Woman’s Alarming Cancer Symptoms Attributed to Pregnancy for Years Before Stage 3 Diagnosis

A Los Angeles mother said doctors dismissed her discordant symptoms for years as a side effect of childbirth, but they turned out to be signs of colorectal cancer.

Marisa Peters, 44, a mother of three and former Broadway vocalist, first noticed bleeding when she went to the bathroom after having her first child.

“The symptoms intensified to the point where blood was filling the toilet…then I felt an increased urge to go to the bathroom,” she shared with News Digital. “The size, shape and texture of my stools also changed.”

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As these symptoms progressed, Peters expressed her concerns to her primary care physician and other doctors.

Since Peters was in her early 30s at the time, she was not considered the “typical” colorectal cancer (CRC) patient, since most cases occur in older adults. However, in recent years statistics show that the disease has been increasing among younger people.

“They didn’t realize that the face of colorectal cancer had changed,” Peters said. “Now he looked like someone much younger.”

“We are seeing an increase in the number of people, younger and younger, unfortunately, with diagnoses in late stages, which leads to quite abysmal mortality rates,” he added, highlighting the power of earlier detection and intervention through colonoscopy.

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Instead of considering cancer, Peters’ doctors told her that “our bodies change when we have babies” and that her concerns were “finally dismissed.”

Meanwhile, her symptoms “checked all the boxes” for CRC, including severe anemia, although she didn’t know it at the time.

Over the next five years, Peters had two more children while battling intermittent symptoms. Over the past year, she noticed that there was “always blood” in her stools, prompting her to seek answers from a gastroenterologist.

“I will never forget it [the doctor’s] face,” she said. “She was stunned and dismayed by what I told her.”

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The doctor performed blood and stool tests, which came back positive for CRC, prompting an urgent colonoscopy to confirm the cancer.

In June 2021, Peters was officially diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer after a 5-centimetre tumor was found in the upper part of his rectum.

Peters had a complete response to the next 11 months of chemotherapy and radiation, as his tumor shrank in half. He then underwent rectal reconstruction and was fitted with a temporary ileostomy bag, which diverted waste from the area for four months so it could heal.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of people, younger and younger, with diagnoses in late stages, which leads to quite abysmal mortality rates.”

After six more rounds of chemotherapy, Peters had his ileostomy reversed, where his body was “essentially put back together.”

At the time of her diagnosis, Peters was still breastfeeding her 16-month-old baby and continued to care for the three children while receiving treatment, with the support of her husband.

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“Fortunately, I have a tremendous mental health team, and they have helped me redefine my life, to really communicate with my husband and with my children, not only throughout the journey, but also through reforming what family and motherhood are like,” she told News Digital.

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Although Peters’ cancer was already “too advanced” for a colonoscopy to have made a difference in her diagnosis, she strongly recommends getting the “gold standard” screening for anyone who has concerns or is at high risk.

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After her diagnosis, Peters said her sister underwent a colonoscopy, during which her doctors found and removed some precancerous polyps, although she never had any symptoms. Peters later discovered that his parents had precancerous polyps removed.

“Knowing your family’s medical history is tremendously important,” she said.

Peters founded BE SEEN, a colorectal cancer nonprofit that advocates for early intervention and detection, to help others find their voice and get ahead of the disease. BE SEEN offers community resources and programs.

“Colorectal cancer is a completely preventable disease, although it is increasing in people between 20, 30 and 40 years old for reasons that we do not know,” he said.

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“I want people to be seen for their symptoms…I want them to be seen for their story. And I want them to ultimately be seen for their screenings, because we know they save lives.”

“I wasted a lot of time and I still deeply question why I’m here to talk about this when so many other people receive a late-stage diagnosis and don’t have the full response that I had,” Peters added. “We’re losing people too soon and it’s just not right. This is not something we should settle for.”

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under age 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death in the US.

Adults age 65 and younger account for nearly half (45%) of all new cases, a significant increase from 27% in 1995, according to a report from the American Cancer Society.

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Official health agencies recommend that CRC screening begin at age 45 and continue until age 75 for “average risk” adults.

Anyone who has concerning symptoms or questions about risks should consult a doctor for guidance.

News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.