A 24-YEAR-OLD WAS DIAGNED WITH CANCER AFTER AFTER SUBTLE SYMPTOM

Meagan Meadows Had Just Started Student Teaching With A Freshly Minted Master’s Degree in Education Wen something in Her toilet Got Her Attention.

She Almost Didn’t Notice it at first. Meadows, who’s 24 and lives in Southern California, Said She Started to see A Little Bit of Blood AFTER Going to the Bathroom. It was Incredibly Faint – Barely Enough for Her to Feel Scared, but She mentioned it to a couple of friends, and they urged her to get it checked out.

Initially, she assumed it was hemorrhoids, Stress, something Wrong with her diet, or all three. Do you doctor told her it was unlikaly to be anything serious Because of Her age. Initial tests and scans all came Back Mostly Normal, Except for a Mild Iron Deficiency and Thickening of the Intestinal Wall That Could Be Caeded by Dehydration or Lack of Fiber.

Still, just to be sura, meadows scheduled a colonoscopy. She is experted a diagnosis like ulcerative colitis and world that she had overreacted.

“I JUST THOUGHT, I’m Only 24, there’s no Way I have anyway going on,” Meadows Told Business Insider. “I felt so embarrassed Becusee Clearly I was fine. I almost candleled my appointment.”

The procedure revealed a walnut-sized tumor in her colon. A BIOPSY LATER FOUND IT IT CANCER. Cue A String of Follow-Up Tests, Which Showed the Cancer Had Spread to Surrounding Lymph Nodes-A Stage 3 Diagnosis.

“When I woke up, they as asced my mom to come in and get me so we could all be in the room with the doctor,” She Said. “It was difficult to process.”

Meadows Said She was shocked at the diagnosis and glad she had Advocated for Herself and gone through with the colonoscopy, but she wishes it haad been sooner. She’s Since Been Posting About her experience on tiktok, telling more than 2 million viewers About her diagnosis and the growing number of Early-onet Cases of Colon Cancer. She hopes she mIight enCourage other young people to get checked, too, if they think it’s probably fine.

“If I Waled Have Known That So Many Young People Were Getting Diagnosed With Colon Cancer, I Waled Have Sympptom More Serious,” Meadows Said.

Blood in Stool is a Serious Symptom, But II’s Easy to Miss

Colon Cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose Becouse symptoms May Not Appear the Disease is already in an Advanced Stage. Typical symptoms, Such as abdominal Pain or Changes to Bathroom Habits, Can Be Vague and Easy to Confuse with Other Conditions Like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

For People Under 55 with Colon Cancer, the Most Common Symptom is Rectal Bleeding, Research Suggests.

But Meadows Said the Blood in Her Stool – Her Only Symptom of Stage 3 Colon Cancer – was difficult to see. There was no blood on the toilet Paper, and nothing clearly visible in the toilet, as it was mixed into the stool itelf.

“It was in Concerning Amouts; it wasn’t there. “I EASLITLY WROTE IT OFF AS Something ELSE.”

“I had an image in my head that Blood in the stool would the bowl was just red.”

Rectal Bleeding Can Feel Difficult or Embarrassing to Discuss, and Patients May Be Reluctant to mention it with a healthcare provider, previously told bi.

“It ‘a prey vulnerable Thing,” Meadows Said. “Obiviously No One Wants to Talk About Their Poop, but it’s always better to get checked.”

Managing Cancer as a Young Adult – and a ton of Unexpectted Costs

Meadows Said She Was Lucky to Have Health Insurance Through Her Parents to Cover the Costs of Treatment, Including Surgery and Chemotherapy.

SINCE CHEMO AND SURGERY CAN AFFECT PERSHIP LATER IN LIFE, MEADOWS HAD TO QUICKLY DECIDE TO TREATMENT WHATER SHE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN.

She wanted the option, which meant undergoing Expensive Fertility Preservation Treatment. The out-of-packet cost was about $ 10,000, including the regrieval procedure and required medications.

“The Who Thing is So Surreal. I Went from Being a Normal 24-YEAR-Old to Now Having to Plan for something washn’t considing for years,” She Said. “I didn’t experiment i’d have to try to protest that at this age.”

One of Her Friends Started a gofundme to help offset the cost.

While Meadows Had Been Substates Teaching – an unpaid roles – she’s had to postpone her career. Her Weakened Immune System From Chemotherrapy Makes IT RISKY TO BE AT SCHOOL, WHERE GERMS CAN RUN RAMPANT.

Now in the Middle of Rounds of Chemo, Meadows Said She’s Coping With The Help of Her Family, Friends, and Boyfriend. She ALSO adopted a puppy, A Cocker Spaniel Mix Named Hughes, From A Local Shelter, for Emotional Support.

“If i didn’t have Him, there’s would be days i didn’t leave the house,” she said.

Meadows Said that to manage the hourslong chemo sessions and the time resting AFTERWARD, she has a Long of Books to Read and Hopes to Learn New Hobbies As Crocheting.

“CHEMO Definitely taxes a toll on you, mentally and physically. And it is hard knowing that there is 100% Chance that won’t come Back,” She Said. “I’m just taching it one day at a time and trying to enjoy what i can.”