WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. \u2013 It\u2019s a ritual Michael Taylor follows four times a week.<\/p>\n
Walking into the St. Mary\u2019s ice rink in West Bloomfield. Putting on his hockey gear. Lacing up his skates. Stepping onto the ice he knows so well.<\/p>\n
Taylor is used to staring down fierce competitors, but three years ago, he noticed something far scarier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had some symptoms at 37. I definitely had some, they call it \u2018blood in the stool,\u2019 which isn\u2019t easy to talk about. But, it was alarming, because it was a little bit at first, and then over time, it gradually got more and more,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n
He started using the bathroom more frequently. Then he developed pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the fear. Like I was just scared. I was just, \u2018Oh, oh no, I don\u2019t want to go get this checked out. What if it is something bad?\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Taylor finally sought help from Dr. Claire Peeples, a colorectal surgeon at Corewell Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight away, we scheduled him for a colonoscopy and had to let him know that my concerns are, this could be something more than just a hemorrhoid or a fissure,\u201d Peeples said.<\/p>\n
Taylor was diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer and stage three colon cancer. His tumor measured four centimeters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up from the colonoscopy, bad news. And it\u2019s like, \u2018Well, what\u2019s the plan?\u2019 And \u2018We got a plan. Let\u2019s put something together.\u2019 And that actually felt better than not knowing, you know, that was, as scary as it was, it was like, \u2018Okay, now we know. Now we can actually manage this,\u2019\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n
The plan included chemotherapy pills, proton therapy, and then IV chemo.<\/p>\n
\u201cMike\u2019s tumor responded really well to the upfront treatment. His pain went away, his bleeding went away. And now we\u2019re monitoring him very closely to make sure that that tumor stays down and that it doesn\u2019t grow,\u201d Peeples said.<\/p>\n
Taylor said hockey — and his teammates — have helped him fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHockey is probably the reason I got through all this so well, because you\u2019re scared of all these treatments. I know what\u2019s scary is Big Bob, when he hits you in the corner at 45 miles an hour,\u201d Taylor joked.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u2019s teammates also donated money to help with his massive medical bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was everything. That really kind of shook me because it was like an affirmation of friendship with all these guys,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u2019s case is part of a frightening trend. Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in adults under age 50.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very concerning because we don\u2019t have a reason for why this is happening. I think there\u2019s still a lot of ongoing research looking at the microbiome, environmental things, but it is concerning because a lot times these are young, healthy people that don\u2019t have any other risk factors, no family history,\u201d Peeples said. \u201cHis story inspired me and can inspire a lot of people to let them know that any symptom that they have, they should get it evaluated by a doctor right away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylor wants people to hear that message — especially if fear is what\u2019s stopping them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you start seeing blood, maybe week one, week two, go see someone. Seriously, it\u2019s not that big of a deal. It\u2019s not that scary. Everybody\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, colonoscopy at 45.\u2019 They\u2019re going to move that down. And it needs to be because<\/p>\n
they\u2019re finding it more in younger people and if fear is the thing stopping you, don\u2019t let it. Be strong, be tough, go talk to someone. That\u2019s super important,” Taylor said. \u201cThe fear is so much worse than actually knowing. So living in a fear of unknown is — It\u2019s like unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylor also wants people to understand: if it is cancer, there are better treatment options than in previous years — but you need to get the doctors in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the technology. They have the ways to make you comfortable and feel comfortable about whatever treatment you\u2019re getting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Taylor has suffered a lot of hockey injuries over the years — including a broken hand, collarbone, leg, knee, and a root canal. He said all of the cancer treatment was not nearly as painful as the hockey stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cPostponing treatment because of fear is the biggest mistake that anybody can make,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThey can solve these problems. Just the sooner you go, the easier. That\u2019s the whole thing, the sooner the better.\u201d<\/p>\n
To learn more about screening for colorectal cancer, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n