cancer, Superstar Athlete, 34, Makes Incredible Recovery To Impresses On World Series Stage

RELATED: Colon Cancer Symptoms 

Speaking to the University of Kansas Cancer Center in an earlier interview, Hill explained how doctors found a tumor in his colon and had tested him for the disease because it runs in his family. His dad died of the disease at 53 years old.

Hill has Lynch syndrome, which is also called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), and is an inherited syndrome that increases a person’s risk of developing certain types of cancer including colorectal cancer.

Most colorectal cancers in people with Lynch syndrome develop before a person reaches the age of 50, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). It’s important to understand that by using genetic testing to identify whether or not you have Lynch syndrome, you can take proactive measures for your health.

RELATED: What is Lynch Syndrome? And Why Is it Important to Know About for People Fighting Cancer?

According to MLB.com, Hill was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2015 and his eight-month treatment plan led him to lose 70 pounds.

As for what led to him getting checked for cancer, Hill recounted a major symptom being that he wasn’t able to catch his breath while running.

“I knew that was weird because I’d been working out and was in great shape, I thought,” he explained to MLB.com. A blood test revealed he had a low number of hemoglobin. What proceeded next was a colonoscopy and a biopsy of the tumor found.

He continued, “The chemo was only supposed to last six months. But mine went eight months because I had to stop treatments a couple times. You’re supposed to go six weeks on, two weeks off, six weeks on, two weeks off, and so on.

“But I would make it four weeks and I would have to stop because I couldn’t eat, and if you don’t eat, they can’t give you the medicine. I got pancreatitis during it, too. It was hard.”

Thankfully, all went well and he completed chemotherapy in November 2015. It wasn’t until chemotherapy ended that he was able to get back to regaining his strength and the pounds that he had lost.

As for what helped him persevere through the hard times, Hill said, “I don’t really give it much thought anymore. It was what it was. It made me stronger.

“It’s in my past, let’s hope.”

Understanding Lynch Syndrome

According to the ACS, Lynch syndrome also leads to a high risk of developing endometrial cancer, along with cancers of the ovary, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, kidney, brain, ureters and bile duct. The ACS explains that this syndrome can be caused by a mutation in any of several mismatch repair (MMR) genes, including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS1, and PMS2. “These genes are normally involved in repairing damaged DNA. When one of these genes isn’t working, cells can develop mistakes in their DNA, which might lead to other gene mutations and eventually cancer,” says the ACS.

Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, a medical oncologist at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, says in an earlier interview, “About 20% of people with colon cancer have a family history, and about half of those, we know the risks are based on specific genes. Lynch syndrome is the most common cause of that small piece of the pie.”

“It’s very important to ask your health care provider if you might have Lynch syndrome, and if you can see a genetic counselor to discuss it further. In fact, there are a number of genes involved in Lynch syndrome,” she explained further.

“What is it really? It’s sometimes referred to as hereditary colon cancer, but that doesn’t really quite cover it. It includes an increased risk to colon cancer, rectal cancer, uterine or endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and a range of other cancers as well.”

“I Learned to Not be Afraid”: Survivor Shannon Masur Took on Cancer and Lynch Syndrome

She added, “And why is this important? Colon cancer is something that really should be completely preventable through screening and appropriate interventions, like removal of polyps for example.

“So individuals who carry one of the genes that’s associated with Lynch syndrome can be offered testing, certainly screening, at a much earlier age than you normally would have suggested by your care provider, even as early as the age of 25. We also would screen with a colonoscopy much more frequently.”

Understanding Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a type of cancer that affects your large intestine (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum). Your doctor might call this type of cancer colorectal cancer.

The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. If you don’t have these polyps removed, they can sometimes change into cancer.  It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become a full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts. If you get the recommended screenings, your doctor will likely have time to remove any polyps that form before they can cause problems.

While experts don’t know exactly what causes colon cancer, they do point to certain risk factors, such as diet, smoking tobacco, and drinking alcohol. Having a family history of colorectal cancer can also increase the risk.

Dr. Heather Yeo explains what we know about alcohol and colon cancer risk.

Both men and women can get colon cancer. Overall, it is the third most common cancer in the United States — but it’s also very preventable with the recommended screenings.

What Increases Your Risk for Colon Cancer?

Risk factors are things that make you more likely to get colon cancer. They don’t mean that you’ll definitely get this cancer — only that you’re slightly more likely to be diagnosed.

You may be at greater risk for colon cancer if you:

• Are older. About 90% of cases are in people age 50 or older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). Yet it is possible to get this cancer earlier in life.
• Have inflammatory bowel disease.  Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can, over time, cause cells in your intestines to turn cancerous.
• Have a family history of this cancer. Just under one-third of people who get colon cancer have family members with the disease.
• Have a gene mutation. About 5% of colorectal cancers are caused by an inherited genetic mutation that causes syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
• Don’t exercise very often. Staying active can lower your risk.
• Eat a diet that’s high in meat. Regularly eating red meats like burgers and steaks, and processed meats such as hot dogs and bacon might put you at higher risk.  Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains instead might lower your risk.
• Are overweight or obese. Having too much weight increases your risk of both getting colon cancer, and of dying from it.
• Drink a lot of alcohol. Limiting alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks daily for men could help lower your risk.
• Use tobacco. Long-term smokers are more likely to get this cancer than are nonsmokers.

Environmental risk factors such as smoking and obesity are important in the development of colon cancer before age 50. Yet, up to a third of people who develop cancer at a younger age have a genetic condition that puts them at high risk.

For that reason, it is important for people of all ages to pay attention to changes in their body or bowel habits.  Weight loss, blood in the stool, and changes in bowel movements that don’t go away are worth seeing your doctor about.

More on Colon Cancer in Young People

The average age people are diagnosed with colon cancer is 68 for men and 72 for women, according to the American Cancer Society.

The National Cancer Institute reports that since the 1990s, colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults younger than 50. Research published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians found that the proportion of cases in people younger than 55 “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.”

Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.

Researchers are still trying to determine exactly why younger people are being diagnosed in more significant numbers. Some experts point to risk factors, which include obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking, as a possible explanation for the increase.

“We don’t know for sure why we are seeing earlier onset and death from colon cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancers at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet.

“It is likely a combination of factors, including diet and genetics as well as access to care and some environmental factors,” Dr. Yeo explains.

Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. The screening usually involves a colonoscopy, in which a long, thin tube attached to a camera is used to examine the colon and rectum. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for ten years.

“We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early,” Dr. Yeo told SurvivorNet. “Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this, but access to care is a real problem,” Yeo added.

The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.

Coping With a Colostomy Bag After Colon Cancer Surgery

Get Comfortable Discussing Bowel Movements

It’s not unusual for people to be uncomfortable discussing bowel movements and anxious about the prospect of a colonoscopy, which may lead them to ignore symptoms.

“You shouldn’t die from embarrassment,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, said in an earlier interview with SurvivorNet.

There are many doctors, like Dr. Murrell, who believe it’s necessary to rattle the cages to make people aware of the critical importance of screening, especially among some population groups who are at higher risk for the disease.

‘You Shouldn’t Die From Embarrassment’: Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented

Explaining symptoms, Dr. Paul Oberstein, medical oncologist and assistant director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet “the most common sign of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits.”

“That could range from constipation or diarrhea to changes in the size or shape of bowel movements,” Dr. Oberstein explained. “You could also notice a change in stool color, particularly black or tarry stools, which can indicate bleeding from a tumor deep in the colon.”

Even if you have zero symptoms and feel completely healthy, it’s critical to get in and get checked. Schedule your appointment today.

Resilience Through Adversity

SurvivorNet specializes in covering the lives of people who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Often, seeing the positive helps them maintain their resilience.

Dr. Zuri Murrell, an oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke to SurvivorNet about the role of a positive outlook on survival rates: “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”

Resilience: Staying Positive Despite Adversity

Meanwhile, resilience is an important trait, but not the easiest to build. When building resilience, the ultimate goal is not to avoid tough times, but to be able to bounce back from them. And yet, when they are faced with an overwhelming, life-changing situation, how do people shift their view? How do they learn to see the problem as temporary, rather than permanent, and figure out a solution?

It’s complicated, because building resilience is more about your mental and emotional fortitude than anything else. According to the American Psychological Association, “the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced.” In other words, resilience is not something you’re born with, which should be encouraging. Instead, after every challenge in your life, you build more and more resilience to those hard times.

Building resilience is down in the same way you build muscle, through patience and steady exercise of the skill.

Some lessons learned from other cancer warriors SurvivorNet has covered include being willing to learn, spending time with people who inspire you, allowing yourself to grieve, being flexible, and leaning in to your community for support.

Overcoming adversity can seem daunting. Many people think reciting upbeat mottos or pretending to be cheerful will help, but these solutions can make someone feel even more dejected than before. Instead, pay attention to the following steps to make meaningful change.

• Set a goal. No matter what the situation, create a new goal for yourself. If you have just been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, perhaps one goal would be to educate yourself about the disease and the possible treatments as much as possible.
• Make a plan. How will you achieve this goal? Your plan will help you focus on that goal. Dr. Siddhartha Ganguly refers to this determined, focused mindset as “the eye of the tiger,” which can help people dealing with health problems, such as lymphoma and other cancers. “You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers,” Dr. Ganguly, a cancer specialist at Houston Methodist, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
• Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will alleviate your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
• Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or the computer screen that say “You got this! or “Keep going!” Cut out inspirational quotes from people you admire and surround yourself with their words. Dr. Boardman explained to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”

Facing Cancer: How to Turn Stress into Strength

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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