A woman who got diagnosed with colon cancer said her symptoms completely disappeared after giving birth - but is still living with the deadly disease. Jennaca Russ, 37, started experiencing blood in her stool and anaemia - lack of enough healthy red blood cells - in her second trimester.
As a nurse, Jennaca knew something was up and booked a doctors appointment when the doctor assured her these her symptoms were caused by the pregnancy. Not convinced, Jennaca booked a colonoscopy - a test to check inside your bowels - for November 21, 2022.
After giving birth to her first child August Russ, four months old, on October 4, 2022, Jennaca's symptoms stopped. After her symptoms stopped Jennaca didn't feel the need to go to her appointment but was urged to go by her mum.
Jennaca went to her colonoscopy and was given the heartbreaking news she had colon cancer and was told she had a 10% chance of survival. The nurse from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US said: "It was a pretty dark day for us, I got the news two or three days before Thanksgiving.
"Initially they thought I would be stage one or two but the next day I had a CT where we found out it had spread to my liver. Going into the holidays I thought it would be my last with my family but it was also the first one for my baby."
Jennaca fell pregnant with her son August Russ in January 2022 after a long battle with infertility. The nurse said it was in her second trimester when she started experiencing blood in her stool but was told by doctors it was caused by internal haemorrhoids - lumps inside and around your bottom.
Jennaca said: "I had a gut feeling it was something more than that. I contacted my doctors throughout my whole pregnancy and they said wait until the baby has been born.
"As my pregnancy went on I kept getting concerned about the bleeding and I reached out to a doctor and was put in for a colonoscopy."
August Russ was born on October 4, 2022 weighing 7lbs 3oz, after August was born, Jennaca's symptoms stopped. Jennaca's mum urged her to stick with her colonoscopy appointment, on November 21, 2022 Jennaca went to a digestive disease specialist.
After the appointment, Jennaca was given the devastating news that she had colon cancer and just a few days later she was informed that cancer had spread to her liver - and was given a year to live.
Jennaca said: "It was devastating, speaking to my doctor and he told me I had a year to live. After Thanksgiving, I had an appointment with an oncologist who changed my prognosis.
"He said I have years but it will be a long fight as the survival rate is poor. I have a 10% chance that I will live for five years."
Wanting to defy the odds, Jennaca scheduled an appointment at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, US on December 7, 2022. Jennaca said: "The doctors there said that my cancer is surgical and they believe they can remove my liver tumours.
"I have my colon cancer surgery at the end of February, they said the cure rate is about 40% which is light years ahead of what I was told before. Doctors are still deciding when I will have my liver surgery."
Since being diagnosed, Jennaca has had four rounds of chemotherapy to help shrink the tumours before the operation. Jennaca said: "It has been very emotional, the beginning was very hard.
"My husband has been incredible and my family have been very supportive. I am concentrating on enjoying the day-to-day, no matter how this turns out my son will never be a baby again while I am here with him.
"I want people to be aware to advocate for themselves, colon cancer in younger people is rising dramatically. Since I have been talking about my story I have found a lot of people in the same situation as me."
Jennaca lost her job as a nurse due to her illness and a GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for her cancer treatments. So far the page has raised $29,598 of the $50,000 target.
Jennaca said: "A friend of mine set up a GoFundMe to help with living and medical expenses and it has made all the difference in my fight. The support has changed the conversation from fighting for months to fighting for the chance that my son may have memories of me. For that my family and I will be forever grateful."
Donate at gofund.me/861e7343
