Why Genetic Testing Can't Wait Until Age 16 - Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) | Jenny Jones

What happens when you're diagnosed with guaranteed cancer at eight years old?   This week, Kim welcomes Jenny Jones, author and advocate living with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)—a hereditary colon cancer syndrome that guarantees colon removal at some point in life. Diagnosed at eight years old and having her colon removed at nine when polyps started turning cancerous, Jenny spent five years angry at everyone, developing medical PTSD from surgical complications that led to short bowel syndrome.   In this raw and educational episode, Jenny reveals:​🔴 Brutal honesty: Genetic reality: 50-50 chance of inheriting FAP if parent has it. Colon removal is inevitable when polyps turn cancerous ​🟢 Five years of anger: Medical PTSD and surgical complications led to hating everyone, parents, doctors, and herself, until therapy ​🟣 Advocacy mission: Written children's book with mutant characters, pushing for earlier screening than current age 10-15 guidelines Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Understanding Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)04:57 Growing Up with FAP: Personal Experiences07:36 Daily Challenges of Living with Rare Diseases10:59 Diet and Its Impact on Health11:44 Advocacy Through Writing: Children's Books on FAP15:04 Genetics and Inheritance of FAP19:45 Future of Research and Advocacy for FAP22:58 Diagnosis and Symptoms of FAP28:09 Advice for Young Patients with FAPConnect with Jenny:💻 ⁠⁠Life's A Polyp📚  Amazon: "Life's A Polyp"To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠