Additional Coverage:
- A 20-year-old woman had waves of stomach pain for months. She was eventually diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. (businessinsider.com)
Local College Student’s Stomach Pain Leads to Shocking Colon Cancer Diagnosis
West Chester, PA – What started as sporadic stomach pain for then 20-year-old Katie Davis, a busy junior at Westchester University, quickly escalated into a life-altering diagnosis of stage 2 colon cancer. Davis, now 21, is speaking out about her journey to encourage young people to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health.
Davis, a marketing major juggling classes, a job at Playa Bowls, and sorority life, initially dismissed the fleeting pain in her upper right abdomen. “It was on and off, it would come in waves,” Davis explained. “I would go a good while without it, and then it would come and only last a few minutes, sometimes even a few seconds.”
However, the pain intensified over three months, eventually causing her to double over. A visit to an urgent care facility led to an initial suspicion of a benign ovarian cyst, with instructions to monitor her symptoms.
The turning point came a few days later when Davis experienced chills and vomiting at her parents’ home, prompting a visit to the emergency room. There, an ultrasound and CAT scan revealed an inflamed colon and free fluid, raising concerns beyond a cyst. Doctors then brought up the possibility of Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, or, in more severe cases, colon cancer.
A scheduled colonoscopy delivered the grim news. Davis recalled a private room upon waking from the procedure, a sign that something was amiss.
The doctor, confident from his experience, informed Davis and her mother that the mass in her colon was “pretty positive” to be cancerous. The biopsy confirmed the diagnosis: stage 2 colon cancer.
“I didn’t really know what to think or feel,” Davis said, reflecting on the moment. “Definitely just numb and confused at first, like ‘how did I get this?'”
Following surgery on her colon, Davis’s treatment plan for chemotherapy hit a snag due to severe side effects. Traditional chemotherapy led to extreme fatigue, nausea, neuropathy (a “pins and needles” sensation), and alarmingly, temporary vision loss. Research by her parents revealed the drug oxaliplatin could cause vision issues, and connecting with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA) provided valuable insights into alternative treatment options.
Her treatment was switched to an oral-only chemotherapy medication, extending her regimen from three to six months. This adjustment, however, allowed her to manage treatment from wherever she was, enabling her to continue attending college classes in person as often as possible. Despite the challenges, Davis was determined to maintain a semblance of her normal college life, surrounded by her boyfriend and friends.
In June 2025, Davis completed her chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free. Now a senior and marketing intern, she’s looking forward to life post-graduation, free from the constant worry of doctor’s appointments and treatment side effects.
Davis emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s body. “A lot of my doctors said that most people at my age or with my stage wouldn’t really have the symptoms that I had that let me know that something is wrong,” she shared. “I’m glad that I learned to listen to my body.”
With colon cancer becoming the leading cause of cancer death in people under 50, Davis urges young adults experiencing any unusual or subtle symptoms to seek medical attention. She also recommends joining organizations like the CCA and colon cancer support groups, highlighting that “You’re not really alone going through it… There are other people who are experiencing it too who can help you.”