Meagan Meadows, a 24-year-old graduate from South California, never expected to be diagnosed with severe cancer at such a young age. After completing her master’s degree in education, she began noticing faint blood in her stool but dismissed it as hemorrhoids, stress, or diet-related issues. The bleeding was subtle and irregular, so she barely took it seriously — until her friends urged her to get checked.
Despite her initial embarrassment and doubts, Meagan went for a colonoscopy. The test revealed a walnut-sized tumor in her colon, and further examination confirmed stage 3 colon cancer, as the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. The diagnosis was overwhelming, and Meagan described the moment as difficult to process, with her mother by her side.
Meagan now encourages people to monitor small changes in their bodies, especially blood in stool, highlighting how easily cancer signs can be overlooked. She is currently undergoing treatment, including removing 25cm of her colon and chemotherapy. Due to chemotherapy’s risk of infertility, she has plans to freeze her eggs to preserve her chances of motherhood.
Her story sheds light on the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among young adults and the critical importance of early detection for better outcomes.
