On May 15, 2024, at the age of 37, Allison Solomon was diagnosed with colon cancer—a life-altering moment that, while devastating, also empowered her to take control of her journey.
Now in remission, Allison credits her recovery to her own self-advocacy as well as the expertise of the Medstar Georgetown University Hospital medical team who took her symptoms seriously, despite her young age, and responded quickly with a comprehensive treatment plan.
Allison is one of the increasing number of people under the age of 50 who are being diagnosed with cancer. This number is expected to continue to grow globally and colorectal cancer is among the six cancers that are predicted to grow the most.
Despite her youth and no family history, Allison did not dismiss her persistent symptoms, which included loss of appetite, stomach cramps, a change in bowel habits, and blood in her stool. Her primary care physician referred her to gastroenterologist Balal Ali, MD, who quickly scheduled her for a colonoscopy, which confirmed a malignancy.
“I was stunned but not surprised,” Allison remembers. “But I still had hope. I live only fifteen minutes from the hospital and have been a MedStar Georgetown patient for many years. I was confident that the hospital’s world-class facilities and medical experts would get me through this crisis.”
The next step was a CT scan that confirmed the cancer had not yet spread to other organs.
In June, colorectal surgeon Anne Fabrizio, MD, performed laparoscopic surgery to remove the diseased portion of the colon and reconnect the healthy ends. Of the 27 lymph nodes tested, two showed signs of cancer. Allison and her medical team, which now included medical oncologist Benjamin Weinberg, MD, decided on a course of chemotherapy.
Dr. Weinberg is an associate professor of medicine and an attending physician at Georgetown Lombardi, Washington, D.C.’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. He is focused on developing new therapies for colorectal cancer and conducting research to better understand the dramatic rise in incidence in young patients.
“There are likely many factors contributing to younger onset of the disease, including microplastics, ultra-processed foods and sedentary lifestyles,” says Dr. Weinberg. “Another theory is associated with the co-occurring epidemics of obesity and diabetes.”
One promising area of research is the gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms that live in the digestive system. “This is the meeting place of your genetics, diet, environmental exposures and the immune system,” says Dr. Weinberg. “A lot of what we see when measuring the stool microbiome is the output of all of these interactions, most of which are not inherited. Many of these exposures occurred in the 1970s and 1980s and now they are catching up to people as they age. This could explain why we are seeing more cancer in young adults and I would expect an increasing number of older adults will be diagnosed, as well.”
Whatever the cause, the best remedy is early detection and increased awareness – by both patients and their doctors.
“I was fortunate that I was taken seriously,” says Allison, who will continue to have periodic CT scans and colonoscopies as well as lab tests that look for colorectal cancer DNA in her blood.
“You need to listen to your body and take action,” she continues. “A colonoscopy may not be fun but we are so fortunate to live in a time when this diagnostic tool can save so many lives.
“And if you do get a cancer diagnosis, make sure you find the best medical team possible. I always had complete trust in all of my MedStar Georgetown care providers.”