Survivors reflect on their journey during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month [Video]

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — All of March, we recognize National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Knowledge on screenings, prevention and treatment are crucial as cases rise in young adults.

Stacie Cain was diagnosed at 51-years-old with Stage 3C adenocarinoma at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When you first hear that you have cancer, it’s devastating,” Cain said. “I feel like my whole world fell apart.”

Several risk factors for colon cancer fall heavily on ones lifestyle:

• Living a sedentary lifestyle
• Diet full of processed foods
• Eating little to no vegetables
• Alcohol/tobacco consumption.


Working long hours as a nurse, Cain says she had an unhealthy lifestyle; eating poorly and being inactive.She had no prior symptoms and was overdue for a routine colonoscopy.

After her initial visit, she was referred to a surgeon who spotted a 40-millimeter sized tumor that needed to come out immediately.

“My whole world changed. She said it was cancer,” said Cain. “We’re not gonna play around with it, we’re gonna take …