Taking Colon Cancer Signs Seriously

Colon cancer is rising among young people, yet its symptoms are often overlooked due to age related biases. In 2024, colorectal cancer became the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men under 50 and the second most deadly for women.¹ Historically labeled a disease for the elderly, colon cancer is proving this stereotype dangerously wrong.

Rising colon cancer rates among young adults

At just 27 years old, I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer — a reality neither I nor my doctors ever anticipated. A year earlier, at 26, I was an otherwise healthy young woman experiencing occasional rectal bleeding. Over the preceding three years, I had visited emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, and my primary care physician, only to be told the bleeding was due to hemorrhoids. My diet was blamed, and I was dismissed. Trusting my doctors, I carried on with my life, unaware of the ticking time bomb in my body.

The term colonoscopy wasn’t even in my vocabulary then. It’s not exactly a topic of conversation among twenty-somethings, though perhaps it should be.

The importance of listening to your body

Fast forward a year, and my health had taken a drastic turn. I had lost 40 pounds, was in constant pain after eating, and eventually stopped eating to avoid the debilitating discomfort. I was also dealing with persistent abdominal cramping.

Desperate, I sought help from a gastroenterologist (GI), a specialist for the digestive tract.
Once again, I was dismissed — this time with the shocking suggestion that my dramatic weight loss was “beneficial.” My concerns were ignored, and further testing was refused. Frustrated and feeling unheard, I turned to social media, documenting my symptoms on TikTok. That decision — and the support from strangers online — was the catalyst that eventually saved my life.

How colon cancer is diagnosed

Encouraged by online advice, I found a new GI doctor who took my symptoms seriously. Within weeks, this doctor scheduled a colonoscopy and CT scan. These tests revealed the truth: I had colon cancer. The speed of this doctor’s action made all the difference, underscoring the importance of recognizing colon cancer symptoms and advocating for proper testing.

A colonoscopy — a procedure where a camera and light are used to examine the inside of the large and small intestines — proved instrumental in diagnosing my condition. This test is not only essential for detecting colon cancer and pre-cancerous polyps but also for identifying conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, and diverticulitis. ¹

Unfortunately, my story is far from unique. Many young colon cancer patients face similar struggles to receive a diagnosis. The pervasive belief that colon cancer only affects older adults leads to dangerous assumptions, leaving early symptoms ignored and serious conditions undiagnosed.

The reality is stark: colon cancer doesn’t discriminate by age, and its prevalence among young adults is growing. ¹It’s time to move beyond outdated stereotypes and recognize this disease for the universal threat it is.

A wake-up call for young adults about colon cancer

This article isn’t meant to scare you — it’s meant to inform you. If you know the signs, you may catch issues like polyps before they progress to cancer. Adding colonoscopy to your vocabulary could save your life or the life of someone you love.

Pay attention to your body and listen when something feels off. Early detection is key, and taking symptoms seriously — no matter your age — can make all the difference. Please, don’t wait until it’s too late