A 27-year-old woman who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer has shared the two key symptoms that prompted her to see a doctor and ultimately led to her diagnosis.

While busy preparing for her wedding and training for a half marathon, Rylie Toomey began experiencing unusually severe abdominal pain. What seemed like a very common symptom turned out to be a sign of advanced colon cancer.

For several months, Rylie’s abdominal pain would come and go. Each time she sought medical attention, the 27-year-old was told the same thing: it was just constipation. But in April, the pain suddenly became unbearable, causing her to scream in agony in the emergency room.

“I truly thought I was dying. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the stomach, and my abdomen was so swollen it felt like it was about to burst,” said Rylie, who lives in Pennsylvania, USA, in an interview with TODAY.com.

Tests revealed that she had suffered a bowel perforation, a life-threatening medical emergency. It was this complication that led doctors to discover the devastating truth: Rylie had stage 4 colon cancer.

What shocked her most was not only the diagnosis, but also her age.

“When I heard the words ‘you have cancer,’ I couldn’t believe it. I’m young, healthy, I eat well, and I exercise regularly. I never thought colon cancer could happen to me,” she said.

Rylie was forced to postpone her wedding, originally scheduled for June, in order to begin treatment.

Her abdominal pain first started in October 2024. During her initial emergency room visit, a CT scan of her abdomen showed what was believed to be constipation, leaving her feeling embarrassed for worrying too much.

According to studies, approximately 20% of colon cancer cases may be missed on an initial abdominal CT scan.

In the following months, the pain returned sporadically and then disappeared on its own—until Rylie began developing fevers along with worsening abdominal pain. Few people realize that fever can be a symptom of cancer, especially in solid tumors such as colon cancer. In rare cases, fever may even be the only warning sign.

Fever can result from infection or from proteins released by tumors that disrupt the body’s temperature-regulating mechanisms.

In addition to abdominal pain, common symptoms of colon cancer include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, unusually narrow stools, or the persistent urge to have a bowel movement without being able to do so. Rylie experienced none of these symptoms, making the diagnosis even more difficult.

Colon Cancer Is Increasing Among Young Adults

According to a research review published in JAMA, gastrointestinal cancers—including colorectal cancer—are among the fastest-rising types of cancer in people under 50.

Kimmie Ng, Director of the Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, told NBC News that scientists still do not fully understand why colon cancer is becoming more common in younger people.

“In the past, this disease was almost unheard of in this age group, but now we are seeing a significant increase in cases among people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s,” she said.

Commonly cited risk factors include obesity, diets high in ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, and a sedentary lifestyle.

However, Rylie did not fit any of these risk categories. She maintained a healthy weight, was physically active, ate a balanced diet, and had no family history of colon cancer.

Rylie is currently undergoing chemotherapy every two weeks in combination with immunotherapy. Because chemotherapy can cause premature ovarian failure and infertility, she decided to freeze her eggs in the hope of becoming a mother one day.