A 36-year-old woman with hemorrhoids learned she had colorectal cancer.

Kelly first developed hemorrhoids while pregnant with her second daughter. She initially thought it was part of her pregnancy and childbirth, but her pain going to the bathroom lingered. She had “severe hemorrhoids that hurt when she went to the bathroom and was bleeding a lot,” Kelly explained.

When she consulted her doctor about her lingering problems, she recommended a colonoscopy. But because she was younger than the recommended age for her colonoscopy, 45, her insurance didn’t cover the $600 cost.

“I’m so grateful that I had the money to pay for that because I know people don’t just sit around and have money. That colonoscopy saved my life. …Not everyone has the opportunity to do that,” she said.

During her colonoscopy, doctors discovered a 4-centimeter mass in her rectum. The tumor created pressure that was causing her hemorrhoids. Her young mother was relieved to learn the cause of her painful problem, but she also had to deal with her cancer diagnosis at the same time.

Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, affects the large intestine (colon) or the end of the intestine (rectum).

“Horrifyingly, I was 36 years old at the time and it would have been nine years before it was discovered during a colonoscopy,” she said.

The cancer affected one lymph node and was stage 3. She immediately started chemotherapy to prevent further spread of the cancer. She underwent nine chemotherapy infusions and radiation therapy.

“I am so grateful. The treatment is working. My tumor is shrinking. My blood tests are improving,” Kelly said of her ordeal.

Most colon cancers can be prevented if you have regular checkups. Screening usually involves a colonoscopy, which examines the colon and rectum using a long, thin tube attached to a camera. If no polyps are found, the following tests are not needed for about 10 years.

“We know that if you catch polyps early, you can prevent colon cancer,” explains Dr. Heather Yeo, SurvivorNet’s medical advisor.

WATCH: Dispelling common myths about colon cancer

“Lowering the screening age will help somewhat with this issue, but access to care is the big issue,” Yeo added.

Colon cancer occurs more often in young people

The average age of people diagnosed with colon cancer is 68 years for men and 72 years for women. according to to the American Cancer Society.

The National Cancer Institute reports that cases of colorectal cancer have increased among adults under age 50 since the 1990s. the study The proportion of cases in patients younger than 55 years “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019,” according to a paper published in CA:A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

“While we know that incidence among young people is increasing, it is alarming to see how rapidly the overall number of cases is becoming younger, even as the overall population numbers are decreasing.” said cancer epidemiologist and study lead author Rebecca Siegel.

Researchers are still trying to understand why younger people are diagnosed more often. Some experts point to risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking as possible explanations for the increase.

“We don’t know for sure why we’re seeing earlier onset and earlier death from colon cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeoh, a surgical oncologist who specializes in colorectal cancer at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Survivor.net. Ta.

“This is likely a combination of factors such as diet, genetics, access to care and environmental factors,” Dr Yeo added.

Although often feared, colonoscopies can save lives.

A colonoscopy is a procedure that doctors use to look inside the colon and test for colon cancer.

This procedure requires you to “clean” your colon. To cleanse the colon, your doctor will prescribe a liquid “bowel prep” to drink the night before the procedure. Prep acts as a laxative and can cause multiple episodes of loose stools before surgery.

Once the colon is clean, the gastroenterologist performing the procedure can clearly see and assess whether polyps or masses are present.

Depending on the size and number of polyps found, a repeat colonoscopy may be recommended within 3 to 5 years.

Dr. Zuri Murrell, colorectal cancer surgeon and director of Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously explained to SurvivorNet the colonoscopy procedure.

“When we find polyps, we actually physically take them out through the colonoscope,” he explained.

“What does that mean? So, we pass a wire with a little flange on the end and pull the polyp out. Now, there’s no pain. There are no pain fibers inside the colon. So there’s no pain,” says Murrell. the doctor added.

The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the exam. Many colon cancers can be found during a colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.

What is a colon polyp?

Colon polyps are groups of small cells that form on the lining of the colon.

When you have a colonoscopy, your gastroenterologist looks for polyps in your intestines. Polyps cannot be felt, but screening tests can catch them before they cause problems such as colon or rectal cancer.

Polyps found during a colonoscopy are removed, which can prevent cancer from developing. Almost all polyps that are removed are precancerous, meaning they have not yet progressed to cancer.

Questions to ask your doctor

If you are facing a diagnosis of colon cancer, here are some questions you might ask your doctor.

• What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
• If I’m worried about managing the costs of my cancer treatment, who can help?
• What support services are available to my family?
• Can this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
• What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?

Learn more about SurvivorNet’s rigorous medical review process.

---