Rachel V Thomas

Health and Me

3-Time Colon Cancer Survivor Reveals First Symptom She Noticed At 14

At 42, Danielle Ripley-Burgess of Kansas City, Missouri, has survived <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/colon-cancer">colon cancer</a></span> three times, at 17, 25 and 39. 

The disease often begins as non<span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/cancer">cancer</a></span>ous growths called polyps in the colon or rectum. Early-stage cancer and precancerous polyps may cause no noticeable symptoms. Ripley-Burgess spotted her first symptom at the age of 14 but ignored.

At 14, Ripley-Burgess noticed specks of blood in her stool but hid them out of embarrassment, believing red foods might be responsible.

“I thought, I’m eating something red and that’s probably what I see,” she told Today. “So I put myself on a ‘no red foods diet’ and stopped eating anything that was red in color: everything from candy to pizza to salsa to raspberry popsicles.”

After two years she eventually told her mother, who believed it to be a case of hemorrhoids. As her bleeding worsened, and she developed fatigue and severe stomach pain, she was taken to a gastroenterologist. 

<h2><span rel="noindex">Colon Cancer Diagnosis</span> At Age 17 And 25</h2>

A few weeks after her 17th birthday, Ripley-Burgess was diagnosed with stage 3 <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/colon-cancer" data-type="tilCustomLink">colon cancer</a>. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. But years later, a follow-up colonoscopy revealed another cancerous polyp. 

“I thought I had beaten cancer. I was getting colonoscopies every three years, and after one of them, I woke up and saw the very same look on the doctor’s face that I had seen eight years prior,” she said. “He saw a polyp that later turned out to be cancerous. I had no symptoms. At 25, I had stage 1 colon cancer.”

The second diagnosis was emotionally difficult as she feared losing the life she had built with her husband and the future they had planned.

<h2>Lynch Syndrome Increased Her Cancer Risk</h2>

Further testing revealed that Ripley-Burgess had Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of colorectal, uterine and other cancers, according to the Mayo Clinic.

She underwent a preventive hysterectomy and subtotal colectomy, which removed all but about 13 inches of her colon.

Despite these measures, a colonoscopy in 2023 yet again detected a recurrence. At 39, she opted to have the remaining colon removed and a permanent ileostomy.

“I wasn’t expecting it, but I also wasn’t completely shocked,” she said, explaining that living with Lynch syndrome meant knowing cancer could return.

<h2>Why <span rel="noindex">Blood in Stool</span> Should Not Be Ignored</h2>

Ripley-Burgess now shares her story to encourage people, especially younger adults, to seek medical attention for unusual symptoms. 

“If I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be: Don’t be embarrassed about your body,” she told the outlet. “If you’re seeing something with your body that’s uncomfortable and weird, and you’re not ready yet to tell a doctor, tell somebody — a friend or family member. Don’t sit in that place of: something is wrong with your body, and you don’t know what it is. Don’t sit there alone. Don’t downplay what you’re seeing,” she

<span>Colorectal cancer</span> is expected to cause 158,850 new cases and 55,230 deaths in the US in 2026, according to the <span>American Cancer Society</span>.

Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, medical oncologist at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Blood in the stool is one of the most common and concerning signs. While it might be due to hemorrhoids or fissures, it’s important not to assume. A proper evaluation is critical.”

Rectal bleeding can have several causes, but it should not automatically be attributed to hemorrhoids. Timely medical evaluation can help identify the cause and ensure appropriate treatment.

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At 42, Danielle Ripley-Burgess of Kansas City, Missouri, has survived colon cancer three times, at 17, 25 and 39. The disease often begins as noncancerous growths called polyps in the colon or rectum. Early-stage cancer and precancerous polyps may cause no noticeable symptoms. Ripley-Burgess spotted her first symptom at the age of 14 but ignored.Her First Symptom At 14At 14, Ripley-Burgess noticed specks of blood in her stool but hid them out of embarrassment, believing red foods might be responsible.“I thought, I’m eating something red and that’s probably what I see,” she told Today. “So I put myself on a ‘no red foods diet’ and stopped eating anything that was red in color: everything from candy to pizza to salsa to raspberry popsicles.”After two years she eventually told her mother, who believed it to be a case of hemorrhoids. As her bleeding worsened, and she developed fatigue and severe stomach pain, she was taken to a gastroenterologist. Colon Cancer Diagnosis At Age 17 And 25A few weeks after her 17th birthday, Ripley-Burgess was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. But years later, a follow-up colonoscopy revealed another cancerous polyp. “I thought I had beaten cancer. I was getting colonoscopies every three years, and after one of them, I woke up and saw the very same look on the doctor’s face that I had seen eight years prior,” she said. “He saw a polyp that later turned out to be cancerous. I had no symptoms. At 25, I had stage 1 colon cancer.”The second diagnosis was emotionally difficult as she feared losing the life she had built with her husband and the future they had planned.Lynch Syndrome Increased Her Cancer RiskFurther testing revealed that Ripley-Burgess had Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of colorectal, uterine and other cancers, according to the Mayo Clinic.She underwent a preventive hysterectomy and subtotal colectomy, which removed all but about 13 inches of her colon.Despite these measures, a colonoscopy in 2023 yet again detected a recurrence. At 39, she opted to have the remaining colon removed and a permanent ileostomy.“I wasn’t expecting it, but I also wasn’t completely shocked,” she said, explaining that living with Lynch syndrome meant knowing cancer could return.Why Blood in Stool Should Not Be IgnoredRipley-Burgess now shares her story to encourage people, especially younger adults, to seek medical attention for unusual symptoms. “If I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be: Don’t be embarrassed about your body,” she told the outlet. “If you’re seeing something with your body that’s uncomfortable and weird, and you’re not ready yet to tell a doctor, tell somebody — a friend or family member. Don’t sit in that place of: something is wrong with your body, and you don’t know what it is. Don’t sit there alone. Don’t downplay what you’re seeing,” sheColorectal cancer is expected to cause 158,850 new cases and 55,230 deaths in the US in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society.Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, medical oncologist at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Blood in the stool is one of the most common and concerning signs. While it might be due to hemorrhoids or fissures, it’s important not to assume. A proper evaluation is critical.”Rectal bleeding can have several causes, but it should not automatically be attributed to hemorrhoids. Timely medical evaluation can help identify the cause and ensure appropriate treatment.

3-time colon cancer survivor reveals first symptom she noticed at 14

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