Rylie Toomey, a 27-year-old from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, lived an active life, juggling wedding plans and half-marathon training. But when she started feeling intermittent stomach pains, she knew something was wrong. Despite her concerns, doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as constipation.
Weeks went by, and her discomfort worsened, culminating in a painful emergency room visit where she described feeling like she was being stabbed and experiencing severe bloating. Rylie’s intuition was right—she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, a disease rising sharply among younger adults in the US.
Hearing the news was devastating. She said, “I couldn’t believe it because I was so healthy. I thought colon cancer was for unhealthy or older people.” Her diagnosis highlighted how important it is to take symptoms seriously, no matter one’s age or health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, while some colon cancers have genetic causes, many result from lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, or smoking. Rylie’s healthy habits made her case unexpected, and she believes this delayed her diagnosis, as doctors were reluctant to perform a colonoscopy given her age.
She urges everyone to insist on thorough medical evaluations when something doesn’t feel right. “I don’t want anyone else to go through this. I hope my story helps others get the care they need.”
