A 38-year-old Santa Clarita woman was diagnosed with and recovered from colon cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving hope to those under 50 struggling with this type of diagnosis.

Effects of the recent rise in colon cancer diagnoses for adults under age 50 were felt by 38-year-old Melissa Ursini, who fought and survived colon cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic after visiting City of Hope.

“A mother and corporate recruiter in Santa Clarita, California, Melissa was living an active life filled with cycling and swimming when she began experiencing abdominal pain, weight loss and loss of appetite,” stated City of Hope cancer institute officials. “She went to urgent care multiple times and was often dismissed with ‘normal women’s health issues.’”

See Related: A Colonoscopy Can Add Years To Your Life Says Henry Mayo Cancer Expert

Not counting some kinds of skin cancer, colorectal (colon) cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women. It is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.

“Doctors initially struggled to diagnose Melissa, and neither she nor her doctors considered that the diagnosis would be colon cancer,” City of Hope officials stated. “After a long string of ER visits and a CT scan with contrast, Melissa was finally properly diagnosed with colon cancer. Melissa had the tumor and seven inches of her colon surgically removed.”

Ursini visited a colorectal cancer specialist at City of Hope offering treatment options, and then decided to continue her cancer treatment at City of Hope’s community practice in Santa Clarita.

“Through City of Hope’s compassionate support, Melissa felt optimistic about her journey and was encouraged to continue working and living her daily life during chemotherapy infusions,” City of Hope officials stated. “The fact that her oncologist was located within walking distance made her treatment easier.”

Ursini has since made a full recovery and wants to use her story to educate people about colorectal cancer and its warning signs.

Colon and rectal cancer strike the lower digestive system, from the rectum up to the large intestine. 

Sufferers end up with symptoms including different combinations of pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, anemia and bleeding. In some cases, there are no symptoms at all in early stages.

Although the majority of colorectal cancers are in adults ages 50 and up, 17,930, 12 percent, will be diagnosed in individuals younger than age 50, the equivalent of 49 new cases per day, according to the American Cancer Society.

Approximately 4.4 percent of men (1 in 23) and 4.1 percent of women (1 in 25) will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.

To find out about City of Hope and receiving colonoscopy screenings, click here.

For more information on health statistics regarding colorectal cancer, click here.

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