Feeling unwell? If you have noticed unexpected weight loss, changes in your digestion or anything unusual when you use the bathroom, trust your gut and take those symptoms seriously. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Study Analyzes Young Adult Patients With Rectal Bleeding

Between 2021 and 2023, 443 adults younger than 50 were experiencing rectal bleeding and underwent a colonoscopy at the University of Louisville Health System in Kentucky. Forty-four percent of the patients were diagnosed with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC).

Researchers conducted a retrospective study analyzing those patients and presented the findings at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025.

“This research lends support to the question of who does or doesn’t warrant a colonoscopy. If you have a person below the screening age with rectal bleeding, you should seriously consider a colonoscopy,” said senior author Sandra Kavalukas, M.D., FACS, a colorectal surgeon at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Symptoms Dismissed as Perimenopausal

Inverness, Florida, pharmacist Karen Fisher noticed blood in her stool but was perimenopausal and dismissed it as spotting between periods.

When she tried to donate blood in May 2020, she was turned away because her hemoglobin level was low. After blood tests revealed she had iron deficiency anemia, her family doctor ordered a colonoscopy to determine the cause.

AMSURG physician partner and gastroenterologist Trupti Shinde, M.D., performed the colonoscopy at AMSURG’s Citrus Endoscopy and Surgery Center in nearby Crystal River and found a 5 cm mass in Fisher’s colon.

Fisher was 54 when she was diagnosed with Stage 2A colorectal cancer.

“If I had been screened on time, they may have found a polyp [and] removed it, and I would have gone on with my life as normal,” she said.

Doctors were able to remove the tumor, and she did not require radiation or chemotherapy.

Survivor Celebrates 5-year Colon Cancer-versary

Following her diagnosis, Fisher adopted a healthier lifestyle and diet. This summer, however, she celebrated her five-year cancer-versary on July 12 with a special menu.

“Prior to diagnosis, I was a chocoholic and didn’t always eat very healthy. The day they found a mass in my colon, I decided to give up junk food and sodas and eat healthier,” she said. “At my party, I decided to celebrate with chocolate and junk food — all the things I had given up for five years.”

Even with all the sugary treats, Fisher said her celebration was bittersweet.

“While I was happy to be five years cancer free, I struggled a little with survivor’s guilt since some of my colon cancer friends were still fighting Stage 4 on a daily basis,” she said.

Today, Fisher donates her time at the Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation, which she co-founded with her surgeon, Parth Patel, M.D., and Dr. Shinde.

“I feel like God had a plan for me to get diagnosed with colon cancer so I could help others,” Fisher said.

Prioritize Your Colorectal Cancer Screening

Even more so than diet or exercise, early detection through regular screening is the most effective way to prevent colorectal cancer. Experts recommend adults at average risk for CRC start screening at age 45, even if they don’t have symptoms.

People who have a family history of the disease or a history of precancerous polyps may need to be screened earlier. Regardless of your age, if you have digestive system issues, visit your doctor.

Colorectal cancer often begins as a growth, called a polyp, inside the colon or rectum. Although there are several screening options, Fisher recommends a quality colonoscopy, the only test where polyps can be both detected and removed before they become cancerous.

“If you see blood in the toilet, you need to tell your doctor about it. It might only be hemorrhoids, but the only way to find out for sure is to have a colonoscopy,” Fisher said. “Never let them tell you that you are too young. No one is too young for colon cancer.”

Anyone who receives a positive stool test or colorectal cancer blood test needs a follow-up colonoscopy.

AMSURG ambulatory surgery centers are located nationwide and offer patients a more attractive option for colonoscopy screening with easy access, personalized care and a relaxed atmosphere.

About AMSURG

AMSURG is an independent leader in ambulatory surgery center services, operating a network of more than 250 surgery centers nationwide. In partnership with physicians and health systems, the organization delivers high-quality patient care across a diverse spectrum of medical specialties, including gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopedics. Guided by its core values — Care Deeply, Champion Excellence, Cultivate Integrity and Celebrate Teamwork — AMSURG is committed to transforming the future of ambulatory surgery center care and services with a focus on strategic growth and innovation. To learn more about AMSURG, visit www.amsurg.com.

Ohio University student Madi Brown leads an active lifestyle. She stays busy studying communications, working in tourism and caring for her cherished 10-year-old beagle mix, Smoke.

Behind her bright smile and cheerful outlook lives a story of resilience. Growing up, Brown faced chronic health challenges, including autoimmune disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

This past spring, Brown, 21, started vomiting unexplainably and for extended periods of time. Her doctors proposed causes like stress, a virus or even food sensitivities but offered no definitive diagnosis.

“They tested me for everything. I did so much blood work, but nobody could really figure out why I was throwing up,” she said.

Doctor Recommends GI Procedure for Diagnosis

After months of uncertainty about her health, Brown scheduled a visit with her board-certified gastroenterologist and AMSURG partner physician Jigna Thakore, M.D.

“When she came in May, she was having a lot of nausea, vomiting, heartburn-type symptoms and just pain in her upper abdomen,” Dr. Thakore said. “We needed to figure out whether it was food allergy related versus acid reflux, versus if there’s an infection in her stomach, a gluten allergy.”

Brown underwent an ultrasound and a HIDA (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid) scan to evaluate her gallbladder and bile duct function. Her results were normal.

To diagnose other conditions of the upper digestive tract, Dr. Thakore recommended Brown undergo an esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD.

“There’s no CT scan or ultrasound or MRI or any imaging test that can give you the same information as an EGD for the upper gastrointestinal tract because it’s a camera inside you. It’s physically helping us see the actual tissue,” Dr. Thakore said. “When the imaging test is done, it shows pictures in shades of gray. Whereas with the EGD, we see the tissue and can biopsy it to test its health.”

Brown scheduled the procedure at Digestive Endoscopy Center, an AMSURG ambulatory surgery center (ASC) near her parents’ Dayton home. Although anxious about her initial endoscopy, Brown said the medical team detailed the process and offered encouragement.

“I don’t like to surrender control … So, being put to sleep and just not being aware and the idea of just complete oblivion freaks me out unnecessarily,” she said. “The care team … picked up on that, and they made it so easy.”

During Brown’s sedation, Dr. Thakore used a slender, flexible instrument known as an endoscope to inspect the lining of her esophagus, stomach and the upper section of the small intestine.

Biopsies of the esophagus revealed gastritis, indicating inflammation in the lining of the stomach.

“The biopsies didn’t show any infection, so that would show that that’s all acid related,” Dr. Thakore said. “Biopsies in the small intestine were negative for gluten allergy or celiac disease. So, we’ve been working on her acid-related symptoms as the cause of what she was experiencing.”

Dr. Thakore also discovered a minor hiatal hernia, where Brown’s stomach extends slightly into her chest area.

“By itself, it’s not dangerous, especially when it is small, but she will have more reflux from it,” Dr. Thakore said. “That is part of her issue with nausea, vomiting.”

To heal Brown’s gastritis and lower her stomach acid would take about five to six weeks. Dr. Thakore prescribed medications for heartburn and nausea for her to take as needed until her next appointment.

Managing IBS Symptoms; Improving Gut Health

IBS affects up to 45 million Americans like Brown, who endure frequent stomach pain with diarrhea, constipation or both. To reduce IBS symptoms, Dr. Thakore recommended Brown focus on improving her gut health.

“Often, these symptoms can be improved, and these conditions can be improved with fiber alone,” Dr. Thakore said. “Over-the-counter fiber, such as psyllium husk or guar gum, … or even a high-fiber diet is helpful. Up to 20 to 30 grams of fiber a day is what the gut bacteria need to do their job.”

Gut bacteria (microbiomes) reside in the gastrointestinal tract. They assist the body with digestion, nutrient production, immune system regulation, metabolic health and more.

“I don’t know if young people understand how important your gut health really is and how impactful that is for your entire body,” Brown said. “The gut says a lot, and when you start to care for that, you’ll notice other parts of your life improving.”

Dr. Thakore praised Brown for prioritizing her health for a better quality of life.

“Madi’s a fantastic, bright young lady, and I’m so proud of her for reaching out and not ignoring her symptoms,” she said. “It’s good for her to come in and work with us. And as a team, we can get her better.”

ASCs Prioritize Patient Care

AMSURG ambulatory surgery centers offer patients same-day procedures using advanced technology in a comfortable setting with shorter waiting times, often at lower out-of-pocket costs. Patients have the convenience of recovering at home.

“This is a teamwork effort. We are very fortunate to have a fantastic staff,” Dr. Thakore said. “There’s just a culture of the patient coming first and making [them] better. That’s why we exist. So, that’s what we carry through.”

Following her positive experience, Brown said she would recommend ASCs to others.

“There were so many good things that were happening during my experience before, during and after the procedure,” she said. “The little moments of Dr. Thakore holding my hand or the anesthesiologist being just so kind and attentive or the nurse answering my questions in the beginning, all of these little things added up to a really good experience that could so easily have just been mediocre or bad.”

Doctors determine whether patients are suitable for outpatient surgery based on their age, existing medical conditions and the support they receive at home.

“If you’re safe enough to have an outpatient procedure, that’s the best option,” Dr. Thakore said. “We’re very timely; we’re efficient.”

About AMSURG

AMSURG is an independent leader in ambulatory surgery center services, operating a network of more than 250 surgery centers nationwide. In partnership with physicians and health systems, the organization delivers high-quality patient care across a diverse spectrum of medical specialties, including gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopedics. Guided by its core values — Care Deeply, Champion Excellence, Cultivate Integrity and Celebrate Teamwork — AMSURG is committed to transforming the future of ambulatory surgery center care and services with a focus on strategic growth and innovation. To learn more about AMSURG, visit www.amsurg.com.

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This article is designed for educational purposes only. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health concern or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health concern, you should consult your healthcare provider.