Beaver, WV (WOAY) – Tabitha Horn manages emergencies for Raleigh County for a living but for fifteen years, she’s been quietly managing one of her own: a colon cancer diagnosis she received at just twenty nine years old. Getting to that diagnosis in the first place was work in and of itself.
“I actually had to beg for them to do some type of test because my blood levels were fine,” said Horn. “Something was telling me, your body knows when something’s wrong. I was like, something’s wrong. Anyway, so they agreed to do the tests, and that’s when they found a large tumor.”
According to the Cancer Research Institute, colorectal cancer is rising by nearly 3% a year in adults under 50. It has become the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults.
“Cancer has no discrimination,” warned Horn. “You can get any type of cancer at any age. ”
On the outside, she’s never let it show.
“When you first look at me, you don’t get that, ‘she’s sick’ or anything because you have to put a happy face on and move on with your day and be strong for others. And it’s hard because I’m tired.”
Now after 15 years of treatments in Morgantown and Charleston, Horn is preparing for a clinical trial at Cleveland Clinic, and trying to raise the funds to make it happen.
“It’s financially draining. I mean, your insurance don’t pay for that much,” said Horn. “And when you go out of state, it doesn’t pay for anything either. ”
Horn says one of the most important things people in her situation can do is find people that support them.
“I do suggest people have support groups to get into … because the depression and the mental state of it, it’s just exhausting. My biggest support group has been my coworkers. They’ve been the best. They’re always there to pick me up. So I couldn’t ask for better coworkers,” said Horn, holding back tears.
She warns that if something feels wrong, push for a screening.
“Trust your body. If something’s wrong, if your doctor won’t do a test, go to another doctor. There’s other doctors. If there’s a chance, don’t give up. Keep going. Live your life to the fullest.”
The American Cancer Society recommends colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 45 for average-risk adults.
If you’d like to help fund Tabitha’s clinical trial at Cleveland Clinic, visit her GoFundMe.
