Colorectal Cancer Alliance

"At age 31, GI problems had become the norm for me, so I ignored them. Pain was normal as an athlete, and I downplayed that too, thinking, “Have I gotten soft?” The occasional shooting pain became more pronounced, and then I started seeing blood in my stool.

I was stressed. I had just been released and was starting fresh with a new team. I was working full-time while traveling with the team. There was no time to think about it. But then the season ended and the symptoms got worse, I couldn’t eat, I lost weight, and I was bedridden most days. I pushed for a colonoscopy because I knew where the symptoms were pointing. I was often dismissed as 'too young.'

After multiple appointments and countless calls, I was finally scheduled for a colonoscopy. I remember waking up and the doctor telling me they found a tumor, and I was diagnosed with stage III (T3N2) colore**al cancer. After that, I honestly don’t remember much, other than feeling like I was watching my own life as a spectator. It was two agonizing months before I was able to start immunotherapy. I had gone from playing semi-pro baseball just five months prior to barely being able to lift myself out of bed to use the bathroom.

Slowly, with treatment, I began to notice a change in my energy. I remember bragging to my mom that I did five pull-ups and 10 push-ups after months of doing nothing. I still don’t know how my friends and family put up with me. I was so negative and angry. My parents would just sit silently while I angrily cursed the world for my situation. They never judged me; they just offered their support and love. I truly don’t think I would have had the strength to keep going without the support of my family and my faith.

I’m truly blessed that I qualified for immunotherapy, and I’m grateful for the medical teams in Michigan and Nebraska. I had successful surgery in September 2025 to remove what was left of the tumor and affected lymph nodes.

If nothing else, I hope this story inspires those who are in the midst of their own path with colore**al cancer to keep going." - Sean B.

It's easy to dismiss symptoms when life gets busy. It's Men's Health Week — visit getscreened.org to learn more about your screening options and to take a short quiz.

"Just four months after getting engaged and days after buying my dress, I found myself sitting in a doctor’s office hearing the word “cancer.” What should have been a season of cake tastings and seating charts, quickly turned into surgeries and treatment schedules.

I underwent surgery to remove a tumor from my sigmoid colon, followed by four rounds of chemotherapy to treat Stage III Colon Cancer. Through it all, my medical team focused on helping me reach one important milestone: my wedding day. The treatments were physically and emotionally exhausting, but I held on to the hope that I would still be able to walk down the aisle.

Despite everything cancer put my body through, I walked down the aisle not just as a bride, but as a survivor.

Today, I share my story to remind others that colore**al cancer can affect young people and that early detection can save lives. I’m especially grateful for the nurse practitioner who listened to my symptoms and encouraged me to get a colonoscopy, despite my young age. That decision helped catch my cancer early enough for treatment to be successful.

If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Advocate for yourself. Early detection can save your life." - Michelle G.

Colore**al cancer is the #1 cause of cancer related death in adults under 50.

Let's put an end to this trend. Your gift is matched 2X during the month of June. Make a gift and double your impact 👉 https://bit.ly/26-NCSM-FB

"March 22, 2024 is a date I will never forget.

I was diagnosed with stage IV colore**al cancer, and the only symptom I had was blood in my stool. No pain. No other signs. Nothing that would have made you think something serious was going on. But I trusted my gut, pushed for a colonoscopy, and that decision changed everything.

From there, my life became a series of treatments and milestones: I had a lung resection to remove a wedge of my right lung where the cancer had spread. I went through 5 rounds of chemotherapy and completed 25 sessions of radiation.

It was aggressive, and there were moments that tested me in every way. But I stayed focused on getting through it - one step, one treatment, one day at a time.

Alongside my medical treatment, I supported my body with functional medicine, which helped me stay physically strong and keep going when things felt overwhelming.

On October 21, 2024, I rang the bell.

I am forever grateful to Memorial Sloan Kettering and my gastroenterologist for advocating for me, guiding me, and standing by me through every phase of this.

If sharing my story helps even one person, it’s this:
Listen to your body. Even subtle changes matter.
Advocate for yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable.
And hold onto your mindset, it can carry you through more than you think.

This is my story. And I’m still here." - Stephanie R.