Meagan Meadows, a 24-year-old woman from Southern California, received a devastating diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer after dismissing what seemed like an insignificant symptom.
Meagan had recently completed her master’s degree in education and was looking forward to the next chapter in her life when she noticed a small amount of blood in her stool. She assumed it was something minor, like hemorrhoids or a dietary issue, and even thought she was too young to have cancer.
Despite her initial dismissal, Meagan’s friends encouraged her to get checked out, and it was a good thing she did. After some tests, doctors discovered she had colon cancer, a diagnosis she never expected at such a young age.
“I just thought, I’m only 24, there’s no way I have anything going on,” Meagan said. “I almost canceled my appointment.”
Unfortunately, the condition had progressed to stage 3 by the time it was detected. Meagan underwent surgery to remove a 25cm section of her colon as part of her treatment.
Meagan had just finished her masters in education (GoFundMe)
Now, Meagan is urging others, particularly young people, to take symptoms like blood in stool seriously, no matter how faint or infrequent. “It’s always better to get checked,” she said.
As part of her treatment plan, Meagan is also planning to freeze her eggs, as chemotherapy can lead to infertility, and she wants to keep her options open for having children in the future.
Meagan’s loved ones have set up a GoFundMe to help with medical bills and her treatment costs.
