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Young Woman’s Bowel Cancer Warning Highlights Importance of Early Detection
A fit and healthy 25-year-old is raising awareness about the silent threat of bowel cancer after a routine examination unexpectedly revealed pre-cancerous growths. Despite experiencing no apparent symptoms of colon cancer, doctors discovered the polyps which could have developed into a serious malignancy, underscoring the critical need for early detection in young adults.
Lack of Traditional Risk Factors
Caty Abitz, a 25-year-old from Wisconsin, USA, is sharing her story to highlight that bowel cancer in young adults can occur even in the absence of typical risk factors. In a widely viewed Instagram video, Ms. Abitz explained that she neither smokes, nor consumes alcohol, nor follows an unhealthy diet. Furthermore, she has no family history of the disease.
Early Detection Prevented Serious Illness
Medical professionals informed Ms. Abitz that the timely identification and removal of these pre-cancerous polyps were crucial. Without intervention, they stated that she would have likely developed full-blown bowel cancer within a few years, emphasizing the significance of early colon cancer detection.
Rising Bowel Cancer Cases in Young Adults
Ms. Abitz’s cautionary tale emerges amidst a concerning global trend: the increasing incidence of bowel cancer in younger adults. Scientists are currently investigating the reasons behind this rise, with potential factors including increased environmental pollution and the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Journey to Diagnosis
Last autumn, Ms. Abitz sought medical attention for abdominal discomfort related to endometriosis, a painful condition involving the growth of womb lining-like tissue outside the uterus. She subsequently underwent surgery to address this issue.
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As a precautionary measure, doctors recommended a bowel examination to rule out any digestive system-related causes for her pain. This led to a colonoscopy, a procedure where a flexible camera is inserted into the rectum to examine the colon.
Unexpected Polyp Discovery During Colonoscopy
During the colonoscopy, doctors were surprised to find two polyps in Ms. Abitz’s colon. These small, abnormal growths are known to potentially become cancerous. Research indicates that a significant majority of bowel cancers originate from polyps, although only a small percentage of polyps ultimately develop into cancer, according to Yale Medicine.
Patient Shares Experience and Urges Action
“I had a colonoscopy this week, and the doctor found some pretty sizable polyps in my colon,” Ms. Abitz recounted in her video. She further explained, “[My doctor] shared that if I had waited just a few more years, it would have most likely turned into cancer.”
She highlighted the unexpected nature of her diagnosis: “My family does not have a history of colon cancer, I am active, I eat relatively well, I do not drink, I don’t smoke…and yet I’m now on the list of people who have to get a colonoscopy every three years to monitor my health.”
Call to Action: Don’t Ignore Potential Symptoms
Ms. Abitz passionately urged young individuals to be vigilant about potential bowel cancer symptoms and to advocate for their health concerns with medical professionals.
“If you are a young person and you are experiencing any abdominal pain, bloating, irregular bowel movements, and especially rectal bleeding… do not dismiss it or attribute it to hemorrhoids. Consult a doctor and request a colonoscopy,” she advised.
She further cautioned, “If you encounter a doctor who dismisses your concerns due to your age, seek a second opinion. Had I waited and not pursued this check-up, I would have developed full-blown cancer. Please take this seriously; bowel cancer can affect anyone.”
Alarming Rise in Young-Onset Bowel Cancer
Studies reveal a significant increase in bowel cancer diagnoses among individuals under 50 over the past three decades, with an 80 percent rise globally.
Symptoms of bowel cancer can include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits, and lumps in the bowel causing obstructions. Weight loss can also occur.
Cancer Research UK data indicates a 52 percent increase in bowel cancer incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s. The organization acknowledges this rise but emphasizes that bowel cancer rates in younger adults remain relatively low, with approximately one in 20 diagnoses occurring in people under 50.
Currently, there are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases annually in the UK among individuals aged 25-49, and approximately 44,100 new cases across all age groups.
Shared Experiences of Young Bowel Cancer Patients
Numerous young social media users resonated with Ms. Abitz’s message, sharing their personal experiences with bowel cancer diagnoses in the comments section of her post.
One user wrote, “I had to fight for my colonoscopy because I was ‘too young,’ and now I am undergoing rectal cancer treatments. I was diagnosed on Halloween 2024.”
Another commented, “Stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosed at 24 years old,” adding a stark warning: “GO TO THE DOCTOR.”
One user shared a remarkably similar experience to Ms. Abitz:
Dame Deborah James, known as ‘bowel babe’, raised over £11.3 million for cancer research and greatly increased awareness of the disease before her death in 2022 at age 40.
Zu Rafalat, 38, from Finsbury Park, London, initially attributed her bloating, which made her appear ‘six months pregnant,’ to a stomach bug, but was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. She is pictured on holiday.
“The same thing happened to me when I was 18,” they wrote. “They removed 20 massive pre-cancerous polyps that were not benign, and I have had to undergo a colonoscopy every year since to remove more polyps.”
This user emphasized the life-saving potential of colonoscopies: “Colonoscopies save lives, and testing should be readily accessible to younger individuals, considering the increasing rates of colon cancer in young patients like us.”
Notable Cases Highlight Trend
The past few years have brought to light several heartbreaking stories of young individuals in their prime being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Perhaps the most well-known case is Deborah James, known as ‘bowel babe,’ who was diagnosed at just 35 and raised millions for charity in her final months in 2022.
Another example is Zu Rafalat from Finsbury Park, London, who tragically passed away in 2020 at age 39 after being diagnosed with the disease.
Ms. Rafalat, a very active individual, initially attributed her symptoms to a stomach bug contracted during a holiday in Central America in December 2018. However, it was later revealed to be stage four bowel cancer that had spread to other organs.
Recognizing Bowel Cancer Symptoms
Common bowel cancer symptoms include changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation, a frequent need to empty the bowels, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking timely medical advice is crucial for early detection and treatment of bowel cancer.