Today, Kalei Martin shares her journey online to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, particularly in younger adults
NEED TO KNOW
- Kalei Martin, a mom of two from Sacramento, was 28 when she began experiencing severe stomach pain, bleeding and other symptoms
- Initially, doctors dismissed her symptoms
- After pushing for answers, a colonoscopy revealed stage 2 colorectal cancer
At the start of 2024, Kalei Martin began noticing subtle changes in her body that she couldn’t explain.
The Sacramento, Calif., mom of two — who works for the state of California while also running a photography business specializing in family and newborn portraits — found herself going to the bathroom far more frequently than usual. Soon after, sharp stomach cramps began appearing in short bursts.
At first, she assumed the symptoms might be related to the physical changes that can happen after pregnancy. Martin had recently had two children, and she figured her body was simply adjusting…