Additional Coverage:
- A 24-year-old was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer after almost missing her only symptom (businessinsider.com)
24-Year-Old Teacher’s Aide Diagnosed With Stage 3 Colon Cancer After Dismissing Subtle Symptom
Meagan Meadows, a 24-year-old recent graduate with a master’s degree in education, was just beginning her student teaching career in Southern California when she noticed a small amount of blood in her stool. Initially, she dismissed it as hemorrhoids, stress, or a dietary issue.
A doctor also reassured her that it was unlikely to be serious given her age. Initial tests revealed only a mild iron deficiency and some intestinal thickening, possibly due to dehydration.
Despite these reassurances, Meadows scheduled a colonoscopy, though she nearly canceled it, convinced she was overreacting. “I’m only 24,” she recalled thinking.
“There’s no way I have anything going on.” However, the procedure revealed a walnut-sized tumor, which a biopsy confirmed was cancerous.
Further tests revealed the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, a stage 3 diagnosis.
Meadows expressed shock and relief that she had advocated for herself. She has since taken to TikTok to share her story with over 2 million viewers, raising awareness about the increasing incidence of early-onset colon cancer. She hopes her experience will encourage other young people to seek medical attention even if they believe their symptoms are insignificant.
Meadows’ only symptom was the subtle blood in her stool, which she nearly missed. She emphasized how easy it was to dismiss, as there was no blood on the toilet paper and it was barely visible when mixed with the stool.
She admitted having a preconceived notion that rectal bleeding would be much more dramatic. Medical professionals acknowledge that patients often hesitate to discuss rectal bleeding due to embarrassment, but Meadows urges others to overcome this reluctance and get checked.
While grateful for her parents’ health insurance, Meadows faced unexpected costs for fertility preservation treatments, totaling around $10,000. Chemotherapy and surgery can impact fertility, forcing her to make a difficult decision about her future family plans sooner than expected. A friend organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover these expenses.
Meadows’ compromised immune system has put her teaching career on hold. She’s currently undergoing chemotherapy, supported by her family, friends, boyfriend, and a newly adopted puppy named Hughes.
To cope with the long chemo sessions, she’s focusing on reading and hopes to learn new hobbies like crocheting. Despite the challenges, Meadows remains optimistic, taking things one day at a time and trying to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.