Woman shares colon cancer symptoms after late diagnosis

Shannin Desroches, a 26-year-old woman from Ontario, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer after suffering for months with severe abdominal pain. Despite leading an active lifestyle and eating healthy, she was initially misdiagnosed with a gluten allergy by her family doctor. Frustrated by the lack of answers, Desroches pushed for further tests and eventually managed to get a CT scan, which was scheduled for a year later. Meanwhile, her symptoms worsened, and she experienced constant pain, constipation, and thin stools. An emergency colonoscopy revealed a large tumor, leading to her diagnosis. Following her diagnosis, Desroches underwent major surgery, where doctors removed part of her colon and other affected areas. They could not remove large tumors on her liver without risking severe complications. After surgery, she and her husband were devastated by the news of her stage 4 cancer, and they considered their options for having children. Desroches chose immunotherapy and chemotherapy for treatment but faced complications from the chemo. Despite her nervousness about her treatment's effectiveness, she is determined to find alternative options, including looking into trials and clinical settings outside Canada. Financial strain is a major concern, as treatments can be extremely costly. Despite the challenges, Shannin is focusing on the future. She married her husband in October 2024 and is working on freezing her eggs for potential surrogacy. She urges others to be aware of colon cancer symptoms and wishes for more colonoscopies to be routine for people under 45. Shannin remains hopeful and tries to savor every moment with her loved ones.