{"id":274,"date":"2026-05-13T04:33:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T04:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=274"},"modified":"2026-05-13T04:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T04:33:22","slug":"they-just-thought-i-was-too-young-colon-cancer-is-one-of-the-fastest-rising-cancers-in-people-under-50-experts-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=274","title":{"rendered":"‘They just thought I was too young’: Colon cancer is one of the fastest-rising cancers in people under 50, experts say"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PHOENIX \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Read more Body of missing ASU student recovered at the Grand Canyon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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For 41-year-old Shauntell Hamilton, that struggle lasted nearly a decade.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cI 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.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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>> Download the\u00a012News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hamilton says she continued experiencing symptoms for years while searching for answers from multiple doctors.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cI 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.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cI was concerned for cancer when I first saw her,\u201d Singh said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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During surgery, Singh discovered Hamilton\u2019s cancer had progressed further than imaging originally showed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cI took her for surgery and I saw her tumor was stuck to her uterus and ovaries,\u201d Singh said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hamilton was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Doctors say cases like Hamilton’s are becoming increasingly common.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re seeing younger and younger people,\u201d Singh said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cIt used to be that colorectal cancer was primarily seen in people older than 60. That is no longer the case,\u201d Singh said. \u201cWe are diagnosing more patients in their 40s \u2014 and even 30s \u2014 often at later stages. That\u2019s why awareness and screening are critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Former Arizona firefighter sentenced to prison for producing CSAM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cBy the time younger patients are diagnosed, unfortunately, the cancer is more advanced,\u201d Singh said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cScreening isn\u2019t just about finding cancer \u2014 it\u2019s about preventing it,\u201d Singh said. \u201cA colonoscopy can remove polyps before they ever become life-threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hamilton says her experience taught her the importance of advocating for oneself.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cIt worries me because doctors think they\u2019re young and don\u2019t take them seriously, so advocate for yourself because you have to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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While treatment has been difficult, Hamilton says the experience has been life-changing in ways she never thought.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cNot every day is a positive day,\u201d she said. \u201cBut it puts life in perspective and what really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Now, she hopes sharing her story encourages others to pay attention to symptoms, push for answers, and seek screening if something feels wrong.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cThe most important step you can take is scheduling a screening beginning at age 45 \u2014 or earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer,\u201d said Dr. Singh. \u201cColon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable when detected early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Criminal death investigation underway in north Phoenix<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 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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