Young Woman Diagnosed With Colon Cancer at 37 Shares Life-Saving Warning

The Shocking Diagnosis

Allison Solomon said she started noticing changes in her body two years ago. Solomon says she had blood in her stool, bowel changes, stomach cramps, and loss of appetite. What began as subtle shifts in her health quickly escalated into a diagnosis that would change everything. Doctors found Allison Solomon's cancer at age 37. Her story reflects an alarming trend: colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in people under 50 and the second deadliest cancer overall.

"My symptoms were severe, so I listened to my body and got screened early," Solomon explained. She received a CT scan that confirmed the cancer had not yet spread to other organs. Solomon's physician and a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Dr. Benjamin Weinberg, recommended chemotherapy. "I had surgery a month later, and then got transitioned over to being Dr. Weinberg's patient and started chemotherapy later that summer," she said.

A Growing Crisis Among Younger Adults

While screening rates are up and mortality is down for older Americans, colorectal cancer is the only major cancer rising in people under 50. The statistics paint a sobering picture: A stunning 75% of young patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, while the metastatic CRC survival rate is just 13%. Colorectal cancer rates in those under 65 are rising rapidly, with almost half of new cases being in that group.

Weinberg said they're researching why more younger people are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. "We're looking for other explanations, like microbiome within the tumor itself, to try to distinguish, is there some unique quality to early onset colorectal cancer," Weinberg said. And they're trying to use birth year as a guiding factor to try to get more answers. She says what disturbs her most is that doctors are finding this disease in people in their thirties. "So, the age of screening has actually gone down recently from 50 years to 45 years," says Dr. Catherine McCarthy, professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine Family Medicine Program.

The Screening Knowledge Gap

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital recently released a national survey that found more than 75% of Americans are unsure when or how often to get a colonoscopy. This confusion has serious consequences. More than 36% of those eligible say they've skipped colorectal screening. Doctors recommend starting at age 45. Four in ten think screening after 45 requires a family history of the disease. That's not true, according to doctors.

"Colonoscopies aren't fun but important to stay on top of if you're eligible," Solomon emphasized. A colonoscopy doesn't just detect cancer — it prevents cancer by removing precancerous polyps before they ever become dangerous. It is one of the only cancer screening tools that are both diagnostic and preventive. When colorectal cancer is caught early, at a localized stage, over 90% of patients survive. That survival rate drops dramatically with advanced disease.

From Survivor to Advocate

Solomon is now in remission after being diagnosed with colon cancer at age 37 in 2024. Solomon has now been in remission since 2024 and is under close surveillance with routine tests and labs done frequently. She's also gotten into the advocacy side of colorectal cancer, helping spread the word about the disease and access to resources. She said she's supporting the 2026 D.C. ScopeItOut 5K on the National Mall on March 22 with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

Solomon's message is clear: trust your body and advocate for yourself. Don't assume you're "too young." Know the symptoms, listen to your body and stay on track with screening. Her experience demonstrates that cancer doesn't follow age-based assumptions, and early detection remains the most powerful tool in fighting this increasingly common disease among younger adults.