Shannon Ivey, a 42-year-old single mom from Columbia, South Carolina, was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer at the age of 42. She had been experiencing symptoms for several months, including "mystery blood," "pencil-thin" stools, and a persistent urge to use the bathroom. Ivey managed these issues by adjusting her diet and increasing fiber intake. She lost 26 pounds over six months, which was largely unnoticed until a comment from her first-grader son's school bus driver made it clear. A report from the American Cancer Society indicates that rates of colorectal cancer are increasing among younger adults, indicating a shift in who the disease is affecting.