A 33-year-old nurse thought her bleeding was caused by hemorrhoids. She was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. - Business Insider

What the report says

Business Insider reported that Bryce Ramsey, a registered nurse, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at age 33 after years of intermittent blood in her stool, a symptom she had attributed to hemorrhoids, childbirth and large bowel movements. Ramsey, now 40, also experienced fatigue but believed it could be explained by long nursing shifts at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

According to Business Insider, Ramsey sought care in 2019 after the bleeding worsened. A gastroenterologist ordered a colonoscopy despite her young age and lack of known family history. Doctors found a polyp that could not be removed during the procedure, and a surgeon later diagnosed colon cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. In November 2019, surgery removed three feet of her colon and 13 lymph nodes.

Ramsey began IV and oral chemotherapy in January 2020 while continuing to work as a branch manager for a home health agency. She described severe side effects from treatment, including weight loss and sensitivity to cold. Business Insider reported that Ramsey became pregnant a few months after completing chemotherapy in March 2020, after earlier declining fertility preservation services.

The case also led to genetic testing that found Ramsey has Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition associated with higher risks of colon and some gynecologic cancers. She told Business Insider that subsequent screening helped relatives identify colon cancer or related masses. Now in remission, Ramsey undergoes regular monitoring and uses her public platform, including as Mrs. Mississippi Plus America 2024, to encourage attention to symptoms, cancer screening and genetic testing.