At 26, most people are juggling rent, careers, and group chats, not life-or-death medical decisions. So when a young woman noticed bloating and rectal bleeding, it felt reasonable to blame something simple and embarrassing, like hemorrhoids. By the time she learned it was actually stage 4 colon cancer, the disease had already spread and the stakes were suddenly enormous.
Her story is not a one-off scare. A growing number of people in their 20s and 30s are discovering advanced colorectal cancer after months of brushing off subtle symptoms. The details of her diagnosis, and of others like her, show how easy it is to miss the warning signs and why that needs to change.
‘Probably hemorrhoids’ turns into stage 4
The 26-year-old, identified as Mariana Tata, started with two symptoms that sound almost routine: nagging bloating and bleeding she assumed came from hemorrhoids. She kept living her life, chalking it up to stress and a sensitive gut, until the discomfort escalated and the bleeding no longer fit the “just hemorrhoids” script. When she finally pushed for answers, imaging and tests revealed stage 4 colon cancer that had already spread beyond her colon.
By the time Mariana reached that diagnosis, the cancer had extended to her abdominal wall, a sign of metastatic spread that made treatment more complex and the road ahead far steeper. She has described how connecting with other young patients online became a lifeline, helping her process the shock and figure out how to navigate chemo, scans, and the emotional whiplash of a life that suddenly revolved around cancer instead of career plans or weekend trips.
What advanced colon cancer actually looks like
Stage 4 colon cancer means the disease has moved beyond the colon to distant organs or tissues, and it does not always announce itself with dramatic symptoms. People may notice vague issues like a change in bowel habits, feeling unusually full after small meals, or even a subtle lump in the belly button area, all of which can be signs of advanced disease. Those clues are easy to blame on diet, stress, or a busy schedule, especially for someone in their 20s who has been told screening starts decades later.
That gray zone is exactly where hemorrhoids and colon cancer can blur together. Rectal bleeding, discomfort, and changes in stool are classic hemorrhoid complaints, but they are also red flags for colorectal tumors. Experts warn that People with these symptoms should be checked by a doctor, because while hemorrhoids are far more common, research shows that similar complaints can be the first sign of colon cancer. The overlap makes self-diagnosing especially risky.
Other young patients who thought it was something else
Mariana is far from alone in mistaking serious disease for something minor. Earlier this year, Shannin Desroches, also 26, went to doctors for stomach pain and was evaluated for celiac disease. She cycled through tests and appointments, expecting a dietary issue, until imaging finally revealed stage 4 colon cancer. What started as a search for a gluten explanation ended with a metastatic diagnosis that forced her to rethink everything from work to fertility plans.
Another young adult, Faratzis, was 28 when he was offered a screening test and decided to skip it, figuring it could wait. About Six months later, he noticed blood on his toilet paper and still tried to rationalize it away. By the time he followed up, he was facing stage 4 colon cancer, a diagnosis that came with explanations about how colorectal tumors develop in the colon or rectum and how lifestyle factors like diet, alcohol, and smoking can play a role. His story underlines how quickly “I’ll deal with it later” can turn into “I wish I had gone in sooner.”
Bleeding, pain, and the ‘too young for cancer’ trap
Rectal bleeding is one of the most commonly dismissed symptoms, especially for people who are pregnant, postpartum, or dealing with constipation. Mom Casandra Costley was 38 when she was told she had Stage 4 colon cancer, but her first warning sign showed up years earlier. In 2018, Casandra Costley, then 32, noticed rectal bleeding and assumed it was hemorrhoids related to childbirth and day-to-day life. The bleeding stopped, then came back, and only after a colonoscopy, CT scan, and MRI did she learn the bleeding was coming from a tumor that had already spread.
Her later account, shared again as a Casandra story, traces how a woman from Huntsville, UT, went from brushing off symptoms to confronting cancer in her liver and lung. She described how She struggled to function and eventually opened up to her father about her fears, a shift from quiet denial to active advocacy for herself. That emotional arc mirrors what many younger patients describe: a long stretch of minimizing symptoms, followed by a crash course in scans, staging, and treatment options once the word “cancer” finally enters the room.
Not just stage 4: younger adults catching it earlier
Some younger adults are catching colon cancer before it spreads as far, but their stories still start with dismissed symptoms. A 24-year-old woman highlighted by reporter Ben Barry of SWNS noticed one key symptom and still tried to shrug it off. That 24-year-old woman was eventually told she had stage 3 colon cancer after tests that were supposed to be “just to be safe” came back anything but clear. Her case shows how even when cancer is caught before it reaches stage 4, the path there often runs through months of second-guessing.
Another 24-year-old, Meagan Meadows, had just started student teaching with a new master’s degree in education when she noticed something off in the toilet. She initially blamed dehydration or lack of fiber, but persistent changes pushed her to seek more testing, which led to a stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis. She has since been posting about her experience and the rise in early-onset cases of colon cancer, turning her classroom instincts into public health messaging for people her own age.
Supporting sources: Young Father Overcomes.
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