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Two women who were pregnant say routine prenatal complaints masked a far more serious problem: colorectal cancer detected only after childbirth. Their stories, and doctors’ warnings, highlight a growing concern about cancer in younger adults and the risks of attributing persistent symptoms solely to pregnancy.
Kate Cross first saw blood in her stool while pregnant and felt constantly exhausted; she needed transfusions for low iron. Her obstetrician repeatedly reassured her that these signs were typical of pregnancy, and she accepted that explanation—until months after her son was born, when a colonoscopy revealed stage III colon cancer. Now three years in remission, Cross says the early dismissal left her anxious and isolated during treatment.
Warnings ignored, diagnosis delayed
Near her due date, Jenna Scott endured intense cramping, nausea, vomiting and rectal bleeding. Clinicians attributed her symptoms to hemorrhoids and pressure from the baby. Within a year of giving birth, a colonoscopy confirmed stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer that has since spread to her liver and lungs. Scott has remained in treatment for nine years; her cancer has recurred multiple times.
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Both women describe feeling unheard by their care teams. Scott says it would have helped if a provider had suggested a second opinion rather than assuming pregnancy was the answer. Cross recalls being embarrassed to discuss bowel symptoms at first, a silence she now urges other new parents to break.
Why pregnancy symptoms and colorectal cancer can be confused
Pregnancy and the postpartum period commonly cause constipation, hemorrhoids, fatigue and iron-deficiency—symptoms that overlap with colorectal cancer. That overlap, clinicians say, can lead to premature diagnostic closure unless providers remain curious and willing to reassess.
Dr. Cedrek McFadden, medical advisor to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, emphasizes that physicians should avoid “anchoring” on pregnancy as the only cause. He warns that with colorectal cancer rising among younger adults, age and pregnancy status alone should not be used to rule out serious disease.
- Rectal bleeding that is persistent or gets worse
- Iron-deficiency anemia or needing transfusions during pregnancy or postpartum
- New or changing bowel habits, unexplained abdominal pain or major fatigue
- Symptoms that do not respond to routine treatments or that recur after treatment
These signs do not prove cancer, McFadden says, but they should prompt further evaluation—often including referral to a gastroenterologist and consideration of a colonoscopy.
Numbers that matter
Public health data underline the urgency. According to the National Cancer Institute, colon and rectal cancers account for roughly 7.6% of new cancer diagnoses. The American Cancer Society projects about 108,860 new colon cancer cases in 2026. While mortality has declined among older adults—about 1.5% per year over the past decade—death rates for people under 55 have been rising by roughly 1% annually since the mid-2000s.
What patients can do now
Patients who feel their concerns are not being taken seriously should consider asking for a second opinion, seeking a primary care clinician who will investigate persistent symptoms, or requesting diagnostic testing. Early detection improves treatment options and outcomes.
Scott, who now advocates with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s Never Too Young Taskforce, says repeated delays cost her valuable time. “Had someone taken my complaints seriously sooner,” she has said, “my path might have been different.” Cross urges other patients to speak up about bowel symptoms and to press clinicians for answers.
Doctors and health systems are also being asked to adjust. Experts call for updated diagnostic practices across specialties—obstetrics, primary care and gastroenterology—to ensure that pregnancy does not become an automatic explanation when red flags persist.
For anyone experiencing persistent or unusual gastrointestinal symptoms in pregnancy or postpartum, the message from clinicians and patient advocates is clear: trust your instincts, and pursue follow-up until you have an answer.
