A colon cancer survivor is warning others about the five signs and symptoms she ignored.
In 2012, at the age of 44, Cheryl (@just.cherl) was diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer. Since then, she has been an advocate for awareness on TikTok.
Colon cancer has long been associated with older adults, especially people over 65. However, colorectal cancer rates have been steadily increasing among adults under 50 since the ’90s.
Oncologists have partly blamed the concerning rise in youth cases and deaths on obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption, and environmental factors such as pollutants in the air, soil, and water.
Inspired by the troubling trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force changed its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for but those experiencing symptoms and those with a family history of colon cancer may be eligible earlier.
Colorectal cancer develops in the tissues of the colon or rectum — both are part of the large intestine in the digestive system.
It’s the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, with the American Cancer Society estimating that about 53,000 Americans will die of colorectal cancer this year.
Early detection can improve survival chances. Treatment often involves surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
To ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment, Cheryl shared the five telltale symptoms that developed in the years leading up to her diagnosis.
“Don’t be like me if you are truly having issues, then go get checked,” she imparted. “Early detection is the key!! It’s ok to be nervous and afraid, but not to the point of doing nothing!”
Stomach ache
Cherly noted that after meals, she would experience severe stomach pain that felt akin to a food allergy.
“Every time I ate something, I would get sick. My stomach would just hurt. It came to the point that I became an introvert because I couldn’t go out,” she said.
“I couldn’t do that because who knows when I would have to excuse myself and go to the bathroom. If you have a stomachache after two out of three meals, there’s something wrong.”
Changes in bowel movements
Constipation now and then isn’t a cause for concern, but if you’re normally regular — and then you’re stopped up for weeks or months at a time — that’s not normal and could be a sign that cancer is obstructing your bowels.
Very thin stools can also be a sign, as can severe diarrhea.
Cheryl said that for years before her diagnosis, she experienced severe constipation followed by diarrhea.
“I would go three to four days without having a bowel movement and then diarrhea. This was in the early stages when if I had gone to the doctor and they did a colonoscopy, they might have seen the pre-cancerous polyps,” she said.
She emphasized that people who regularly rely on OTC medications “either to go to the bathroom or not go to the bathroom” should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Low iron
Cheryl said she started having issues with low iron two decades before her diagnosis. She was unable to donate blood during a routine Red Cross blood drive at work.
Bleeding from colorectal tumors can lead, over time, to anemia, a condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells.
Anemia is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients, according to 2023 research.
Chest pain
When Cheryl engaged in exercise or other cardiovascular activities, her heart rate would elevate, and she would feel extreme pain in her chest.
“It felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. And anytime I would stand up, I would feel faint.”
She explained that the combination of chest pain and dizziness was the result of a lack of blood in her system. “All of my blood was going to my tumors.”
Blood in stool
Recent research found that the most common red flag for colorectal cancer in young people was rectal bleeding, as nearly half of those diagnosed reported blood on their toilet paper or in their toilet bowl.
Cheryl, who experienced hemorrhoids in her teens and 20s, dismissed this critical sign.
“I just thought it was normal, and then later on, when the cancer progressed, the blood was really dark, almost black. I was thinking the whole time that I had an ulcer,” she said.
While blood can be a symptom of colon cancer, other causes of rectal bleeding include IBD, anal fissures, and hemorrhoids. In any case, this type of bleeding should be addressed and assessed by a medical professional.
