PHOENIX — Colon cancer is no longer considered a disease that primarily affects older adults. Doctors say diagnoses among younger people are rising at an alarming rate, and many patients struggle to be taken seriously when symptoms first appear.
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For 41-year-old Shauntell Hamilton, that struggle lasted nearly a decade.
“I had GI issues, lots of stomach pain,” Hamilton said. “I went to a GI doctor and asked for a colonoscopy, and he said I was too young.”
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Hamilton says she continued experiencing symptoms for years while searching for answers from multiple doctors.
“I had tons of GI issues,” she said. “Changes in stool, lots of pain, I was just trying to get someone to help me. I ended up changing my diet because no one would do scans or see what was going on. They just thought I was too young or making it up, I don’t know.”
Last September, Hamilton went to urgent care and underwent imaging scans that found what doctors initially believed was a benign polyp. However, Colorectal Surgeon, Dr. Neeraj Singh, had concerns.
“I was concerned for cancer when I first saw her,” Singh said.
During surgery, Singh discovered Hamilton’s cancer had progressed further than imaging originally showed.
“I took her for surgery and I saw her tumor was stuck to her uterus and ovaries,” Singh said.
Hamilton was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Doctors say cases like Hamilton’s are becoming increasingly common.
“We’re seeing younger and younger people,” Singh said.
Colon cancer is now one of the fastest-rising cancers in people under 50. One in 10 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States occurs in those under the age of 50. It’s also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among adults 20-44 years of age.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 107,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 46,000 new cases of rectal cancer were expected in the United States in 2025.
“It used to be that colorectal cancer was primarily seen in people older than 60. That is no longer the case,” Singh said. “We are diagnosing more patients in their 40s — and even 30s — often at later stages. That’s why awareness and screening are critical.”
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Doctors say younger patients are often diagnosed later because symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, or rectal bleeding are frequently dismissed or attributed to less serious conditions.
“By the time younger patients are diagnosed, unfortunately, the cancer is more advanced,” Singh said.
The American Cancer Society lowered the recommended age for routine colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 due to the rise in younger diagnoses. Doctors say people with symptoms or a family history may need screening even earlier.
“Screening isn’t just about finding cancer — it’s about preventing it,” Singh said. “A colonoscopy can remove polyps before they ever become life-threatening.”
Health experts believe obesity, low-fiber diets, processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and environmental factors may all contribute to the increase in cases among younger adults. It’s why doctors recommend maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco use, and limiting processed meats and alcohol.
Hamilton says her experience taught her the importance of advocating for oneself.
“It worries me because doctors think they’re young and don’t take them seriously, so advocate for yourself because you have to,” she said.
While treatment has been difficult, Hamilton says the experience has been life-changing in ways she never thought.
“Not every day is a positive day,” she said. “But it puts life in perspective and what really matters.”
Now, she hopes sharing her story encourages others to pay attention to symptoms, push for answers, and seek screening if something feels wrong.
“The most important step you can take is scheduling a screening beginning at age 45 — or earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer,” said Dr. Singh. “Colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable when detected early.”
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