“At the age of 29, I never would’ve thought that I would be diagnosed with colon cancer.”

~ Shundra Seay Massey

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Her Story

Routine screenings and early detection provide increased opportunities to treat Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer.

On August 23, 2021, my daughter, Shundra, posted for the last time. “At the age of 29, I never would’ve thought that I would be diagnosed with colon cancer,” she wrote. Unfortunately, she passed away two months later on October 25, 2021.

I pray that her story will influence young adults to be screened for colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer is also the most treatable cancer if detected early. However, cases of young-onset colorectal cancer have increased. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 18,000 people younger than 50 were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2020. Over the next decade, colorectal cancer incidence among those younger than 50 is expected to nearly double and is on track to becoming the leading cause of cancer-related death in this age group.

I need your help to increase efforts to expand screening requirements until it becomes universal. Collectively, we can beat colorectal cancer! I know my child’s death cannot be in vain. She didn’t live to tell the story, so I am advocating on her behalf.

Our lives were changed overnight, but I BELIEVE, HOPE, AND FIGHT EVERYDAY to prevent other families from suffering a similar tragedy.

Thank you for visiting my page. I am hopeful that you will join us by signing the petition and sending a letter to your Congressional Representatives.

Her loving mother,

Rosonja Seay

Petition

The mission of this petition is to change the age for Colonoscopy Screenings for average-risk people to 25 years of age, and for first-degree relatives of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) to 30 years or 20 years before the age of diagnosis of the youngest relative diagnosed with CRC, in the medical and insurance communities. As I’m sure you are aware, early detection reduces CRC incidence and mortality.

Currently, Colonoscopy Screenings are recommended at age 50 for average-risk people. Screenings of first-degree relatives of CRC patients are recommended to begin at age 40 or 10 years before the age at diagnosis of the youngest relative diagnosed with CRC. In recent years, CRC incidence has increased among younger Americans while it has declined among older Americans.

Literature suggests that CRC is treatable if detected early. So, there must be earlier detection for young adults. The National Cancer Institute reports that CRC has increased significantly for young adults since 1990. According to U.S. News, Americans in their 20s and 30s are seeing the steepest rise in distant-stage CRC. Between 2000 and 2016, their rates rose by 57% to 66%. The lack of preventive care, more than likely, plays a major role in the diagnosis of advanced-staged CRC.

Therefore, I need your help in advocating that the protocol for Colonoscopy Screenings begin earlier at 25 years of age for average-risk individuals, and for first-degree relatives of CRC patients to begin at 30 years of age or 20 years before the age of diagnosis of the youngest relative diagnosed with CRC, in the medical and insurance communities.

Please help our young people get a fair chance at fighting CRC by signing this petition.

#EarlyColorectalCancerScreenings

Petition by,

Her Loving Mother – Rosonja Seay