Woman Survives Colon Cancer Three Times, Advocates for Early Detection

Danielle Ripley-Burgess has navigated a decades-long battle with colon cancer, surviving the disease three times since her first diagnosis at age 17. Her journey, marked by an initial symptom of blood in her stool at just 14 years old, highlights the critical importance of early detection and awareness, particularly for younger adults.

Ripley-Burgess initially dismissed the blood in her stool as a result of consuming red foods, even embarking on a restrictive diet to see if it would resolve the issue. Embarrassed and reluctant to discuss her symptoms with her parents, she waited three years before finally disclosing the problem. By then, her symptoms had worsened, with her stool becoming dark red and sometimes black.

"I was embarrassed and afraid. I didn't want to push pause on my busy high school life. I didn't want to be a burden to my family, and I didn't want to talk about my body," she told the Daily Mail.

Her first diagnosis of stage three colon cancer came in January 2001, shortly after her 17th birthday. The initial treatment involved chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Following this, she underwent regular colonoscopies every three years as a precaution.

In June 2009, at age 25, a colonoscopy revealed a polyp, leading to a stage one colon cancer diagnosis. This second encounter with the disease prompted her to undergo surgery to remove most of her colon, leaving about 13 inches. Doctors then recommended annual colonoscopies.

The third diagnosis occurred in 2023, when Ripley-Burgess, then 39, had polyps detected during her surveillance colonoscopy, indicating a recurrence of the cancer. This led her to opt for a permanent ileostomy, a procedure that reroutes waste from the body, and the removal of the remaining portion of her colon. Pathology reports confirmed stage one colon cancer in the removed tissue.

Ripley-Burgess is part of a growing demographic of young Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer. While risk typically increases with age, especially after 50, cases are rising among those under 55, with the disease becoming a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this age group. Between 2013 and 2022, case rates increased annually by 2.9 percent among adults under 50.

After her second diagnosis, genetic testing revealed that Ripley-Burgess has Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition caused by genetic mutations that impair DNA repair. This syndrome significantly increases the risk of several cancers, particularly colon and rectal cancers, accounting for approximately three to five percent of all colon cancer cases annually.

Lynch syndrome also elevated her risk for uterine and ovarian cancer, prompting her to undergo a hysterectomy to mitigate these risks. She is now an author and inspirational speaker, advocating for openness and support systems. "I'd advise people to open up and let others in — don't go through hard things alone," she stated.

Colorectal cancer remains the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates 158,850 new diagnoses in 2026. Risk factors include diet, weight, physical inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, race, family history, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Early symptoms can include persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and low iron levels. Treatment varies by stage, often involving surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.