Omaha woman shares experience with colorectal cancer as doctors warn of spike among young adults

BELLEVUE, Neb. (WOWT) – Thursday marks two years since a Bellevue woman ended the hardest chapter of her life.

Now, Angelica McFall is hoping to prevent others from suffering through the same illness: colon cancer.

Doctors are also trying to figure out why more young adults, like her, are getting these life-alerting colorectal cancer diagnoses.

McFall’s Stage III colon cancer diagnosis came in October of 2022, after getting her first colonoscopy at 48-years-old.

“I will never forget Dr. Langenfeld telling me at that time that having that colonoscopy did save my life. That if I had waited much longer, we’d be having a very different conversation,” said McFall.

McFall has no history of colon cancer in her family and was not experiencing any symptoms prior to her diagnosis.

Surgery to remove part of her colon was followed by four months of chemotherapy.

“Trying to raise a family and run a home and support my husband, who was still active duty at that time, it was tough,” said McFall.

On April 10, 2023, McFall rang the “celebration gong” after completing treatment. She hasn’t shown signs of the cancer coming back since.

Now, she’s spreading the word about the recommended age to start screening, which is 45. “Friends of mine who are 45 and older, I’m always asking, ‘have you had a colonoscopy?‘”

McFall is one of a growing number of young adults diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

From 2012 to 2021, the American Cancer Society says rates jumped 2.4% annually in people younger than 50.

ACS says death rates for young adults have also been increasing 1% every year since the mid-2000s.

“It is concerning. Being at that same age, you always worry about being one as well,” said Dr. Derrick Eichele with Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates, PC in Omaha.

Medical experts are still trying to understand the trend.

“We don’t really have a great explanation for it. The WHO came out a few years ago saying that perhaps processed meats were a component or a risk factor. I think the processing of our foods in general,” said Dr. Eichele.

Dr. Eichele said other known risk factors are genetics, obesity, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle.

More researchers are also pointing to patients’ environments and the toxins they’re exposed to as possible contributors.

Dr. Eichele says of all screening options available, a colonoscopy is the gold standard for identifying polyps.

“The benefit of a colonoscopy is that we’re finding it before it ever turns into a cancer. We’re finding the polyp that may be the incidence of the cancer, removing it and completely reducing that risk,” said Dr. Eichele.

A new Guardant Health/Harris Poll shows some patients avoid colorectal cancer screening due to fear and anxiety.

Dr. Eichele said some patients are hesitant about sedation or don’t want to go through the prep.

McFall says her story is a testament that it’s well worth it.

“24 hours of a little bit of discomfort and not feeling great is much better than having to battle cancer,” said McFall.

Anyone with a family history of colorectal cancer is advised to get screened ten years prior to that family member’s diagnosis.

ACS says colorectal cancer is expected to cause nearly 53,000 deaths this year.

While rates of diagnosis and death are rising in young adults, they’ve been dropping in people over 55 for decades.

The American Cancer Society believes that’s because polyps are being found and removed more often, and treatments have improved.

Dr. Eichele said symptoms to be aware of include blood in your stool, a change in your bowel habits and abdominal pain.

He also has recommendations for how to reduce your risk of cancer.

“A reduction in refined foods, so more natural, fibrous foods. As well as diet and exercise, avoiding obesity. We’re seeing obesity being a risk factor for a lot of different cancers, as well as exercise being a preventative factor for it,” said Dr. Eichele.

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