on PinterestWhen 36-year-old Gabby Zappia (pictured above) reported blood in her stool, her doctor attributed it to pregnancy-related hemorrhoids. Months later, a colonoscopy revealed she had stage IV colon cancer.
on PinterestWhen 36-year-old Gabby Zappia (pictured above) reported blood in her stool, her doctor attributed it to pregnancy-related hemorrhoids. Months later, a colonoscopy revealed she had stage IV colon cancer. Gabby Zappia
- Colorectal cancer in people under 50 is on the rise and is now the leading cause of cancer-related death for younger adults.
- Experts say it’s still unclear why cases are rising among people under 50.
- Gabby Zappia is sharing her journey navigating diagnosis and treatment after her initial symptoms were misdiagnosed as pregnancy-related.
In 2024, Gabby Zappia was 36 years old and pregnant with her third child when she noticed blood in her stool.
“I brought it up to my OB, and she said it was likely pregnancy-related hemorrhoids. That explanation made sense, and I wanted it to make sense, so I trusted it,” she told Healthline.
After her son was born, her symptoms persisted, and she pushed for answers.
“A colonoscopy changed my life overnight. Instead of finding hemorrhoids, they found a large mass in my colon,” Zappia said.
In December 2024, Zappia was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that had spread to her liver.
“I was a full-time mom, managing all aspects of my kids’ schedules, and I also had a small part-time job,” she said. “After my diagnosis, I had to stop working to focus on appointments and recovery. My husband took over most of the day-to-day tasks that I had handled, and I had to step back significantly in my role as a mom.”
Zappia immediately had a colon resection and, after recovering, started chemotherapy and immunotherapy in January 2025 at City of Hope.
In April 2025, she took a break from chemotherapy and underwent liver resection surgery and implantation of an HAI pump. Then she resumed chemotherapy after recovery.
“After 15 rounds of chemotherapy, I was declared no evidence of disease and rang the survivor bell in September 2025. A few months later, ctDNA tests showed cancer detection, and a PET scan confirmed activity in my liver,” said Zappia.
She underwent another liver surgery in January 2026. Because her ctDNA remains detectable, she is now exploring clinical trials.
“Colon cancer is no longer just a disease of older adults, and it is on the rise. You know your body better than anyone. If something feels off, ask questions and request additional testing. Push for answers. Ask for the colonoscopy,” Zappia said.
If you’re not being heard, she stressed seeking a second opinion.
“We need more awareness. We need to listen to young patients. I am just one of many young faces of colon cancer, and if sharing my story helps even one person catch their cancer earlier, then sharing this journey has purpose,” said Zappia.
Why is colorectal cancer in young adults on the rise?
Once considered an older person’s disease, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in adults under 50.
According to a January 2026 JAMA study, colorectal cancer has surpassed breast and lung cancer to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in U.S. adults under 50.
Physicians at City of Hope, where Zappia
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