HEALTH Women's Health June 24, 2026 0 Comments

7 Colon Cancer Warning Signs Women Over 40 Nearly Always Miss – Don’t Let Them Sneak Past You!

You ever think about how something as sneaky as colon cancer can creep up on you while you’re just living life—maybe blaming that weird stomach ache on last night’s questionable pizza or that sudden tiredness on “just being busy”? Well, it turns out those little warning signs are not to be ignored, especially now as cases skyrocket among younger adults. Just look at James Van Der Beek, the “Dawson’s Creek” guy who was in prime shape but lost his battle at 48 because he, like many of us, brushed off early symptoms. Or health writer Alexandra Frost, who dismissed her own signals until it spiraled out of control. Here’s the deal: colon cancer is on the rise, it doesn’t play favorites, and catching it early can literally save your life. So let’s cut through the noise and get down to what every woman should be watching for before it’s too late. LEARN MORE.

Cases of colon cancer are rising fast, especially in younger adults—and the earliest warning signs are surprisingly easy to brush off. Just ask the family of Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek, who died on February 11 at age 48 from colorectal cancer, or health writer Alexandra Frost, who was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 37 after dismissing her symptoms as a diet issue. Knowing the signs of colon cancer could quite literally save your life. Here’s what every woman should watch for.

What colon cancer is—and who’s at risk?

Colorectal cancer begins in the colon or rectum, the lower part of the digestive system. According to the American Cancer Society, 108,860 Americans are currently fighting the disease, and 53,450 of those are women. It’s the number two leading cause of cancer death in the nation behind lung cancer, and experts predict it will become the leading cause for people under 50 by 2030.

That’s why major health organizations now recommend that average-risk individuals begin regular colorectal cancer screening at age 45 rather than 50, says David D. Clarke, MD, board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology and affiliated with Oregon Health & Science University. (Learn more about Cologuard vs. colonoscopy screenings.)

The trend in younger adults is especially troubling. “We know colorectal cancer has been increasing in young people, and it is not exactly clear why,” explains Peter Stanich, MD, gastroenterologist with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Part of this is likely due to increasing obesity and changes in diets over time, but many people are still investigating the cause.”

Cases in the 20-to-39 age group have increased by two percent every year since the mid-1990s, and by 2030, cases in younger adults are expected to nearly double.

7 early warning signs of colon cancer

According to Lynn Durham, EdD, CEO of Georgia CORE (Center for Oncology Research and Education), women shouldn’t ignore these seven symptoms, which can be early signs of colon cancer:

Persistent abdominal pain
Difficulty passing gas
Chronic fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Anemia
Blood in stool
Stool that’s oddly narrow or pencil-thin

Risk factors include:

Family history of colon cancer
Chronic dehydration
Carrying extra belly fat
Smoking
Eating lots of red and processed meats

If a close relative was diagnosed with colon cancer, Durham recommends getting screened 10 years before their diagnosis age.

James Van Der Beek’s early signs of colon cancer

Before his death, James Van Der Beek was outspoken about the symptom that almost slipped past him: a change in bowel habits. He initially blamed his morning coffee.

“I thought, I probably need to change my diet a little bit. Maybe I need to stop drinking coffee. Maybe I need to not put cream in the coffee. And then I finally took that out of the diet, and it didn’t improve, and I thought, all right, I better go get this checked out,” he told People magazine in November 2024.

His diagnosis came during a colonoscopy in August 2023. What made it more shocking? He was otherwise the picture of health. “I was so healthy, was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I was doing the cold plunges, and the saunas and the intermittent fasting and all of it,” he shared on the Today show in December 2025. His message to others: “Get tested, talk to your doctor.”

It’s all too easy to dismiss signs of colon cancer

Health writer Alexandra Frost, diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at 37, missed the same early warning sign James Van Der Beek did—and for the same reason.

“When I first had changes in bowel habits, I blamed my diet. I figured I needed to skip Friday night pizza and drinks with my friends, and that maybe I’d become a bit lactose intolerant. So, I played with my diet a bit and wrote it off,” Frost said.

She didn’t seek help until severe stomach pain sent her to the ER, where doctors found a large tumor in her digestive tract—despite no family history of cancer.

“We see this all the time,” says Avni Desai, MD, gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “Many people assume bowel changes are due to something they ate, stress or a new medication. Rectal bleeding is often blamed on hemorrhoids, even if it’s been going on for months or longer.”

What women need to know

Dr. Desai’s rule of thumb: “If bowel changes or bleeding last more than a few weeks—especially if they don’t improve with simple diet changes—it’s time to check in with a healthcare provider.”

The message from both of these stories is the same: “When colorectal cancer is caught early, it’s highly treatable and often curable,” Dr. Desai says. “Screening saves lives.”

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.