Additional Coverage:
- A mom in her 30s was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer after doctors dismissed her symptoms for 6 years (businessinsider.com)
Los Angeles Mom’s Six-Year Battle Highlights Critical Need for Early Cancer Screening
LOS ANGELES, CA – What started as subtle, post-pregnancy symptoms for Marisa Peters, a vibrant mom in her 30s, ultimately led to a life-altering diagnosis of Stage 3 colorectal cancer. Her journey underscores a growing concern among medical professionals: the rise of early-onset cancers and the critical importance of advocating for one’s own health.
Peters initially experienced rectal bleeding, changes in bowel movements, and an urgent need to use the restroom after the birth of her first child. These symptoms, common after childbirth, were repeatedly attributed by doctors to lingering side effects of pregnancy. “I knew for sure that something was wrong the entire time,” Peters recounted, “I just did not know what.”
Six years and three children later, the underlying cause was finally uncovered: Stage 3 colorectal cancer. Now 43 and thankfully cancer-free after extensive treatment, Peters has transformed her personal ordeal into a powerful mission to raise awareness.
Dismissed Concerns and Worsening Symptoms
A Broadway vocalist turned advocate, Peters describes herself as a driven individual with high expectations. When her health began to change, she felt her concerns were often dismissed as an overly ambitious outlook on post-pregnancy recovery. “From a medical practitioner standpoint, that was interpreted as ‘This woman has unrealistic expectations of what her body’s going to be like after having had kids,'” Peters explained.
Over time, her symptoms intensified. She experienced more frequent and urgent bowel movements, stools with unusual shapes and ragged edges, and increasingly significant rectal bleeding, eventually leading to anemia. Despite these escalating issues, multiple doctors continued to reassure her that these changes were normal after pregnancy and childbirth, often attributing the bleeding to hemorrhoids-a common condition that unfortunately shares a key symptom with colorectal cancer.
Peters, like many, believed she was too young for such a serious illness. However, statistics reveal a concerning trend: more individuals in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers.
The delay in diagnosis for younger patients often means the cancer is discovered at a later, less treatable stage. For Stage 1 colorectal cancer, the five-year survival rate is over 90%; for Stage 4, it plummets to 15% or less.
Peters reflects on this harrowing reality, stating, “We lost so much time that I don’t know if it’s miraculous, lucky, or blessed that I didn’t have a Stage 4 diagnosis.”
From Patient to Advocate: The “Be Seen” Movement
Peters’ treatment plan was rigorous, spanning nearly a year and involving radiation, multiple surgeries, and a dozen rounds of chemotherapy. While the good news of remission brought relief, it also ushered in an unexpected challenge: navigating life and identity as a cancer survivor.
“Life never goes back to what it was before the diagnosis. You’re irreparably changed,” Peters shared. The post-treatment phase, often a lonely experience for patients, spurred Peters to channel her energy into advocacy.
With her husband Josh, Peters co-founded the non-profit “Be Seen.” The organization is dedicated to increasing awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms, improving access to preventative screenings like colonoscopies, and empowering individuals to proactively advocate for their health. “Be Seen” even hosts “poop parties,” an initiative designed to demystify and destigmatize colonoscopy preparation, making the process less daunting.
The current recommended age for colorectal cancer screening is 45. Peters emphasizes that had she waited until then for a colonoscopy, her outcome could have been far different.
“We really want to emphasize the importance of trusting your gut and your body,” Peters urged. “You know your body best, and you’ve got to be relentless.”
Peters’ story serves as a powerful reminder for everyone, especially younger individuals, to be vigilant about changes in their health and to insist on thorough medical investigation when symptoms persist. Early detection, she firmly believes, is the key to saving lives.