In late 2015, at just 33 years old, Marisa Peters began noticing troubling signs after bowel movements. Alarmingly, she saw blood on the toilet paper and immediately visited her doctor, who dismissed her concerns as typical post-childbirth side effects.

"They saw me as an energetic young mom, perhaps too fit and healthy to be seriously ill," Marisa now recalls. "Some doctors attributed my symptoms to childbirth, causing a tragic delay in my cancer diagnosis." Over the next five years, despite persistent symptoms and delivering two more children, Marisa was assured she was fine.

From Symptoms to Diagnosis: A Five-Year Fight

What started as minor blood traces escalated drastically. Marisa explains, "The situation transformed from ribbons of blood to entire bowls filled with it, resembling a severe menstrual cycle." Along with this disturbing change, her stool's texture deteriorated due to a 5-centimeter tumor blocking her rectum.

Feeling an urgent need to use the bathroom, Marisa battled anemia from excessive blood loss, leading to an insatiable craving for ice. After a particularly severe birth, involving significant blood loss, she finally sought further medical intervention.

Marisa visited a gastroenterologist who took her seriously for the first time. While hesitant about a colonoscopy, they opted for a Cologuard test. The results were alarming—it was positive.

A Life-Altering Call

After finally having a colonoscopy, Marisa received the devastating news she had been dreading: Stage 3 rectal cancer. "I received the call confirming the diagnosis just 48 hours post-surgery—my life was shattered in an instant," she said.

A Grueling Treatment Journey

Remarkably, Marisa's treatment plan included six rounds of chemotherapy, followed by 28 rounds of radiation, and a subsequent extensive surgery that reconstructed her rectum. For four months, she had an ileostomy before enduring six additional rounds of chemotherapy.

"That's when my real battle began, realizing the gravity of my situation. Thankfully, I responded remarkably well to the treatment," she shared.

Rising Colorectal Cancer Cases Among Young Adults

Colorectal cancer rates among young people have surged over the last 30 years, with experts warning that individuals under 45 are increasingly affected. Dr. David Rosen, a colorectal surgeon, emphasizes that the alarming trend is still rising.

Symptoms can sometimes be confused with less serious issues, including: - Bloody stools - Rectal bleeding - Changes in bowel habits - Rectal pain or pressure - Fatigue - Narrow or loose stools - Unexplained weight loss - Abdominal cramps

A Mission to Educate: Peters' Nonprofit Initiative

In the wake of her diagnosis and treatment, Marisa established a nonprofit organization called Be Seen and launched a podcast titled From Carpools to Chemo. "Our mission is to end deaths caused by young-onset colorectal cancer through awareness, education, and encouraging timely screenings," she asserts.

"I'm relentless in my outreach. My story, while raw and unglamorous, needs to be heard. Sharing my experience is essential to humanizing this issue and urging people to prioritize their health."