When Brooks Bell was 38, doctors told her she was too young to have colon cancer, dismissing her textbook symptoms as “likely hemorrhoids.”

A few months later, after pushing for tests, the North Carolina-based entrepreneur was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer.

Bell, now 43, is encouraging other younger adults to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health, particularly as colon cancer cases are rising among people under 50.

“I want to try to continue to shift our culture to make colonoscopies and colon cancer prevention part of our conversations about wellness — so it’s just something that healthy, smart people do automatically as as they get into their 40s,” she said.

In 2024, an estimated 106,590 new cases of colon cancer and 46,220 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Other than skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country.

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Melissa Rudy is the health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]