People reported that Kirstie Alley was battling colon cancer before her death on December 5 at the age of 71. The details of Kirstie’s illness were confirmed just hours after her children disclosed that she had died.
In 1992 and 1995, Kirstie and her now ex-husband, Parker Stevenson, adopted her two children, William “True” Stevenson, 30, and Lillie Stevenson, 28. On the evening of December 5, a statement was posted on Kirstie’s Twitter profile announcing her death.
In their statement, True and Lillie hailed Kirstie as “amazing, fierce, and loving.” They also disclosed that her cancer was “just found.”
The statement stated, “She was surrounded by her closest relatives and fought with amazing strength, leaving us convinced of her unending joy of life and whatever adventures lay ahead.” She was an even more remarkable mother and grandmother than she was a renowned actress.
The siblings appreciated the Moffitt Cancer Center personnel for their care of Kirstie before her passing.
The couple added, “Our mother’s zeal and passion for life, her children, grandkids, and her numerous animals, not to mention her perpetual joy in creating, were unmatched and left us encouraged to live life to the fullest as she did.”
We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and ask that you respect our privacy at this challenging time. Kirstie and True and Lillie’s father, Parker, divorced in 1997, and Kirstie became a grandma in 2016 when True gave birth to a son.
Kirstie is most well-known for her work in films such as Look Who’s Talking, It Takes Two, and Drop Dead Gorgeous, as well as television series such as Cheers and Veronica’s Closet.
She was a competitor on season 7 of The Masked Singer earlier this year. She also participated twice in Dancing With the Stars, placing second in her initial season and seventh when she returned for the All-Stars season.
Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
According to the Cleveland Clinic, polyps (growths) in the inner lining of the colon can transform into malignant tumors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, colon cancer is the third most prevalent type of cancer diagnosed in the United States, and it mainly affects persons 50 and older.
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can have colon cancer without presenting symptoms, although typical ones include:
Consult a medical professional if you notice blood in the toilet after you defecate or after wiping, or if your stool appears dark or brilliant red. It is essential to realize that blood in feces does not necessarily indicate colon cancer. Other factors, such as hemorrhoids, anal rips, and eating beets, may alter the look of feces.
Changes in your bowel habits (how you defecate): Consult a healthcare provider if you experience prolonged constipation and/or diarrhea, or if you feel the need to defecate even after using the restroom.
Abdominal (belly) discomfort: Consult a healthcare physician if you experience abdominal (belly) pain with no known cause that persists or is very painful.
As with abdominal pain, there are a variety of causes for feeling bloated. Consult a healthcare provider if your bloated stomach persists for more than a week, worsens, or you experience additional symptoms such as vomiting or blood in or on your stools.
Unexplained weight loss is a noticeable decline in body weight that occurs while you are not dieting.
Consult a healthcare physician if you have been vomiting intermittently for no apparent reason or if you vomit frequently within 24 hours.
Fatigue and shortness of breath are indicators of anemia, which may indicate colon cancer.
Common Tests for Colon Cancer Screening
The most common screening test for colon cancer is a colonoscopy. Additional tests include:
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): This test detects blood hiding in the feces. Medical pathologists examine stool samples for blood that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT): Like the FIT, this test looks for undetectable blood in feces.
Fecal DNA Test: This test examines your excrement for indications of genetic alterations and blood products.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy: A flexible scope called a sigmoidoscope is utilized by medical professionals to examine the lower colon and rectum.
Virtual colonoscopy: A virtual colonoscopy is an X-ray that examines the colon and rectum for polyps, tumors, and ulcers (sores).