Colorectal Cancer Stories
Colorectal cancer can start either in the colon or the rectum. It makes up about eight percent of all cancer cases in the U.S. Finding and removing polyps can prevent colorectal cancer. (NCI) It’s also on the rise for men and women under 50 years old, as many of our stories below will highlight.
New Report: Colon Cancer on the Rise in Younger Adults
January 18, 2024
A new report highlights a worrying 9% increase in colorectal cancer among those under 50. Despite unclear reasons for this rise, factors like genetics, lifestyle, and obesity are considered. Surprisingly, many young patients don’t fit the typical risk profiles, hinting at other causes like environmental factors or microbiome changes. This trend is leading to more late-stage diagnoses in young adults, emphasizing the need for awareness and early screening.
Go directly to our stories covering younger diagnoses.
Scientists are now working to uncover the causes behind this rise and develop strategies to prevent and treat colorectal cancer in younger age groups. As Dr. Kimmie Ng, director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, said, “Research into what the underlying causes are and what the risk factors are, is so important. We need to identify those young people who are at high risk and target them for earlier screening.” Read our interview with Dr. Ng.
Take our Colorectal Cancer Survey and get 10 Tips from Our Community on symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and support.
Colorectal Cancer 101
Learn more with our guide on colorectal cancer, a disease that affects the colon or rectum. In this colorectal cancer overview article, we touch on crucial aspects such as screening, stages, treatment options, and patient stories. Through these stories, you’ll discover valuable insights from the very people who have been there.
Patient Stories
Explore below for colorectal cancer stories from our community of patients and thrivers who share their experiences with colon and rectal cancer diagnoses and treatments.
Colon Cancer Stories
Shannon M., Colon Cancer, Stage 1
Symptoms: Routine colonoscopy found polyp; found the cancer as a result of Lynch Syndrome
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Hugo T., Colon Cancer, Stage 1
Symptoms: Inflamed bowel; diagnosed 2 weeks after 5-year remission from testicular cancer
Treatment: Subtotal colectomy, immunotherapy
Rachel B., Sigmoid Colon Cancer, Stage 1
Symptoms: Stomach discomfort, nausea, bloating, blood in stool
Treatment: Colectomy
Chris T., Colon Cancer, Stage 2
Symptoms: Found the cancer as a result of family history & early colonoscopy; discovered Lynch Syndrome after genetic testing
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Shannon C., Colon Cancer, Stage 2A
Symptoms:Severe pains after eating; tested positive for Lynch Syndrome
Treatment: Partial colectomy
Barbara M., Colon Cancer, Stage 3
Symptoms: Stomach discomfort, difficult to process food
Treatment: Surgery (colectomy), chemotherapy (FOLFOX, CAPOX)
Shelley B., Colon Cancer, Stage 3B
Symptoms: None; found as a result of routine colonoscopy & endoscopy
Treatment:Partial colectomy, chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
Lindsay D., Colon Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Lump in pelvic area, funny-smelling food, weight loss
Treatment: Chemotherapy, colectomy (surgery)
Lee J., Colon Cancer, Stage 4, Recurrence
Symptoms: None; discovered stage 4 cancer from unrelated CT scan
Treatment: Neoadjuvant chemo (FOLFOX), hemicolectomy (partial colon surgery), adjuvant chemo (FOLFOX), chemo post-recurrence (FOLFIRI), liver surgery
JJ S., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, blood in stool
Treatment: Surgery to remove tumor, chemotherapy, clinical trial of Keytruda (pembrolizumab)
Haley P., Colon Cancer, Stage 3C
Symptoms: Constipation, fatigue, shortness of breath
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy
Amanda G., Colon Cancer, Stage 2A
Symptoms: Gurgly stomach, blood in stool, chronic constipation
Treatment: Surgery (hemicolectomy), chemotherapy (CAPOX), Zarxio
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, constipation, belly button discharge
Treatment: Liver surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
Symptoms: Fatigue, anemia, irregular bowel movements, loss of appetite, heavy periods Treatment: Laparoscopy, chemotherapy, partial hysterectomy
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, constipation
Treatment: Surgery, Chemo
Symptoms: Shortness of breath, lump under armpit, not feeling herself
Treatment: Chemotherapy, Transfusions
Dania M., Colon Cancer, Stage 4, with Liver and Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Symptoms: Constipation, diarrhea, terrible bloating, swollen belly, as if pregnant
Treatment: Surgery, immunotherapy (KEYTRUDA)
Stephanie K., Colon Cancer, Stage 3
Symptoms: Very bad cramps, bloating, indigestion, burping
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy (CAPOX)
Jason A., Colon Cancer, Stage 3B
Symptoms: Abdominal pressure, fatigue, small amounts of blood in stool
Treatment: Surgery (colon resection), chemotherapy (FOLFOX: folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin)
Treatment: Chemo, surgery
Treatment: Chemo, oxaliplatin, capecitabine, surgery
Treatment: Chemo, Avastin, FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, surgery, Neupogen shots
Treatment: Chemo, FOLFOX
Elizabeth W., Stage 4, Colon
Symptoms: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), B12 deficiency, Hypoalbuminemia
Treatment:Surgery (removal of left side of liver and small portion on the right), Chemotherapy (oxaliplatin and xeloda)
Amy L., Colon Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms Slight change in stool consistency
Treatment: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy
Rectal Cancer Stories
Joanna H., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma
1st symptoms: Rectal bleeding, bloating, stomach aches
Treatment: FOLFOX chemo, radiation
Catherine P., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma; 98% of rectal and colon cancers are adenocarcinomas
1st Symptoms: Rectal bleeding, constipation, bloating
Treatment: Fertility treatments, chemo, radiation, tumor resection surgery
Jackie S., Rectal Adenocarcinoma, Stage 3B, Lynch Syndrome
Cancer Details: Rectal adenocarcinoma; 98% of rectal and colon cancers are adenocarcinomas
1st Symptoms: Blood in stool, constipation
Treatment: Chemo, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy
Maria A., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3C
Cancer Details: 7cm mass found
1st Symptoms: Fatigue, weight loss, fast heart rate, bladder infection
Treatment: Chemo, radiation, surgery for tumor removal
Justine L., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3B/ 4
Cancer Details: Metastasized to stage 4
1st symptoms: Increasing bowel movements (up to 20/day), some rectal bleeding
Treatment: Chemoradiation (oral pill capecitabine + radiation), colectomy, FOLFOX chemo, SBRT radiation, cancer ablation, Y90 (radioembolization)
Amy H., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3B, Lynch Syndrome
Symptoms: Feeling off, abdominal pain, bloating, weight loss, blood in stool, thin stool, massive shift in bathroom habits, exhaustion
Treatment: Radiation, chemotherapy (Xeloda & oxaliplatin), surgery (total proctocolectomy with ileostomy, APR reconstruction, and radical hysterectomy)
Symptoms: Fatigue, anemia, irregular bowel movements, loss of appetite, heavy periods Treatment: Laparoscopy, chemotherapy, partial hysterectomy
Ananda P., Rectal Cancer, Stage 3B
Symptoms: Intermittent rectal bleeding
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy (FOLFOX)
Jelena T., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 3
Symptoms: Blood in stool, change in gas
Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery
Colorectal Cancer Stories
Allison R., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 2C
Symptoms: Extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, "blockage" feeling after eating
Treatment: Concurrent adjuvant (oral) chemotherapy + radiation, colectomy, oral chemotherapy
Michelle C., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Felt like either a UTI or yeast infection
Treatment: Chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel), surgery (hysterectomy), and radiation
Jason R., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Blood in stool, diarrhea, tenesmus, feeling run down
Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, HAI pump
Raquel A., Colorectal Cancer, Stage 4
Symptoms: Frequent bowel movements, pin-thin stools, mild red blood in stool
Treatment: Chemotherapy (oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan)
Symptoms: Frequent blood in stool, lower back pain, rectal pain
Treatment: Chemotherapy (5-FU), radiation, surgery
Symptoms: blood in stool, changes in bowel habits, feeling gassy/bloatedTreatment: Surgery to remove tumor, Chemo: FOLFIRI, monoclonal antibody: panitumumab, liver transplant
Patients In Their 30s and 40s Share Their Earliest Symptoms
In 2024, a concerning trend emerged: colon cancer incidence is rising among adults under 50, particularly those between 30 and 40 years old. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that this demographic is the only one to experience an increase in overall cancer incidence (number of new cases in a year for every 100K people) from 1995 to 2020. Colorectal cancer, once the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths for people under 50, has now become the leading cause for men and the second for women.
Regular screenings for colorectal cancer are crucial for early detection. The most common screening method is a colonoscopy, which allows doctors to examine the entire colon and rectum for polyps or signs of cancer.
Colorectal Cancer Medical Expert Interviews
Toufic Kachaamy,MD
Role: Chief of Medicine and Director of Gastroenterology
Focus: endoscopic oncology
Provider: City of Hope (Phoenix)
Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH
Role: Gastrointestinal oncologist
Focus: Young-onset colorectal cancer, microbiome
Provider: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston)
Navigating the Latest Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Clinical Trials
Colorectal cancer patient advocate Allison Rosen and leading oncologist Dr. Cathy Eng from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center discuss the latest advancements in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, the current treatment landscape, and the most promising clinical trials available.