Additional Coverage:
- Doctors told a woman she was too young for colon cancer and dismissed her symptoms for years. At 22, she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. (businessinsider.com)
Local Woman Shares Powerful Story of Early-Onset Colon Cancer, Urges Awareness
Minneapolis, MN – At just 22 years old, Kirsten Scheller received a diagnosis that would change her life: stage 3 colon cancer. Now 36 and thankfully cancer-free, Scheller is sharing her journey to advocate for early detection and awareness, especially among young adults.
Scheller’s struggle began at 19, a college sophomore in Saint Paul, when she first noticed blood in her stool, accompanied by occasional bloating and fatigue. Despite her active lifestyle-she was training for a duathlon and practicing yoga-her mother, a nurse, urged her to seek medical attention.
For two years, Scheller found herself in a frustrating loop of doctor visits, only to be repeatedly told she was “too young and too active” for colon cancer. Doctors attributed her symptoms to stress or internal hemorrhoids, sending her home with instructions to monitor the situation.
“I was sent home and told to come back if it continues to happen,” Scheller recounted. “And of course, it just continued to happen.”
The dismissals continued until a month before her college graduation, when a new GI specialist finally recommended a flexible sigmoidoscopy. During the procedure, Scheller caught a glimpse of a large mass and a trail of blood, a stark visual that signaled something was gravely wrong. Days later, the call came: she had colon cancer.
Further tests revealed the devastating news of stage 3 colon cancer, which had spread to 24 lymph nodes. Doctors estimated that had she waited just a few more months, her diagnosis likely would have been stage 4. “It was just a mix of emotions,” she said, “I was scared, but also validated just from having these symptoms and having a gut feeling that something was wrong and finally having an answer for it.”
Her diagnosis came at a pivotal time, just as she was preparing to launch her post-college life. Scheller managed to complete her finals from the hospital and walk across the stage for graduation before embarking on nine months of intensive chemotherapy.
The treatment brought its own set of challenges. To preserve her egg quality, Scheller was given Lupron, inducing “full-blown menopause” with hot flashes and headaches.
She also developed severe neuropathy, a common chemotherapy side effect, causing pain and tingling in her hands and feet. The neuropathy was so debilitating that she had to relearn how to write and underwent years of physical therapy and acupuncture to manage the symptoms.
Beyond the physical toll, Scheller also navigated the emotional strain of her diagnosis. While her family and close friends provided a strong support system, she observed some college friendships drift away. “That was the hardest part, this grief of losing friendships while I had to grow up extremely quickly and just not know what the next week was going to look like,” she reflected.
By the end of 2012, Scheller was cancer-free and remains in remission today. Due to an unknown genetic mutation predisposing her to precancerous polyps, she undergoes more frequent screenings, now on a 9- to 12-month schedule.
Today, Scheller lives a vibrant life in Minneapolis with her husband and two dogs. She’s been with Medtronic for nearly 13 years, starting shortly after her treatment concluded.
In her spare time, she’s training for a half-marathon and planning a 100-mile hike in Europe. “I would’ve never guessed when I was 22 what I would be doing now, but I’m just super grateful to be healthy,” she shared.
Scheller is a passionate advocate for colon cancer awareness, sharing her story with non-profits to highlight the importance of early symptom recognition and screening. She’s encouraged by the growing conversation around colon cancer, particularly on social media, where people are openly sharing their experiences. Her hope is that these stories empower others to seek screenings if they experience symptoms.
She also advises others to advocate for a full colonoscopy over a flexible sigmoidoscopy for more comprehensive screening. Even with years behind her, Scheller carries the lessons of her journey daily. “My badge picture still shows me in a full wig,” she said, a constant reminder of the incredible strength and resilience that defined her early twenties.