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Woman Who Survived Colon Cancer 3 Times Reveals the First Symptom She Noticed at 14: ‘I Hid It From Everyone’
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Danielle Ripley-Burgess, a Missouri woman, was first diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at 17 after noticing blood in her stool at 14 but delaying medical consultation due to embarrassment.
- Despite multiple treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries, she faced two more colon cancer diagnoses linked to Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition increasing cancer risk.
- After preventive surgeries, including a subtotal colectomy and later a permanent ileostomy, Ripley-Burgess cannot develop colorectal cancer again but continues to manage her health vigilantly.
- She now advocates for early medical attention for unusual symptoms, urging others not to be embarrassed or delay seeking help to improve outcomes.
- Her story highlights the rising incidence of colon cancer in young people and the importance of awareness and genetic testing for hereditary cancer risks.
