When Brooks Bell was 38, doctors told her she was “too young to have children.” colon cancerdismissed her textbook symptoms as “possible hemorrhoids.”
Months later, after insisting on getting tested, the North Carolina-based entrepreneur was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer.
Bell, now 43, encourages other young adults to listen to their bodies and make health claims, especially: Colon cancer cases It is increasing among people under 50.
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Bell, the founder of a digital analytics company, discovered blood in her stool while traveling to a technology conference five years ago.
“I called my doctor from my hotel room and explained the situation, and he told me that bloody stools are common,” Bell told Fox News Digital. “She said it was almost certainly hemorrhoids and that I just had to keep an eye on it and it would probably go away in a few days.”
The photo on the left shows Brooks Bell, North Carolina, after chemotherapy. After her treatment and recovery, she was voted into the board of directors of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. (Brooks Bell)
The symptoms didn't go away, and a few weeks later, Bell made an appointment to see another doctor.
“She examined me and found no hemorrhoids, but said that because of my young age, I probably still have them,” she said.
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Bell was hoping her doctor would refer her to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy, but she didn't.
“At that point, I didn't really believe where this was going because I was still bleeding two months later,” she said. “So I called my gastroenterologist myself.”
During a colonoscopy four days later, doctors discovered a tumor in Bell's colon that was causing the bleeding.
“They said they would contact me and I was told it was almost certainly cancerous.”
The photo shows Bell undergoing chemotherapy. After surgery, she underwent three months of intensive chemotherapy. (Brooks Bell)
Bell's cancer was stage III, which was actually good news, she said.
“The tumor was still small and the chance of survival was about 87%,” she said.
bell soon Had surgery To remove 10 inches of her colon. That was followed by her three months of high-dose chemotherapy, which is 50% more powerful than most regimens.
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After treatment, it was necessary to wait to ensure that the disease does not return.
“The first year was scary. I had a lot of nightmares,” Bell said. “Colon cancer has the highest recurrence rate in the first year and then declines.”
Today, five years later, Bell is cancer-free.
Understand risk factors
Dr. Austin Chan, a gastroenterologist and chief medical officer of endoscopy at medical device manufacturer Medtronic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, says it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the rise in colon cancer rates among young people. said he is aware of several factors.
”Diet related“Consumption of red meat and ultra-processed foods is increasing,” he told FOX News Digital.
Brooks Bell speaks with guests at the inaugural Colonoscopy Gala at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 28, 2020. (Eamon Queenie at Colonoscopy Celebration)
“We have also confirmed an association with the rise. Obesity rate. The problem is that even if this trend is related to any of these, the mechanisms behind it are still not understood. ”
To reduce risk, Chiang said his team often recommends not only quitting smoking, which is known to be a major risk factor for cancer, but also limiting intake of red meat and alcohol. .
“Staying physically active is also a good rule of thumb, but there are no other known measures that reliably reduce cancer risk beyond that,” he added.
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after hearing that exercise reduces risk When the cancer returned, Bell decided to exercise every day.
“I decided to exercise more intensely than I had ever done in my life,” she said. “The day I finished my treatment, I put on my running shoes and went out.”
She also decided to train for a triathlon, which she completed exactly one year after completing cancer treatment.
A photo of Brooks Bell completing his first triathlon, one year after his last chemotherapy treatment. (Brooks Bell)
Since her cancer treatment, Bell has put even more emphasis on nutrition, especially since colon cancer is closely linked to gut health.
“I eat as many vegetables as possible, and I put special emphasis on fiber intake,” she said. “a plant based diet That's my main focus because it helps with microbiome health. ”
It is estimated that in 2024, 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States.
Belle occasionally eats dairy products and red meat, but avoids red meat.
She also sees a functional specialist to ensure she's getting the right amount of supplements and antioxidants.
Colorectal cancer screening guidelines
Starting in 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that adults ages 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer.
Prior to 2021, there was guidance to start testing from age 50.
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“This change was a huge win,” Bell said. “I think we should be thankful for that. Guidelines rarely change. There was overwhelming evidence to make it 45.”
Bell said there are some indications that screening should start at age 40, and “that would be the next goal.”
Dr. Austin Chan, a gastroenterologist and chief medical officer of endoscopy at Medtronic, a medical device manufacturer in Philadelphia, said it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the rise in colon cancer rates among young people. . (Dr. Austin Chan)
“The reason it's not 40 is because of the limited cost and availability of colonoscopies. That would put more strain on the system,” she said.
In addition to the rectal bleeding that Bell experienced, other symptoms of colon cancer include changes in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort, weakness or fatigue, a feeling that the bowels are not completely empty, and unexplained symptoms. There are symptoms. weight lossAccording to the Mayo Clinic.
barriers to care
Mr Bell said one of the main barriers to early testing and care for young people was a lack of awareness of the risks.
“It's not my doctors' fault. They just didn't know this was a risk,” she told FOX News Digital. “They don't think someone is going to sit through a cancer diagnosis at such a young age.”
Colorectal cancer tends to be associated with older age.
“I think primary care physicians need to rule out everything else before they do an expensive test like a colonoscopy.”
Chiang agreed that there is a tendency to associate colorectal cancer with the following diseases: senior citizen.
“Current screening guidelines recommend colonoscopies begin at age 45 for people at average risk, so young people who show symptoms of colon cancer “I'm not used to seeing patients,” he said.
Brooks Bell (far right) moderates a discussion at the White House as part of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative. (Brooks Bell)
“What makes it even more difficult is that early-onset patients often experience different symptoms, so as we become more aware and aware of the risks, we're still learning what to do. is.”
Chen pointed out that many people do not know that they need to be tested starting at the age of 45. “That's why it's important to get tested.” primary care physician Who can help track it for you? ”
There is also a common misconception that colonoscopies are dangerous or uncomfortable, which can cause fear, he added.
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“Finally, there are also social determinants that create barriers, such as physical proximity to a medical center or the inability to take time off from work for testing,” the doctor said.
Chiang cautioned that there is a common misconception that the non-invasive stool-based test is the same as getting a colonoscopy, but the method has some limitations.
“If you get a positive stool test, you can't determine where that result came from, and more importantly, you can't get rid of it on the spot,” he said. “With a colonoscopy, doctors can do both.”
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Colonoscopy also allows doctors to detect lesions early, before they turn into cancer. “especially, AI technologyIt’s like our GI Genius tool,” Chiang said.
“Our hope is that technologies like this will help standardize patient care and ensure that everyone who undergoes a colonoscopy has the highest detection rate possible.”
Commitment to a cause
After receiving her diagnosis, Bell threw herself into learning as much as she could about the disease.
“It was alarming to learn how preventable this disease is, how underfunded it is, how it is increasing among young people, and how important colonoscopies are.” she said.
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With the goal of raising awareness, Bell joined the board of directors of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit organization focused on colon cancer prevention.
In 2022, Mr. Bell founded the nonprofit organization Lead From Behind as a subsidiary of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
“The goal, Keep fit It positions colon cancer as a preventable cancer and helps destigmatize colonoscopies. ”
A photo of Brooks Bell after he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to remove part of his colon. (Brooks Bell)
“Lead From Behind” features a handful of prominent voices joining the movement, including pro football player Dak Prescott and actor Ryan Reynolds.
Bell also spoke at the White House as part of the Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50% over the next five years.
She is also passionate about a new initiative focused on raising money for colonoscopies for the underinsured.
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“I want to continue to change our culture to make colonoscopy and colon cancer prevention part of our society. conversation about health So it's something that healthy, smart people do automatically when they're in their 40s,” she said.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), it is estimated that 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2024.
Other than skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country.
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