A 23-year-old woman, Milli Tanner, has been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer after the disease spread to her lymph nodes, leaving her devastated and saying, “I feel like I’m going crazy.” Before receiving the cancer diagnosis, she had visited doctors at least 20 times for persistent symptoms, including stomach pain, back pain, and blood in her stool, but was repeatedly told she was “too young” and that her issues were likely caused by hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual problems, or alcohol consumption, rather than a potentially life-threatening condition.
According to BBC, Milli, a cleaner, first sought medical help in June 2021. Despite numerous consultations—13 with her general practitioner, visits to the emergency room, and calls to the UK’s National Health Service—doctors continued to dismiss her concerns due to her age and lifestyle. Frustrated, Milli took matters into her own hands and ordered a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) online, which returned a positive result, leading her GP to finally refer her for a colonoscopy. She admitted she had an inkling it might be cancer.
Now facing stage 3 colon cancer, with spread to her lymph nodes, Milli has chosen to freeze her eggs due to fertility risks from treatment and is proceeding with therapy. Health reports indicate that colon cancer incidence in teenagers and young adults under 24 has risen by 74% since 1990. Amy Harding, director of services and impact at Teenage Cancer Trust, emphasized that while cancer is rare in this age group, age alone should not rule out the possibility of serious illness.
Despite the difficult diagnosis, Milli urges others to listen to their bodies: “You know your body better than anyone else. If something feels wrong, keep pushing for tests until you find the cause.”
